USC takeaways: Lincoln Riley notes defense's development, standout O-linemen and much more

A person 7 days of USC’s 1st preseason camp less than mentor Lincoln Riley is in the textbooks. This is what we have uncovered:

Defensive development

You can fully grasp why the Trojans’ new offensive weapons have gotten all the interest amid USC’s rebuild. There is the Heisman Trophy applicant at quarterback, the two preseason All-Pac-12 Convention extensive receivers, the remade backfield.

But by means of 1 7 days of observe, Riley was crystal clear about which aspect of the ball has been greater.

The defense, he said Friday, has been “the dominant team with no a question.”

That is a extremely positive sign for USC, which confronted important depth problems on defense in the spring. The Trojans had only a handful of defensive backs and rush finishes then. Reinforcements by the transfer portal have clearly made a change early on.

Colorado transfer Mekhi Blackmon, pictured in April, seems established to be USC’s top cornerback.

(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

Cornerback struggle

There is tiny question at this position that Mekhi Blackmon will be USC’s prime cornerback. The Colorado transfer has gained consistent, effusive praise since signing with the Trojans forward of spring. But after Blackmon, USC’s second corner spot seems to be up for grabs.

5-star freshman Domani Jackson is the most intriguing prospect at the place. Following lacking the spring even though recovering from a knee ligament harm, the previous Mater Dei cornerback and prime point out prospect in the 2022 course has now flashed his huge expertise at camp. If he can catch up mentally, he has the applications to challenge for that spot faster somewhat than later.

Many others to hold an eye on: Josh Jackson, Washington transfer Jacobe Covington and Ceyair Wright, whom Riley said took a key leap more than the summer season.

“He’s a a lot much better player now than he was in the spring,” Riley stated of Wright.

Trojans defensive back Domani Jackson (1) operates a drill at exercise in the course of the to start with day of fall education camp Aug. 5.

(Michael Owen Baker / For The Situations)

Passing choices

We haven’t noticed substantially from reigning Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison, with reporters restricted to the initial 20 minutes or so of apply. But what is obvious with the Pittsburgh transfer in the fold is how deep USC is at wideout.

Addison and Mario Williams are locks as USC’s top rated two receivers. If Terrell Bynum and Brenden Rice slot in together with them on the depth chart — and they really very well could — the Trojans’ prime four receivers this time would all be new transfers.

Foreman’s forecast

This camp seemed like a significantly vital possibility for Korey Foreman to show himself as the billboard-worthy expertise USC thought he could be when he signed in 2021 as the crown jewel of its recruiting class. But soon after an unsure spring, Foreman missed most of the very last 7 days, first for the reason that of a earlier commitment and then because of an damage that still left him not able to costume Friday.

Riley stated the damage is “nothing far too severe” and that he must be back in the coming days. But his early absence opens the doorway for other move rushers to thrust earlier him on the depth chart.

Solomon Byrd, a Wyoming transfer, could be just one of the primary beneficiaries. Byrd was a bit out of form when he arrived in the summer, Riley mentioned, and he’s even now discovering the rush stop posture in USC’s protection. But his uncooked applications combined with his expertise have manufactured for a strong start off to camp.

“You can notify he’s played ball,” Riley explained. “He’s picked up our schemes really speedily. A person that can normally rush the passer. He’s moved all-around and performed diverse positions for us as perfectly.”

Byrd appears to be guaranteed to factor in on USC’s defense this period, regardless of whether at rush stop or somewhere more inside of.

USC defensive lineman Jamar Sekona (77) and teammates observe Aug. 5.

(Michael Owen Baker / For The Periods)

O-line rotation

Transfer offensive tackles are a exceptional commodity these times, so when the Trojans reeled a person in from Virginia this offseason, it seemed harmless to presume that Bobby Haskins was certain a spot on the starting up line.

That has not been the case by at the very least one week of camp. Haskins is doing the job with the next-workforce offensive line in the course of the open up part of exercise at the rear of Courtland Ford, who is even now the starter at still left deal with. Jonah Monheim seems — for the time getting, at the very least — to be entrenched at correct deal with.

No deal with has seemingly looked better than Monheim, whom Riley singled out as a person of USC’s most dependable performers up front.

When is the final time USC’s offensive line has been this settled at the get started of camp? The addition of an experienced left tackle and the return of an All-American guard really don't harm.

The only problem for the Trojans up front is depth, and Riley and offensive line mentor Josh Henson seemed inspired by what they had observed from redshirt junior guard Gino Quinones and redshirt freshman deal with Mason Murphy.

Quinones, who has not played a snap on the offensive line in his previous three seasons, could be a significantly pleasurable surprise.

“Gino has been the standout there for us ideal now,” Riley stated.

Wolfe sidelined

Jude Wolfe was in line to be a breakout prospect as an H-back again in Riley’s offense, but a foot harm will retain him out for at the very least 50 percent the year. Wolfe will undertake surgical treatment in the coming times and could return in time for the second half of the time.

It is a challenging break for Wolfe, who rose up the depth chart in spring and expressed hope that he experienced eventually observed the right offense for his talent established. That arrival will have to wait around, leaving the H-again location unsure to get started the year.

Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams follows as a result of on a pass at apply Aug. 5.

(Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

Rookies to check out

Two freshmen to continue to keep an eye on the rest of camp, the two of whom played on the identical Mater Dei offense previous fall: operating again Raleek Brown and huge receiver C.J. Williams.

There is a crystal clear prepare on USC’s offense for Brown, who has the opportunity to be an all-purpose threat, able of catching passes out of the backfield.

“Oh guy, that kid’s a little jitterbug,” senior managing back Travis Dye reported.

Unlike Brown, Williams was in attendance through the spring. But an personal injury retained him out, delaying his arrival. By the initially week of camp, he has presently labored in with the 1st-workforce offense on early hurry-up packages.

Riley wasn’t all set to declare Williams a part of USC’s receiver rotation, but it appears to be the freshman has an inside track for some variety of involvement.

“He’s what we hoped and anticipated he would be,” Riley reported.