2020 USC Trojans football team

The 2020 USC Trojans football team was to represent the University of Southern California in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were to play their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and compete as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were to be led by fifth-year head coach Clay Helton.

2020 USC Trojans football
ConferencePac-12 Conference
DivisionSouth Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 17
2020 record0–0 (0–0 Pac-12)
Head coachClay Helton (5th season)
Offensive coordinatorGraham Harrell (2nd season)
Offensive schemeAir Raid
Defensive coordinatorTodd Orlando (1st season)
Base defense3-3-5
Captain
Home stadiumUnited Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Capacity: 77,500)
Uniform
2020 Pac-12 Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
North Division
California         
Oregon         
Oregon State         
Stanford         
Washington         
Washington State         
South Division
Arizona         
Arizona State         
Colorado         
UCLA         
USC         
Utah         
Championship: TBA
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Pac-12 suspended the 2020 football season.
As of August 16, 2020; Rankings from AP Poll

On August 11, 2020, the Pac-12 Conference cancelled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Previous season

The Trojans finished the 2019 season 8–5, 7–2 in Pac-12.

Offseason

Transfers

The Trojans lost 9 players due to transfer.

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownTransfer to
JT Daniels#10QB6'3210Sophomore Santa Ana, CAGeorgia Bulldogs
Jack Sears#13QB6'3205Sophomore San Clemente, CABoise State Broncos
Devon Williams#2WR6'4205Junior Lancaster, CAOregon Ducks
Velus Jones Jr.#1WR6'0190Senior Saraland, ALTennessee Volunteers
Clayton Bradley#76OT6'5295Senior Orange, CAUNLV Rebels
C.J. Pollard#28S6'1195Senior Carson, CAUtah State Aggies
Daniel Imatorbhebhe#88TE6’3240Senior Suwanee, GAIllinois Fighting Illini
Jack Yary-TE6’6255FreshmanMurrieta, CAWashington Huskies
Thomas Fitts#15PK6'1185Senior Dallas, TX SMU Mustangs

The Trojans added 4 player via transfer.

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownTransfer from
Mo Hasan-QB6'3190Senior Miami, FLVanderbilt Commodores
Micah Croom-DB6'1210Senior Miami, FLDartmouth Big Green
Nathan Weneta-LS6'2210FreshmanSan Diego, CAPurdue Boilermakers
Joe Bryson-OT6'8285JuniorCastle Pines, COColorado Mesa Mavericks

Returning Starters

USC returns 37 starters in 2020 including 15 on offense, 19 on defense, and 3 on special teams.

Key departures include Michael Pittman Jr. (WR - 13 games), Austin Jackson (OT – 13 games), Drew Richmond (OT – 12 games), Christian Rector (DE – 10 games), John Houston Jr. (ILB – 13 games)

Other departures include Jack Sears (QB - 1 game in 2018), Dominic Davis (WR - 9 games), and Jacob Daniel (OG - 6 games).

Recruiting class

2020 NFL Draft

NFL Combine

The official list of participants for the 2020 NFL Combine included USC football players Michael Pittman (WR) and Austin Jackson (OT).

Team players drafted into the NFL

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL Team
Austin JacksonOffensive tackle118Miami Dolphins
Michael Pittman Jr.Wide receiver234Indianapolis Colts
Christian RectorDefensive endUDFA--
John Houston Jr.Inside linebackerUDFA-Pittsburgh Steelers
Drew RichmondOffensive tackleUDFA--

Preseason

Pac-12 media days

Pac-12 media polls

In the 2020 Pac-12 preseason media poll.

Preseason All Pac-12 teams

Personnel

Coaching staff

NamePositionSeasons at
USC
Alma materBefore USC
Clay HeltonHead coach10Houston (1994)Memphis – Offensive coordinator (2009)
Graham HarrellOffensive coordinator / Quarterbacks coach2Texas Tech (2009)North Texas – Offensive coordinator / Quarterbacks coach (2018)
Todd OrlandoDefensive coordinator / Linebackers coach1Wisconsin (1993)Texas – Defensive coordinator / Linebackers coach (2019)
Sean SnyderSpecial Teams coordinator1Kansas State (1993)Kansas State - Assistant head coach / Special Teams coordinator / Senior Special Teams analyst (2019)
Mike JinksTailbacks coach2Angelo State (1993)Bowling Green – Head coach (2018)
Keary ColbertWide receivers coach6USC (2006)Alabama – Offensive analyst (2015)
John David BakerInside wide receivers / Tight ends coach2Abilene Christian (2013)North Texas – Offensive quality control coach (2018)
Tim DrevnoOffensive line coach / Running game coordinator / Pass protection coordinator4Cal State Fullerton (1992)Michigan – Offensive coordinator / Offensive line coach (2015)
Vic So'otoDefensive line coach1BYU (2011)Virginia – Defensive line coach (2019)
Donte WilliamsCornerbacks coach / Defensive Pass game coordinator1Idaho State (2006)Oregon – Cornerbacks coach (2019)
Craig NaivarSafeties coach1Hardin-Simmons (1993)Texas – Co-Defensive coordinator / Safeties coach (2019)
Aaron AusmusHead strength and conditioning coach4Tennessee (1998)Tennessee – Director of strength and conditioning (2009)

