USC Football Team Position Analysis by The Times of Troy

Hello, folks! I'm Ryan Kartje, swapping jerseys for pens as USC's beat writer at The Times. This is the last wave from the Times of Troy newsletter before we take a summer break. The transfer portal has shut its doors, spring football has wrapped up at USC, and the sports calendar is about as tranquil as a desert at midday. Yep, you guessed it - that means our debut season of the Times of Troy is about to sail off into the sunset.

A special shout-out to all you readers who've tagged along this season. Trust me, it means a lot to this new dad navigating the high seas of life, while also dealing with the loss of my old man. Your kind words have been a much-needed lifeline during a tricky time.

With the departure of The Times of Troy's ship, we're steering our course towards Year 2. Have any thoughts or suggestions on where to steer this ship when we set sail again? Hit me up at ryan.kartje@our website. Or if you just need to vent about USC skipping the spring game, my phone's always on.

But as we embark on a summer break, USC's vibes are as good as I can remember for quite some time. The 2026 recruiting class sits atop the national rankings, and the momentum's still surging. If you're wondering where to buy that Kool-Aid, look no further than Chad Bowden's riverboat.

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As we bid adieu to the build-up, let's dive deep one last time and take a full inventory, position by position, of where USC football stands as we slide into the summer.

Quarterback

Projected Starter: Jayden Maiava

Reserves: Sam Huard, Husan Longstreet

Following Coach Lincoln Riley's comments, there's no reason to doubt Maiava will be the top dog in the fall. The main question is who'll be his backup? My bet's on Huard's experience giving him an edge over the five-star freshman.

Running Back

Projected Starters: Waymond Jordan (1a), Eli Sanders (1b)

Reserves: Bryan Jackson, Riley Wormley, King Miller, Harry Dalton III

Dividing carries between these guys is anyone's guess right now, but expect Jordan and Sanders, the transfer powerhouses, to have a substantial role in USC's backfield. Jackson might just be the wild card in the mix. Riley hinted that this backfield could be the best during his tenure at USC.

Wide Receiver

Projected Starters: Ja'Kobi Lane, Makai Lemon, Prince Strachan

Reserves: Xavier Jordan, Jay Fair, Corey Simms, Jaden Richardson, Tanook Hines, Romero Ison

Up top, this could be one of the best receiver rooms in the country. Beyond that, there's not much proven depth. Lane and Lemon will be key cogs in the USC offense, with Strachan, standing at 6-foot-5, giving the team some size on the perimeter. This position might see some action in the portal this spring. Keep a close eye on Jordan as he battles for a role in the fall camp.

Tight End

Projected Starter: Lake McRee

Reserves: Walker Lyons, Walter Matthews, Joey Olsen

This is a deep talent pool, forcing me to wonder why all four didn't take an excursion to the portal. McRee will set sail as the clear #1, but Lyons seems primed to have a bigger role than other No. 2 tight ends have at USC in recent years.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: Elijah Paige (LT), DJ Wingfield (LG), J'Onre Reed (C), Alani Noa (RG), Tobias Raymond (RT)

Reserve Tackles: Justin Tauanuu, Alex Payne, Aaron Dunn, Elijah Valkona, Hayden Treter

Reserve Interior: Kilian O'Connor, Micah Banuelos, Kaylon Miller, Willi Wascher

This is the biggest question mark on the roster, in my opinion. But the starting five doesn't seem to be a mystery. Tauanuu might challenge Raymond for the right tackle spot in the fall, otherwise, the shuffling's mostly concentrated in the lower ranks of the depth chart. The interior is thin on experienced players, so an injury up front might force Raymond to shift to wherever he's needed, with Tauanuu stepping in at right tackle in his stead. The progress of Payne and Dunn will be crucial this season.

Defensive Line

Projected Starters: Anthony Lucas (DE), Keeshawn Silver (NT), Jamaal Jarrett (DT), Kameryn Fountain (DE)

Reserves: Devan Thompkins (DT), Braylan Shelby (DE), Jahkeem Stewart (DT/DE), Jide Abasiri (DT), Kobe Pepe (NT), Elijah Newby (DE), Floyd Boucard (DT), Carlon Jones (NT)

Suddenly, the defensive line looks like one of the strengths of this roster. Silver's a sure bet for nose tackle, but the interior's so deep that we're unsure about the pecking order beyond him. Thompkins could step up and take the role of a starter ahead of Jarrett at defensive tackle. Fountain's geared up for a breakout season on the edge, while Lucas was still on the mend from an injury during spring camps. Shelby will get plenty of opportunities to make an impact. This room is brimming with talent.

Linebacker

Projected Starters: Eric Gentry (MLB), Desman Stephens (WLB)

Reserves: Anthony Beavers, Jadyn Walker, Ta'Mere Robinson, Matai Tagoa'i, Garrison Madden, AJ Tuitele

Gentry has All-Big Ten potential, and Stephens is a rising star, but beyond these two starters, USC's linebacker ranks are unproven. Adding Robinson from the portal gives us hope, but he was a rotational cog last season at Penn State. Riley promises that Walker will find time on the field, but we don't have a clue what to expect from him there. The top two will likely protect the fort while Beavers' versatility as a former safety could come in handy.

Cornerback

Projected Starters: DJ Harvey, DeCarlos Nicholson

Reserves: Marcelles Williams, Prophet Brown, Braylon Conley, Alex Graham, James Johnson, Trestin Castro, Isaiah Rubin

This position battle is still the closest on the team, so there's plenty of competition to come. Harvey's starting spot seems secure, but the #2 position is up for grabs. I give the nod to Nicholson, thanks to his length and speed. But Williams could stake his claim in September. Keep an eye on another slot battle, as Kamari Ramsey could measure up against the rest of the cornerbacks.

Safety

Projected Starters: Kamari Ramsey, Bishop Fitzgerald, Christian Pierce

Reserves: Kennedy Urlacher, Marquis Gallegos, Steve Miller

The top three are set for now, but Urlacher's transfer from Notre Dame hints at a potential role this season.

Special Teams

Kicker: Not specified in search results.

Punter: Not specified in search results.

Long Snapper: Hank Pepper

Filling the boots of "Punt God" Eddie Czaplicki won't be a walk in the park. But young Caden Chittenden might fit the bill as a new kicker. He earned a top scoring spot among kickers in the country last season as a freshman at Nevada Las Vegas.

Ryan Kartje, USC's beat writer at The Times, expressed his gratitude to readers for their support during a difficult time.
The USC football team is currently ranked atop the national rankings for the 2026 recruiting class and the momentum remains strong.
Subscribing to The Times' website can provide readers with more USC news and support for their work.
As the sports calendar quiets, USC football's position-by-position inventory is analyzed, with Jayden Maiava projected as the starting quarterback for the fall.
The running back position is a guessing game for fans, with Waymond Jordan (1a) and Eli Sanders (1b) projected as potential starters, and Bryan Jackson being a wild card.
USC's wide receiver room is projected to be one of the best in the country, with Ja'Kobi Lane, Makai Lemon, and Prince Strachan as the projected starters.
The defensive line is another strength of the USC roster, with Anthony Lucas, Keeshawn Silver, Jamaal Jarrett, and Kameryn Fountain projected as starters, while the depth in the defensive line hints at a promising season.