SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS
2013 College Football Early Preview
OFFENSE - 8
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Matt Barkley-QB, Curtis McNeal-TB, Khaled Holmes-C, Robert Woods-WR (NFL)
DEFENSE: Wes Horton-DE, Jawanza Starling-SS, T.J. McDonald-FS, Kyle Negrete-P
WR Marqise Lee
Receiver / Defensive Line

Marqise Lee and Robert Woods are the dynamic duo. Outside of Clemson, this is as good as it gets for receivers. USC made a descent living off getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Senior defensive end Morgan Breslin can hang with the best of them and there are many other talents spread across this front.

Quarterback

The Matt Barkley era is over. Only two quarterbacks on the current roster, Wittek and Kessler, have attempted passes. Max Wittek gets the early nod after filling in for an injured Barkley versus Notre Dame in the finale. All the incumbents are former high school super stars. Next please...

DE Morgan Breslin
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2013 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2013 DEPTH CHART (updated Jan. 7)
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Max Wittek-So Cody Kessler-So
FB Soma Vainuku-So Jahleel Pinner-So
TB Silas Redd-Sr D.J. Morgan-Jr
WR Marqise Lee-Jr Nelson Agholor-So / De'Von Flournoy-Sr
WR George Farmer-Jr ..
TE Xavier Grimble-Jr ..
TE Randall Telfer-Jr Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick-So
OT Aundrey Walker-Jr Max Tuerk-So
OG Marcus Martin-Jr ..
C Cyrus Hobbi-So ..
OG John Martinez-Sr ..
OT Kevin Graf-Sr ..
K Andre Heidari-Jr Alex Wood-So
 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2013 DEPTH CHART (updated Jan. 7)
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Greg Townsend-So Kevin Greene-Sr
NT George Uko-Jr Antwaun Woods-So
DT Leonard Williams-So ..
DE Morgan Breslin-Sr J.R. Tavai-Jr
SLB Dion Bailey-Jr ..
MLB Lamar Dawson-Jr Will Andrew-Sr
WLB Hayes Pullard-Jr Anthony Sarao-So
CB Nickell Robey-Sr Kevon Seymour-So
CB Torin Harris-Sr Anthony Brown-Jr
SS Josh Shaw-Jr Demetrius Wright-Sr
FS Gerald Bowman-Sr ..
P .. ..
QUICK TAKES

    12/18/12

  • A few teams like Clemson might start an argument but USC probably has the most talented pair of receivers in the country with Marqise Lee and Robert Woods. Their only question might be who throws them passes.
  • The Matt Barkley era has finally moved on. The good news behind center is that the men of Troy trying to replace him carry quite the usual high standard blue chip resume. Sophomore Max Wittek is a former Mater Dei product and Super Prep All-American. The other, sophomore Cody Kessler, was also a California product Super Prep All-American. A'int recruiting grand?
  • This will continue to be a running-back-by-committee. Former Penn State transfer Silas Redd heads the group. With a new quarterback stepping in USC needs to get more production out of this bunch.
  • Defensively USC has fallen short. Granted the numbers aren't bad, but they certainly are not what is to be expected from a No. 1 ranked preseason team of which USC was tabbed just last summer. No one is still quite sure how to evaluate what effect the NCAA sanctions had or will have on the Trojans. After perusing this depth chart it's rather easy to see not much has changed in regards to the talent levels. And based on the recruiting class USC is prepared to bring in don't look for a drop-off anytime soon.
  • After failing to meet such lofty expectations in 2012 some might wonder how USC can crawl back into such a descent ranking from the depths of the unranked without their star quarterback. The depth chart speaks for itself. With 17 starters set to return, and many of them being a Who's Who of former high school All-Americans, leaving them out of the Top 25 for 2013 just doesn't make sense. How head coach Lane Kiffin plays his cards this off-season might offer some substantial insight as to what direction USC takes.

 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2013 SCHEDULE

Aug. 29 - at Hawai'i
Sept. 14 - Boston College
Sept. 21 - Utah State
Oct. 19 - at Notre Dame
TBA - Arizona
TBA - Stanford
TBA - UCLA
TBA - Utah
TBA - Washington State
TBA - at Arizona State
TBA - at California
TBA - at Colorado
TBA - at Oregon State