Dunno about USC. Yeah, they have a good QB, but they have a barner-like history of not winning the big games in the last few years.
USC has everything it needs to win national title in 2015
High expectations are back at
USC, as the
Trojans return 14 starters from last year's 9-4 team. Quarterback
Cody Kessler headlines an offense that averaged 35.8 points per game in 2014.
Kessler is surrounded by one of the Pac-12's top offensive lines and receiving corps. Scoring points won't be an issue for second-year coach Steve Sarkisian, but the defense must replace standout end Leonard Williams and needs to show improvement after giving up over 400 yards per game in 2014.
Trojans are loaded on offense
This could be one of the more explosive offenses in the country. Kessler returns from one of the better under-the-radar seasons in recent memory. All he did as a junior was complete 69.7 percent of his passes while throwing for 39 touchdowns and only five interceptions. With the gifted Nelson Agholor gone, Kessler's new go-to receiver will be JuJu Smith, who was a freshman All-American a year ago. Then there is Steven Mitchell, the shifty new slot receiver who might have been the MVP of spring practice, as well as Adoree' Jackson, another freshman All-American who might be the most exciting two-way player in America. A full-time starter at cornerback, Jackson also will be utilized more as a pass catcher, especially after his breakout game against
Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
The Trojans will miss Javorius "Buck" Allen and his 1,489 yards rushing at tailback, but they hope to feature
Justin Davis -- a slashing, breakaway type --and
Tre Madden, who likes to rumble between the tackles, as a new complementary pair. Highly regarded freshman
Ronald Jones should also work into the mix, along with
Soma Vainuku, an intimidating 270-pound fullback who could be the short yardage answer.
The offensive line might be the deepest and strongest unit on the team. Max Tuerk is an All-Pac-12 center. He will be flanked by a pair of freshman All-Americans in Viane Talamaivao at guard and Toa Lobendahn at tackle. Guard Damien Mama and tackle Zach Banner -- a couple of beefy, 350-plus pounders -- round out a group that is as active as it is physical.
Who replaces Williams and Pullard?
You can't lose the best defensive end in the country and a captain and spiritual leader at linebacker and not feel it. All-American Leonard Williams and leading tackler
Hayes Pullard will be difficult to replace, especially for a team that often struggled late in games. But the Trojans are not without their share of talent on defense. The new all-star candidate is Su'a Cravens, who led the team in interceptions (three) and tackles for a loss (17.0) last year as an All-Pac-12 hybrid outside linebacker/safety.
Up front, senior
Antwaun Woods will try to set the tone at nose tackle.
Delvon Simmons, Claude Pelon and Scott Felix, more of an OLB/end hybrid, round out a solid, if unspectacular, group.
The linebackers joining Cravens will be
Lamar Dawson, probably USC's most improved player this spring, and the always aggressive
Anthony Sarao.
The secondary is led by the aforementioned Jackson, who is among the country's finest cover cornerbacks. Kevon Seymour, coming off a fine spring, will start at the other corner. The starting safeties are likely to be the improving John Plattenburg and Leon McQuay III, although true freshman Iman
Marshall should quickly work his way into the rotation.
Solid senior
Kris Albarado is in his third year as USC's punter. But there is a vacancy at placekicker, where newcomers Matt Boermeester and Alex Wood will battle for the job in fall practice. Boermeester will enter with a small advantage.
USC's 2015 outlook
Coming off a 9-4 season that left most Trojans boosters feeling mildly disappointed, coach Steve Sarkisian will face the pressure of huge expectations this fall. The offense should score plenty of points. But it is the defense -- which was mauled by the likes of
Boston College,
Arizona State and
UCLA a year ago -- that must show significant improvement, and that won't be easy without the departed Williams and Pullard. With Kessler, Smith, Jackson and Co., spectacular plays should be plentiful. But in the end, this team will go only as far as the defense takes it.
