If there’s one thing that we learned from Lincoln Riley‘s first season in South Central Los Angeles, it’s that the Trojans’ defense must improve — and improve a lot — if they are going to be a true national contender. USC was ranked as high as fourth in the country before being steamrolled by Utah.
They will need to be able to have a complete team no matter the genius and spectacle of the coach and QB pairing that is Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams. These are the five most impactful changes Southern Cal has made going into the 2023 season.
Dorian Singer
Singer led the Pac-12 in receiving last season for the Arizona Wildcats, and now with Williams as his QB, the odds are in his favor to repeat this feat. The Trojans needed proven talent to replace Jordan Addison who led the Trojans with 875 yards and 8 TDS last season.
Singer’s acquisition is very reminiscent of Addison’s, after the former Pitt Panther transferred to USC after the 2021 season. For Trojans fans, Singer will need to keep up his momentum in this high-powered offense along with Mario Williams and Brendan Rice.
Anthony Lucas
This transfer hasn’t had much buzz, but for USC, this was a necessary addition. The Trojans’ defense failed to stop Utah in the Pac-12 Championship and allowed Tulane to not only stay in the game but ultimately win the Cotton Bowl. Lucas had a quiet season at Texas A&M, but I’ll chalk that up to all of the turmoil that surrounded Jimbo Fisher and the entire program this past year. The Aggies have been recruiting at a high level but failing to execute on the field for a few years. At the end of the day, Lucas is a 6”5 290lbs edge rusher that immediately helps USC’s defense.
Zachariah Branch
The perfect compliment for Dorian Singer, the Bishop Gorman product is more than just a speedster. One of the top-ranked players in the nation at his position, Branch can do it all. His game sense coupled with his natural talent allows Branch to separate early and get the ball in space.
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Sam Greene
The true freshman brings boom-or-bust potential to the Trojans’ defensive line. A twitchy defensive lineman that can play from the 0 technique all the way to the 5, Greene is a menace to offensive linemen that get caught flat-footed. The biggest concern, however, is his size. At 265 lbs. Greene will need to add at least 30 lbs. to his frame to be dominant on the inside all the while retaining his speed and horsepower. USC failed to get a true replacement for Tuli Tuipulotu and they hope Greene can physically and mentally grow into that role.
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Tackett Curtis
The highest-rated defensive player USC was able to recruit at 167 overall, Curtis had a final three of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and USC. The future Big 10 participant was able to snatch the Many, LA native away from its future conference foes. Similar to Greene, Curtis’ football IQ and dominance at the high school level make him an intriguing prospect, but it is his size that will need to change to be able to compete at the Power 5 level.
With USC’s explosive offense garnering leads, the added challenge for Curtis and the linebackers will be their range in covering the pass, which Curtis knows a thing or two about seeing he played QB in high school as well. He’s got enough versatility as a pass rusher and as a defender in coverage to be able to play all three downs.
