The USC Trojans football team are looking to have a bounce back year in 2024. Back in December of 2023 we got a glimpse of what this Trojan team will look like with the departure of Caleb Williams and new quarterback Miller Moss under center.
In a win over Louisville at the Holiday Bowl, Trojan fans were left excited for the upcoming season after watching the future offensive stars on the team in action such as Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson, Ja’Kobi Lane, and Makai Lemon. With uncertainty of how this Trojan team would look after losing Williams, Moss and company gave USC a new spark of life. However, USC still had to address its issues entering the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
The Trojans Offense
USC had one of the best offenses in the nation last season. However, things will look very different for the Trojans after losing Williams to the NFL. Moss is the new quarterback at USC and we caught a glimpse of what he is capable of.
At the 2023 Holiday Bowl, Moss threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns. He won the Holiday Bowl MVP, but more importantly, showed that he is more than capable of taking over the Trojan offense. Yet Williams isn’t the only impact player the Trojans will be looking to replace.
USC will need to fill the hole of running back MarShawn Llyod. The Trojans brought in TCU’s Anthony Jones as their running back coach for this upcoming season. Jones will have to turn to Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks, Quienten Joyner, A’marion Peterson and Bryan Jackson this season. With plenty of opportunity, it’ll be exciting to see how the running attack develops. There is also a lot of excitement for the passing game, and it is for good reason.
The Trojans will miss Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice this football season, but every year it seems like USC reloads at the wide receiver position. The pass catchers for this upcoming season are very diverse and each player brings a unique skill set. Moss has all the weapons he needs in Kyron Hudson, Branch, Robinson, Lane, Lake McRee and Lemon. Although the USC offense will look very different, there is a lot to be excited for this upcoming season.
The Trojans Defense
It’s no secret that USC has struggled on defense over the past couple of seasons. Last year, they ranked 116th out of 130 schools in total defense. After parting ways with former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, the Trojans welcomed D’Anton Lynn and Eric Henderson to the defensive staff.
Lynn was the defensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins. And he was credited for turning the Bruins defensive program around. In 2022, the UCLA defense ranked just inside of the top 100. However, in 2023, they ranked as the No. 11 defense in the nation. It’s going to be a tall task for coach Lynn, but he also brought two players with him from UCLA in Kamari Ramsey and John Humphrey to help turn the USC program around. Although changing the culture for the USC defense around may be difficult, Lynn is not at this job alone.
Henderson was named the USC co-defensive coordinator, specializing as the defensive line coach. Henderson served as the defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams and was a part of their 2022 Super Bowl Championship staff.
From new transfers like Easton Mascarnas-Arnold, to intriguing vets such as Bear Alexander, the USC defense has a lot to prove this year. The 2024 season will show how far along this defense has come as the Trojans will be tested in the Big Ten Conference.
