Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
USC Trojans College Football Preview 2023: Offense
USC Trojans Preview: Offense
2023 USC Preview: Defense
Keys To Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
- USC Schedule, Picks For Every Game
Well that worked. In came Lincoln Riley, in came offensive coordinator Josh Henson, and in came a college football all-star team of transfers that meshed together better than anyone could’ve dreamed of - seriously, don’t take for granted that there was zero continuity from 2021 - and KABOOM. If that wasn't enough, now the attack has Kliff Kingsbury hanging around as a quarterbacks coach and offensive analyst.
No. 3 in the nation in total and scoring offense and passing. No. 1 in fewest turnovers. No. 2 in third down conversions, and it all came together by having the No. 1 player in college football.
Caleb Williams stepped into the Oklahoma offense in the middle of the Texas game two years ago, and that was it. He’s been brilliant ever since with a fascinating mixture of athleticism, smarts, cockiness, drive, and ultra-efficient passing that could make him Riley’s best quarterback ever.
Now the almost certain No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft - collapse for Caleb - he has to stay healthy after throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns and five picks with ten touchdown runs. Star recruit Malachi Nelson and sophomore Miller Moss will battle it out for the No. 2 gig.
Yeah, there’s a chance the the USC receiving corps could be even better despite losing Jordan Addison to the Minnesota Vikings. Kyle Ford defected to UCLA, but four of the top six wideouts are back to go along Arizona transfer Dorian Singer - he isn’t Addison talent-wise, but he’s not terribly far off.
Veterans Tahj Washington, Mario Williams, Brendan Rice, and Michael Jackson are still in place, terrific prospect Duce Robinson is in the tight end mix with Lake McRee, and they all have a guy who should be starting for the Carolina Panthers pitching to them.
It’s hard to keep running the ball when 13 has a shot to make things happen, but the Trojans need to keep on getting their backs consistent work. Travis Dye is done, but Austin Jones and South Carolina transfer MarShawn Lloyd should provide a killer 1-2 punch. Williams will add at least 300 rushing yards, but the less he has to take off, the better.
The big overall stats for the offensive line are a bit off. With a playmaker like Williams there will be more sacks and more tackles for loss, but there were times when the line did its job by lining up and blasting away. Now it needs to do that a bit more, even with a ton of turnover up front.
Jarrett Kingston (Washington State) and Emmanuel Pregnon (Wyoming) are ready-to-roll guards coming in, and the pressure is on Michael Tarquin (Florida) to step in and protect the Heisman quarterback’s blind side.
2023 USC Preview: Defense
Keys To Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
- USC Schedule, Picks For Every Game
