USC Football: Trojans Dominate 1st Half Vs Nevada Despite Major LB Changes

Their depth is really showing!

Your number six-ranked USC Trojans entered their second game of the season looking to stay undefeated. We all saw them take down the San Jose State Spartans in Week 0 56-28 and even though experts were definitely concerned about all of the runs and TD's they allowed, one thing was for sure... new transfer LB Eric Gentry showed out.

Insider Shotgun Spratling revealed exactly how productive he was in a stat breakdown and the numbers speak for themselves.

What kind of impact did LB Eric Gentry have on the #USC defense in the season opener?

Here's the six full drives he played:
Three-and-out (2 yds)
Three-and-out (1 yard)
Two-minute TD (4 play, 46 yds)
Three-and-out (5 yds)
Three-and-out (5 yds)
6 plays, 20 yds (1 first down) pic.twitter.com/nIkczx5DyI

— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) August 28, 2023

However, it was revealed by columnist Chris Treviño on Twitter not too long before USC's week one matchup against the Nevada Wolf Pack that Gentry along with another starting LB in Mason Cobb would not be playing.

Starter Mason Cobb also not dressed. #USC without both Cobb and Gentry today https://t.co/MV6YnmWA3v

— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) September 2, 2023

LB Eric Gentry is not dressed out. He will sit against Nevada. #USC @ThePeristyle

Starter Mason Cobb also not dressed.

#USC

without both Cobb and Gentry today

Therefore, Lincoln Riley, Alex Grinch and the rest of the coaching staff had to look to the rest of their depth chart for some big production off the jump and unfortunately, things took another turn for the worst.

Freshman Tackett Curtis got ejected just minutes into the first quarter and that led to yet another change the coaches had to deal with.

Freshman LB Tackett Curtis gets ejected for targeting 5 minutes into the second quarter. USC reaching down to the bottom of their LB depth chart now, with Mason Cobb and Eric Gentry not dressed for today's game.

— Jack Hallinan (@jackhallinan17) September 2, 2023

Freshman LB Tackett Curtis gets ejected for targeting 5 minutes into the second quarter. USC reaching down to the bottom of their LB depth chart now, with Mason Cobb and Eric Gentry not dressed for today's game.

Nonetheless, your Trojans have looked just fine in the first half vs Nevada despite all of these adjustments as they lead 35-7 behind 258 passing yards, 121 rushing yards and 17 first downs.

On the flip side, they have allowed the Wolf Pack just 146 passing yards, 35 rushing yards and six first downs.

It should be another excellent second half coming up very soon!