Roster

2020 USC Trojans Football roster

Quarterback

  •  9 Kedon Slovis – Sophomore
  • 19 Matt Fink – Senior
  • - Mo Hasan – Senior

Tailback

  •  7 Stephen Carr – Senior
  • 23 Kenan Christon – Sophomore
  • 27 Quincy Jountti – Senior
  • 29 Vavae Malepeai – Senior
  • 30 Markese Stepp – Sophomore
  • 37 Ben Easington – Junior
  • - Matthew Colombo – Freshman

Wide Receiver

  •  1 Gary Bryant Jr. – Freshman
  •  2 Munir McClain – Sophomore
  •  4 Bru McCoy – Freshman
  •  6 Joshua Jackson Jr. – Freshman
  •  8 Amon-Ra St. Brown – Junior
  • 15 Drake London – Sophomore
  • 17 Zach Wilson – Sophomore
  • 21 Tyler Vaughns Senior
  • 22 Jack Webster – Junior
  • 36 Brad Aoki – Sophomore
  • 41 Chris Caulk – Senior
  • 80 John Jackson III – Sophomore
  • 81 Kyle Ford – Freshman
  • 86 Chase Locke – Freshman
  • - Danny Ryan – Freshman

Tight End

  • 18 Jude Wolfe – Freshman
  • 46 Scott Voigt – Senior
  • 83 Josh Falo – Senior
  • 84 Erik Krommenhoek – Senior
  • 85 Ethan Rae – Freshman
  • 89 Sean Mahoney – Freshman

Placekicker

  • 38 Alex Stadthaus – Junior
  • 40 Chase McGrath – Junior
  • 48 Parker Lewis – Freshman
  • 49 Michael Brown – Senior
 

Offensive Lineman

  • 51 Bernard Schirmer – OT – Senior
  • 57 Justin Dedich – C – Sophomore
  • 62 Brett Neilon – C – Junior
  • 63 Damian Lopez – OG-OT – Junior
  • 64 AJ Mageo – OG-OT – Sophomore
  • 65 Frank Martin II – OG – Senior
  • 66 Gino Quinones – C-OG – Freshman
  • 67 Mark Zuvich – C – Sophomore
  • 68 Liam Douglass – OG-OT – Sophomore
  • 70 Jalen McKenzie – OT – Junior
  • 71 Liam Jimmons – OG-OT – Senior
  • 72 Andrew Vorhees – OG – Junior
  • 75 Alijah Vera-Tucker – OG – Junior
  • 77 Jason Rodriguez – OT – Freshman
  • - Jonah Monheim – OG – Freshman
  • - Casey Collier – OT – Freshman
  • - Courtland Ford – OT – Freshman
  • - Caadyn Stephen – OT – Freshman
  • - Andres Dewerk – OT – Freshman
  • - Andrew Milek – OT – Freshman
  • - Joe Bryson – OT – Junior

Defensive Line

  • 47 Stanley Ta'ufo'ou – Freshman
  • 50 Nick Figueroa – Junior
  • 51 Marlon Tuipulotu – Junior
  • 78 Jay Tufele – Junior
  • 79 De'jon Benton – Freshman
  • 90 Connor Murphy – Senior
  • 91 Brandon Pili – Senior
  • 94 Kobe Pepe – Freshman
  • 95 Trevor Trout – Sophomore
  • 96 Caleb Tremblay – Senior
  • 97 Jacob Lichtenstein – Junior
  • 99 Drake Jackson – Sophomore
  • - Tuli Tuipulotu – Freshman
  • - Jamar Sekona – Freshman

Long Snappers

  • 39 Jac Casasante – Sophomore
  • 59 Damon Johnson – Senior
  • - Nathan Weneta – Freshman
 

Linebacker

  •  1 Palaie Gaoteote IV – Junior
  • 10 Ralen Goforth – Sophomore
  • 18 Raymond Scott – Sophomore
  • 26 Kana'i Mauga – Junior
  • 31 Hunter Echols – Junior
  • 34 Eli'Jah Winston – Sophomore
  • 41 Juliano Falaniko – Junior
  • 42 Abdul-Malik McClain – Sophomore
  • 44 Tuasivi Nomura – Freshman
  • 45 Maninoa Tufono – Freshman
  • 46 Grant Jones – Senior
  • 48 Peter Esparza – Sophomore
  • 52 Spencer Gilbert – Sophomore
  • 53 Bryce Matthews – Junior
  • 54 Clyde Moore – Freshman
  • 56 Jordan Iosefa – Senior
  • 58 Solomon Tuliaupupu – Sophomore
  • - Tayler Katoa – Freshman
  • - Danny Lockhart II – Freshman

