USC Football: 5 biggest questions facing Trojans in spring 2018

USC didn’t have the ideal end to its 2017 season, but the Trojans bring back a solid team for 2018, but they are facing important questions this spring.

If the season ended on a slightly higher note than a blowout loss to Ohio State, we might be talking about the Trojans as one of the top-five teams in the nation heading into 2018.

There may still be some who have the Trojans ranked that high, but they’re losing plenty of talent from the 2017 squad that went 11-3. That includes guys like Sam Darnold, Deontay Burnett and Ronald Jones II — the top passer, receiver and rusher, respectively.

The Trojans are returning a decent team with a top-five recruiting class, but will it be enough to contend for the Pac-12 crown? Clay Helton and Co. have some questions to answer before the season.

What’re the five biggest questions facing USC this spring?

5. Which incoming freshmen establish themselves?

While Clay Helton reeled in the No. 4 class nationally, and No. 1 in the Pac-12, for 2018, per 247Sports, only six of the 18 members are enrolled early. That’s not a terrible ratio, though. One-third of a class is enrolled early, giving them a chance to compete for starting roles.

With the April 14 spring game comes a chance to watch the early enrollees in action. Unlike many of programs around the nation, each early enrollee for the Trojans is rated as a four-star. If that’s not elite recruiting, I don’t know what is.

Will four-star center Justin Dedich compete for the starting center job with Cole Smith following the departure of Nico Falah? Can Chase Williams rise up the depth chart at cornerback? Will Raymond Scott and Kana’i Mauga contend for snaps at linebacker?

There’s also a JUCO transfer to keep an eye on as defensive tackle Caleb Tremblay was the No. 11 player at that level in the 2018 class.