Lincoln Riley on USC's NIL setup: 'Very good and rapidly getting better'

Two new collectives supporting USC athletes surfaced last week

In a wide ranging interview with ESPN's Pete Thamel, USC football coach Lincoln Riley addressed the Trojans' NIL setup calling it "very good and rapidly getting better."

Thamel wrote on the subject: "Riley said upon the new staff's arrival that USC's NIL required a similar jump-start to the [team's] roster. He compares the leap in the effectiveness of the NIL program to the "radical" progress the roster has taken."

Last Friday, a new NIL collective supporting USC athletes called House of Victory launched. Another collective, Victory Formation, hasn't officially begun operating but went public last week as well. 

Back in February, the collective The Tommy Group also launched to support USC. Trojans legend Keyshawn Johnson is one of the founders of the organization and he said at the launch party for the collective that he hoped it could help close the gap in recruiting between USC and other marquee programs.

Last recruiting cycle, two USC priority targets, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei and Serra (Gardena, Calif.) cornerback Rodrick Pleasant, both picked the Oregon Ducks over the Trojans.

RECRUITING AND THE BIG TEN

Thamel's article also quotes USC football General Manager Dave Emerick on the Trojans staff's pitch to recruits regarding the school's impending move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. 

"We're selling that you're going to have an opportunity to build your brand across the country -- from New York to Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles," Emerick said. "All those markets. In this day and age of NIL, the opportunity to build a nationwide brand is something that's unique." 

USC currently has one committed recruit in its 2024 class, Lakeridge (Lake Oswego, Ore.) tight end Joey Olsen. With the Trojans set to host a number of high profile 2024 prospects for official visits in June, expect to see an increase in committed players in the near future.