Lincoln Riley thinks USC’s defensive tackle room has the kind of depth that can change the way the Trojans look in the Big Ten.
That matters because the ugly part of last season was impossible to miss. Illinois, Notre Dame and Oregon all bullied USC at the line of scrimmage, and each one piled up between 171 and 306 rushing yards against the Trojans. If USC is going to hold up in a league built on trench warfare, that has to stop.
Riley sounded encouraged after Tuesday’s practice, and his view of the interior line was a lot more upbeat than the scenes USC fans saw a year ago.
“We’ve got an unusual number of guys I think can win one-on-ones and can get home. But also have some of the mass to be able to anchor down against some of these bigger personnel groupings,” Riley said.
The message is clear: this is supposed to be a different kind of defensive tackle group. Riley believes the room is deeper, stronger and more disruptive, and he sounds convinced that the work this offseason has raised the ceiling.
One of the players buying into that idea is sophomore Boucard, who came away from his Aug. 3 media day conversation with Lorenzo Reyna of USC Trojans on SI sounding like a guy who sees real growth in the group around him.
“Iron sharpens iron very much,” Boucard said. “As we did team bonding that's something we really elevated this year.
We all know our 'why,' including why we're doing this. Like when we face adversity, we know why this man is pushing this other man so hard and why we're pushing each other so hard.”
Boucard also said he has added more technically sound tools to his game, and he pointed to one detail that he thinks gets overlooked.
“What’s really underrated is keeping your feet moving and striking first [with your hands],” Boucard explained. “Everyone is trying to do swim and rip moves, but try to strike first and you’ll see the difference.”
For Boucard, the goal is simple: be the first to make contact and force the action instead of waiting on it.
He’s expected to have a role in Gary Patterson’s defense, most likely as a rotational piece inside. But he’s hardly the only name in the mix.
Jamaal Jarrett is one player USC fans are expecting to take another step after transferring from Georgia in Dec. 2024. He already showed off rare athleticism with a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown, and he’s now said to be fully settled in.
Jide Abasiri adds length and power at 6-5 and 280 pounds. Last season he finished with four tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks.
Then there’s Jahkeem Stewart, another player USC is counting on for a bigger leap after flashing last season. Stewart and Abasiri both bring speed and long reach that can get into the backfield, along with the kind of pre-snap burst and strength that can matter once they’re locked up with blockers.
Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeren gives the room another big body at 6-2 and 300 pounds. He has a long track record of stopping the run and could wind up as Patterson’s fifth interior option. Given what USC dealt with against the run last season, that kind of depth might not just be useful - it could be necessary.
In Other News...
USCs Opener Just Became A Tougher Test For The Trojans Defense
USCs defensive staff now has a clearer picture of what it will face in the Week 0 opener, and it is not an offense inclined to sit around and feel things out. San Jose State is bringing in Luke Weaver, a transfer from Hawaii who has already shown he can manage a game and has experience in a bowl setting, to run a quick-tempo passing attack that should keep the Trojans moving and communicating from the first snap.
For Lincoln Riley and Gary Patterson, the challenge is less about the name on the depth chart than the style attached to it. Weaver comes in after winning a tight camp battle, and his presence gives San Jose State a steadier hand for a spread game that can stress a defense in a hurry, especially in an opener when every adjustment has to come fast. [Read more 🡒]
USC Enters A Crucial Camp Stretch With One Big Quarterback Question
USCs fall camp has started to take on a sharper edge as the Trojans moved through their 15th practice and turned the focus toward the season opener against San Jose State. The tempo has picked up around both sides of the ball, and Lincoln Riley has singled out several defensive players for the kind of camp work that can start to shape the depth chart before the first game arrives.
There was also a welcome sight on the practice field with Tanook Hines back in full pads after missing spring and most of camp, giving USC another receiver to work into the mix. The bigger personnel question, though, still hangs over the quarterback room behind the starter, where the battle for the backup spot continues without a clear separator as camp enters a critical stretch. [Read more 🡒]
USC Offense Is Chasing The Identity Fans Have Been Waiting For
Lincoln Riley says USCs offense is still taking shape, but the direction is becoming clearer as training camp goes on. The Trojans are working toward a more diversified attack than theyve shown in recent years, with a run game that the staff believes is better positioned to complement the passing game and give the unit more balance.
The progress starts up front, where coaches and players have pointed to improved offensive line play and better cohesion across the group. Riley has also stressed a sharper understanding of what this team does well, which matters as USC tries to settle into an identity that can carry it into the season. The pieces are there now, and the next step is making that version of the offense hold up when the games count. [Read more 🡒]