USC Football: Trojans Captain Looking To Leave Legacy In Holiday Bowl

We sure hope he does.

Sixth-year redshirt senior USC Trojans center Justin Dedich, one of the club's captains this year, is looking to help the club make a solid closing argument in this year's Holiday Bowl, slated to kick off tonight at 5 p.m. PT in San Diego's Petco Park, against the Louisville Cardinals.

Per Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times, the 6'2", 295-pound offensive lineman wants to make his final collegiate game a memorable one.

“I’m doing this to make sure that the tone is set for the beginning of next year,” Dedich said. “I’ve taken pride in that … leaving that legacy on a high note for this team going into the 2024 year.”

Last year, Dedich, who's suited up at right and left guard and at center during his extensive NCAA career, made the Pro Football Focus All-American Third Team and was shortlisted as an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. The 2022 USC offensive line, propelled by Dedich, was named a Joe Moore Award Semifinalist. That was a much better Trojans team, one that finished 11-2 on the year and actually took its postseason seriously (Caleb Williams actually deemed a Cotton Bowl appearance against Tulane worthy of his time).

We're looking forward to seeing Dedich ply his trade at the pro level. But he'll be missed by the Cardinal and Gold.