Cornerback

  •  2 Olaijah Griffin – Junior
  •  4 Max Williams – Freshman
  •  6 Isaac Taylor-Stuart – Sophomore
  •  7 Chase Williams – Sophomore
  •  8 Chris Steele – Sophomore
  •  9 Greg Johnson – Junior
  • 13 Adonis Otey – Freshman
  • 14 Jayden Williams – Sophomore
  • 44 Jack Drake – Junior

Safety

  • 15 Talanoa Hufanga – Junior
  • 21 Isaiah Pola-Mao – Junior
  • 22 Dorian Hewett – Sophomore
  • 23 Kaulana Makaula – Freshman
  • 25 Briton Allen – Sophomore
  • 30 Jordan McMillan – Sophomore
  • - Tommy Maurice – Freshman
  • - Micah Croom – Senior

Punter

  • 24 Ben Griffiths Sophomore
  • 36 Will Rose – Freshman
  • 47 Michael Shahidi – Freshman

2020 USC Football Roster (12/28/2019)

Depth chart

  • Projected 2020 Depth Chart

True Freshman
Double Position : *

Scholarship distribution chart

redshirt year used / redshirt year eligible / * Commit / # Skip senior year in HS

- 85 scholarships permitted, 84 currently allotted to players

- 83 recruited players on scholarship (one former walk-ons)

- LB Tayler Katoa into two-year LDS mission.

Projecting Scholarship Distribution 2020

Schedule

Spring game

Regular season

USC had games scheduled against Alabama, New Mexico, and Notre Dame, but cancelled these games on July 10 due to the Pac-12 Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResult
September 26TBDat UCLATBD
October 3TBDCalifornia
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
TBD
October 10TBDat StanfordTBD
October 17TBDColorado
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
TBD
October 24TBDat ArizonaTBD
November 7TBDWashington State
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
TBD
November 14TBDat OregonTBD
November 21TBDArizona State
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
TBD
November 27TBDat Utah
TBD
December 5TBDWashington
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
TBD

Game summaries

UCLA

Overall record Last meeting Result
50–32–7 2019 USC, 52–35
USC Trojans at UCLA Bruins
1 2 34Total
Trojans - - --0
Bruins - - --0

at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

  • Date: September 26, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

California

Overall record Last meeting Result
71–30–5 2019 USC, 41–17
California Golden Bears at USC Trojans
1 2 34Total
Golden Bears - - --0
Trojans - - --0

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Stanford

Overall record Last meeting Result
62–33–3 2019 USC, 45–20
USC Trojans at Stanford Cardinal
1 2 34Total
Trojans - - --0
Cardinal - - --0

at Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California

  • Date: October 10, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Colorado

Overall record Last meeting Result
14–0 2019 USC, 35–31
Colorado Buffaloes at USC Trojans
1 2 34Total
Buffaloes - - --0
Trojans - - --0

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: October 17, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Arizona

Overall record Last meeting Result
34–8 2019 USC, 41–14
USC Trojans at Arizona Wildcats
1 2 34Total
Trojans - - --0
Wildcats - - --0

at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona

  • Date: October 24, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Washington State

Overall record Last meeting Result
59–10–4 2018 USC, 39–36
Washington State Cougars at USC Trojans
1 2 34Total
Cougars - - --0
Trojans - - --0

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Oregon

Overall record Last meeting Result
38–21–2 2019 Oregon, 56–24
USC Trojans at Oregon Ducks
1 2 34Total
Trojans - - --0
Ducks - - --0

at Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

  • Date: November 14, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Arizona State

Overall record Last meeting Result
22–13 2019 USC, 31–26
Arizona State Sun Devils at USC Trojans
1 2 34Total
Sun Devils - - --0
Trojans - - --0

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Utah

Overall record Last meeting Result
12–6 2019 USC, 30–23
USC Trojans at Utah Utes
1 2 34Total
Trojans - - --0
Utes - - --0

at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah

  • Date: November 27, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Washington

Overall record Last meeting Result
51–30–4 2019 Washington, 28–14
Washington Huskies at USC Trojans
1 2 34Total
Huskies - - --0
Trojans - - --0

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: December 5, 2020
  • Game time: TBD

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final 
AP  
Coaches 17  
CFP Not released Not released

Statistics

Awards and honors

References

  1. "Pac-12 Conference postpones all sport competitions through end of calendar year". pac-12.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  2. Bromberg, Nick. "Pac-12 follows Big Ten's lead and won't play non-conference games in 2020". Yahoo News. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.