USC football: 10 takeaways from Lincoln Riley's first spring practice press conference

Riley talked about the expectations for his team's defense in the fall, the transfer additions who have emerged as leaders so far, players who've impressed him this spring and much more

USC football coach Lincoln Riley addressed reporters via Zoom following the Trojans' second spring football practice of 2023 on Tuesday. He talked about the expectations for his team's defense in the fall, the transfer additions who have emerged as leaders, players who've impressed him so far this spring and much more.

Here are ten takeaways.

1. There will be higher expectations this season.

Riley's quote: "We've pushed the guys to understand what was acceptable 12 months ago is not necessarily acceptable now. If we're going to raise the standard of this program, it has to happen in everything that we do. We're way more advanced certainly in every sense of the word than we were at this point last year, but the standards are also higher too."

Analysis: That has to make fans feel good. Improving on last year would mean a Pac-12 championship and possible College Football Playoff berth. 

2. Riley expects to have "an extremely high level defense" and that it will "happen soon."

Riley's quote: "We expect to be an extremely high-level defense here at USC. There's no reason in the world why he can't and why we won't be. We expect that that will happen and happen soon."

Analysis: USC ranked 112th in points allowed (409) and 94th in points allowed per game (29.21) last season. How much USC improves on defense this year will determine the team's ceiling. A College Football Playoff berth is certainly possible with better play on defense. 

3. USC may look to add another transfer on the offensive line in May.

Riley's quote: "We're a little low at offensive line right now waiting for those four other freshman that will be here in June and another transfer or two potentially there."

Analysis: With Florida transfer Ethan White not joining the team in the spring and USC adding four more freshmen offensive linemen in the summer, the Trojans don't have a ton of depth on the o-line right now. Even with reinforcements coming, it looks like Riley would like to add one or two more pieces in May. 

4. Malachi Nelson is back to throwing, but still recovering from shoulder surgery.

Riley's quote: "Malachi hasn't had maybe the most ideal start in terms of having shoulder surgery in late December. He hasn't been able to go full-go in terms of the offseason and throwing. In fact, his first day of real throwing was Sunday, our first practice...He's doing well. He's talented. He's eager. He's got three good guys in there to really learn from as well as the coaches...He makes some plays where you see his ability, but certainly, there are plenty of mistakes. Every single play, there's something to learn from."

Analysis: Nelson being able to participate this spring is important because it will allow him to compete with Miller Moss for the backup QB spot. 

5. Linebacker Eric Gentry will miss the spring after having ankle surgery.

Riley's quote: "He will miss spring ball, but he'll be back very, very quickly after...He'll be cleared for summer conditioning."

Analysis: Gentry started nine games and played 560 snaps last season. His absence will allow for other LBs like junior Raesjon Davis, redshirt freshman Garrison Madden and true freshman Tackett Curtis to show the coaching staff why they deserve playing time in the fall. Riley also discussed how Gentry's absence will allow him to reset mentally ahead of the fall, which could be beneficial. 

6. A few of the transfers are already emerging as team leaders.

Riley's quote: "Mason Cobb comes to mind as a guy that's starting to assert himself in that way a lot like Shane [Lee] certainly has for us. Jack Sullivan certainly has some leadership potential there. Christian Roland-Wallace, I've for sure seen some of that. Dorian Singer is a little more quiet, but certainly leads by example. He's a real hard worker. We've been very impressed by his demeanor. I'd say a little bit of the same about MarShawn Lloyd. He's got leadership qualities as a very, very hard worker. It's been a good group. Michael Tarquin and Jarrett Kingston have done a nice job."

Analysis: This was of course expected with so many of USC's transfer additions playing such prominent roles at their previous schools. 

7. Expect USC to be bigger, especially in the defensive backfield.

Riley's quote: "We've had several guys in the defensive backfield that have put on strength and some really good weight. That was an area we knew we needed to get a little bigger...Calen Bullock has put on some nice weight. Latrell McCutchin too. Prophet Brown's had a really nice offseason. We're excited about him. Jacobe Covington continues to take huge strides and build on the momentum that he had at the end of the season. He's had a phenomenal offseason. Domani Jackson's had a good offseason. He's gotten back healthy. He's been able to really participate fully for us here...[Linebacker] Eric Gentry's put on some good weight, but of course we won't get to see much of it this spring. [Linebacker] Garrison Madden is another guy that's done some really nice things there and put on some good weight."

Analysis: Riley saying that Jacobe Covington has had "a phenomenal offseason" stands out. The redshirt junior started USC's final three games a year ago and impressed. He looks like the current favorite to start at corner alongside Arizona transfer Christian Roland-Wallace as of March 7th. But of course, expect others to compete, like Domani Jackson, who Riley also mentioned above. 

8. Riley hopes to have better depth on the defensive line in 2023. 

Riley's quote: "Our goal on the defensive line is to increase production across the board and be a dominant unit instead of a unit that has one dominant player. We fell into that too much last year."

Analysis: The goal isn't to replace Tuli Tuipulotu with one player, it's to improve the unit as a whole. With four transfer additions, USC's defensive line should definitely be better in the fall. But exactly how much better will it be? That's the key question. 

9. Playing time at linebacker is up for grabs.

Riley's quote: "We've got some real competition that's very apparent here a couple days in. That's going to be fun to watch and that's going to be a room that regardless of who starts or who doesn't, we need to get extreme production out of that linebacker room."

Analysis: Shane Lee and Eric Gentry struggled mightily last year. With Gentry out, Oklahoma State transfer Mason Cobb, Davis, Madden and Curtis are all competing for playing time this spring and so far, it sounds like Riley has enjoyed watching that battle unfold. 

10. Don't rule out Courtland Ford having a big role on the offensive line.

Riley's quote: "Courtland finished the year really strong for us. He's had a really good offseason. He's really trimmed down. He's moving extremely well. He's competing with some of the new guys coming in."

Analysis: When USC added three offensive linemen in the transfer portal, it looked like Ford may struggle to get on the field this fall after playing 77 snaps in the Cotton Bowl. Clearly, he's competing though and Riley has really liked what he's seen. 

Listen to Riley's full press conference below.