Projecting USC football's 2023 spring game depth chart
USC football's spring game will take place on Saturday at noon inside the Coliseum. The offense will take on the defense. The game comes after 14 spring practices, which have offered a small window into how USC will potentially line up in the game.
Media members have been able to watch the opening stretching portion and individual drills of nine practices. One practice was open to reporters for its entirety. After every session, at least one member of the USC program fielded questions from the media.
After covering spring ball in its entirety over the last two months, here's our 2023 USC football spring game depth chart projection. The depth chart will not include players who are currently injured or not on campus yet. Following the second transfer portal window, which opens for two weeks beginning on Saturday, SI All Trojans will release an estimated depth chart ahead of USC's summer camp.
PROJECTED SPRING GAME DEPTH CHART
Quarterback
1. Caleb Williams (Jr.)
2. Miller Moss (R-So.)
3. Malachi Nelson (Fr.)
4. Jake Jensen (R-So.)
During spring ball, Williams has worked with USC's top offensive unit (obviously). Moss has worked with the second unit and Nelson with the third.
Running back
1. Austin Jones (R-Sr.) OR MarShawn Lloyd (R-Jr.)
2. Darwin Barlow (R-Sr.) OR Quinten Joyner (Fr.) OR A'Marion Peterson (Fr.)
Expect to see Jones and Lloyd both work in with USC's top group and Barlow, Joyner and Peterson to play with the second and third units.
Wide receiver
1. Brenden Rice (Sr.), Dorian Singer (Jr.), Mario Williams (Jr.)
USC's wide receiver room is loaded and we expect nearly every scholarship wideout to see the field this fall. Right now, Rice, Singer and Williams look like the three starters. Kyron Hudson (R-So.), Tahj Washington (R-Sr.), Michael Jackson III (Jr.), Raleek Brown (So.) and Zachariah Branch (Fr.) will all work in during the spring game.
Rice and Singer have really separated themselves this spring. Branch is a player who could push to be a starter in the fall. Hudson has had a strong spring, according to Lincoln Riley. Brown is transitioning to being more of a slot receiver from running back, but look for him to line up all over the place.
Tight end
1. Lake McRee (R-So.)
2. Carson Tabaracci (R-Fr.)
This one is pretty straightforward. McRree is the clear starter and Tabaracci, who moved over from defense this spring, is behind him.
Offensive line
LT: Michael Tarquin (R-Jr.)
LG: Gino Quinones (R-Sr.)
C: Justin Dedich (R-Sr.)
RG: Jarrett Kingston (R-Sr.)
RT: Jonah Monheim (R-Jr.)
That's how USC's first offensive line group has lined up this spring.
Mason Murphy (R-So.) will compete for time at left and right tackle and then Andres Dewerk (R-Jr.), Cooper Lovelace (R-Sr.) and Andrew Milek (R-Jr.) should also play in reserve roles. Elijah Paige (Fr.) is an early enrollee who will play on Saturday too. He's a future starting tackle.
Defensive tackle and nose tackle
With so many players having the ability to play on both the inside and outside, it's challenging to project out the interior of the defensive line. The following players are sure fire contributors on USC's top units:
Kyon Barrs (Sr.), Jack Sullivan (R-Sr), De'jon Benton (R-Sr.) and Stanley Ta'ufo'ou (R-Jr.)
Barrs and Sullivan have both had particularly impressive springs. Expect to see Korey Foreman (Jr.), Earl Barquet Jr. (R-Sr.), Colin Mobley (R-So.), Kobe Pepe (R-Jr.) and Devan Thompkins (R-Fr.) also rotate in on the interior.
Sullivan won't always play on the inside though — he can also line up on the edge. The same is true for Thompkins and Foreman.
Rush end
1. Jamil Muhammad (R-Sr.)
2. Sam Greene (Fr.)
Muhammad looks like the starting rush end based on how things have played out this spring. More experienced players will work in with him in the future, but right now he's the guy.
Defensive end
1. Anthony Lucas (So.) OR Solomon Tuliaupupu (R-Sr.)
Lucas has been the defensive player brought up the most when members of the team are asked about impact players after practices and scrimmages. Tuliaupupu should see plenty of action too.
Linebacker
1. Mason Cobb (Sr.) and Shane Lee (Sr.) OR Tackett Curtis (Fr.)
2. Raesjon Davis (Jr.)
3. Chris Thompson Jr. (Sr.) and Garrison Madden (R-Fr.)
Cobb and Lee are the likely starters, but including Curtis so high up goes to show how big of an impact he's made in the spring. Davis is pushing hard to earn a starting spot too. A big spring game could go a long way for the junior who didn't play too much last season.
Nickel
1. Jaylin Smith
Similarly to Muhammad at rush end, Smith has this spot currently locked down. As players get healthy and the staff further evaluates younger players, Smith will be pushed in the future.
Cornerback
USC's CB room is similar to its WR room — the starters won't be the only players to see the field.
The Trojans' staff will pick two players out of the following group to start on Saturday:
Ceyair Wright (R-So.), Domani Jackson (So.), Christian Roland-Wallace (Sr.) and Jacobe Covington (R-Jr.).
Prophet Brown (R-So.) and Fabian Ross (So.) will play in reserve roles.
If we had to pick a camp MVP out of the cornerbacks, it would probably go to Wright.
Safety
1. Calen Bullock and Max Williams OR Bryson Shaw
2. Christian Pierce and Anthony Beavers Jr. OR Xamarion Gordon
As an All-American, Bullock is of course a starter. Williams and Shaw appear to be locked in a battle to play alongside Bullock. Don't be surprised if Pierce gets into the mix as a potential starter in the future as well. Players getting healthy will change the safety mix further.
Specialists
K: Denis Lynch (R-So.)
P: Edward Czaplicki (Jr.) - he could also kick field goals and/or kick off
Kick return: Dorian Singer, Tahj Washington and Quinten Joyner
Punt return: Zachariah Branch and Raleek Brown
