USC's 2026 football squad is navigating the tricky waters of youth and inexperience. With 31 true freshmen and only 33 seasoned contributors on a 103-player roster, Coach Lincoln Riley is banking on a young team to step up. Despite having veterans in key roles like quarterback and offensive line, the overall inexperience was evident on Wednesday.
Before practice even kicked off, defensive tackle Floyd Boucard and freshmen wide receivers Tron Baker and Luc Weaver made unexpected trips back to the locker room. Soon after, the entire USC defense was sent packing for uniform violations - a crackdown by the NCAA this fall. Players had to make sure they were properly geared up, with knee and thigh pads in place, before returning to the field.
Attention to detail was the lesson of the day, and it took a while for it to sink in. Strength coach Trumain Carroll had to stop the team's opening stretch twice for some updowns.
During the first passing drills, the wide receivers struggled with drops, showing a lack of focus that hadn't been seen in previous spring camps. Just a day earlier, Riley had praised the team for their post-spring break readiness, but the concentration didn't last through Wednesday.
Despite the rocky start, Riley was pleased with how the team corrected course. "One of those days," he remarked, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards and pushing the team to give more than 95 percent effort.
The players, led by third-year junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri, understood the message loud and clear. "We just got to be focused on starting fast and making sure everything's ready to go," Abasiri noted, highlighting the need for preparation.
This spring, USC is diving deeper into the details, focusing on player-specific and play-specific drills. Abasiri pointed out the shift towards honing in on these specifics, like working on hand techniques to better handle double teams.
The coaching staff is intentionally challenging the Trojans, testing their resilience and adaptability. Riley explained, "When you push them as much as we did yesterday, you're looking at 'All right, did this fatigue set in?
Did mental fatigue set in?'" The practice was deliberately designed to include a variety of team drills, pushing players to think quickly even when tired from an early start.
By stressing the players in different ways, USC aims to prepare them for the unpredictable challenges of the season. Riley emphasized the importance of these moments, stating, "When you start putting those guys in real-life situations and you make it really difficult on them, you really start to see who rises up. And they're great teaching moments."
In the end, days like Wednesday are invaluable for building the foundation of accountability and resilience that USC needs. It's all part of the journey to becoming a cohesive and formidable team.