Saturday Blitz
Fansided

USC Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans celebrates the touchdown of running back Ronald Jones II #25 to take a 14-0 lead over the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Coliseum on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans celebrates the touchdown of running back Ronald Jones II #25 to take a 14-0 lead over the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Coliseum on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Offense

There’s no doubt, the offense has some ground to make up thanks to the seven starters departing from the 2016 squad. The Trojans did, however, have the 20th-best offense, in terms of total yards per game, in the country last year and there is plenty of returning talent.

Obviously Sam Darnold is the biggest piece, but we will get into that shortly.

Ronald Jones II returns at running back and he’s coming off a career-year in which he rushed for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns on 6.1 yards per carry. The junior will be backed up by Aca’Cedric Ware who added 397 yards and two scores.

At receiver, there will be three brand new starters. Juniors Deontay Burnett and Jalen Greene will try to make up for the losses of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers. Burnett was third on the team in 2016 with 622 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 catches while Greene had just eight for 116 yards. Sophomore Michael Pittman Jr. should provide a strong third starting receiver threat.

Daniel Imatorbhebhe had 17 catches for 250 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman tight end in 2016. Expect him to have a breakout season.

More from USC Trojans

The line, however, returns senior starters Nico Falah and Viane Talamaivao to center and right guard, respectively. Three juniors, Chris Brown (RT), Chuma Edoga (LT) and Toa Lobendahn (LG) are expected to round out the starters.

Encore for Sam Darnold?

If you don’t know the name Sam Darnold, you simply don’t know college football. He’s considered the top gunslinger in the college game today and he’s regarded as a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

Also, he was incredible in 2016.

The then-redshirt freshman passed for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns with just nine picks and a 67 percent completion rate — oh yeah, and he didn’t even begin the year as the starting quarterback.

Now that he has some experience under his belt and some weapons surrounding him, he enters fall camp as the clear starter and can get to work. Will he provide an encore or will the pressure from fans, coaches and the media crush him? I’d guess it’ll be the former.

Home/USC Trojans