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USC Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017 season

By Shane Lunnen

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: USC Trojans players look on against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: USC Trojans players look on against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Linebacker

Starting outside linebackers: Porter Gustin, Uchenna Nwosu
Backups: Oluwole Betiku, Connor Murphy

Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast uses a base 5-2, which is really a 2-4-5 scheme. Senior Uchenna Nwosu and junior Porter Gustin act as edge rushers in the 5-2 look. Nwosu primarily plays as a run-stopper while Gustin is in there to rush the quarterback in a predator role. Last year both players had solid seasons. Porter racked up 68 total tackles, 13 of them for loss and 5.5 sacks. Nwosu has 53 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss.

With Gustin and Nwosu entrenched as the starters, Oluwole Betiku and Connor Murphy will look to get some extended playing time this season. Betiku in particular had extended playing time in the spring with Gustin sat out recovering from injury. He has passed Murphy on the depth chart, but both guys should get meaningful playing time in the rotation.

Starting inside linebackers: Cameron Smith, John Houston
Backups:  Jordan Iosefa, Levi Jones

Cameron Smith is the best player in the USC linebacker corps, if not the best defensive player on the team. As a true freshman in 2015, he recorded 78 tackles and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Unfortunately his year was cut short, missing the final four games due to a knee injury. He came back to form in 2016, leading the team with 83 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He seems to be magnetized to ball carriers and is smothering in run and pass coverage.

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John Houston has had some setbacks in his Trojan career so far. He arrived as a five-star recruit, but took a redshirt his freshman year due to ongoing back issues. Last season, he was used sparingly and mostly on special teams. Now with the lack of depth, he should be the other inside linebacker next to Smith.

Sophomore Jordan Iosefa, a 2016 commit, is still learning but he had some playing time last year when Smith went out. Keep an eye on newcomer Levi Jones as he arrives on campus this fall. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound product out of Austin, Texas is athletic enough to push for early playing time. Doubtful that the USC coaching staff uses a redshirt on him.

Although it’s not reflected on the depth chart, USC is in a nickel package almost exclusively. Malik Dorton is listed as the official “nickel” starter.

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