USCs transfer portal plans: Where do the Trojans need to upgrade this winter?

The Athletic has live coverage of the college football transfer portal window.

LOS ANGELES — With the exception of Colorado, it’s difficult to think of many programs that have been more aggressive than USC in the transfer portal the past two offseasons.

Lincoln Riley utilized the portal in an effort to make the Trojans as competitive as possible as quickly as possible, but his stated goal has been to rely on transfers less as USC builds its roster through high school recruiting.

But after adding 33 scholarship transfers through the portal the past two years, the Trojans still have significant needs to address, as their disappointing 7-5 season displayed. Riley’s resolve about relying less on the transfer portal might get tested this offseason because USC needs help immediately at some spots.

So before the portal officially opens to all players on Monday, let’s assess where the Trojans’ needs are.

Defensive front

Speaking to The Athletic last week, Riley said the first piece of business is to get the defense back on track. That starts with hiring a top-notch defensive coordinator, but the main task for that new hire will be adding more talent to this roster.

USC ranked 111th in the FBS in yards per rush allowed this season (4.78) after finishing 117th last year (4.98). The pass rush racked up 22 sacks through the first six games of the season but collected just five over the final six games as the strength of schedule intensified.

The new DC will have to add more depth and difference makers along the defensive front, but it’s difficult to find those types of talents in the portal. The Trojans tried to do just that last offseason, and their additions didn’t make much of an impact outside of Bear Alexander.

It’s not just the defensive line and along the edge, either. USC could use some more help at linebacker, too. The defense wasn’t good enough anywhere this past season.

But the front will likely take priority as USC moves to the Big Ten, where it will face plenty of programs that play like Utah, a bruising style has given the Trojans so many problems over the past two years.

USC was more talented on the defensive front this season than it was in 2022, but it still has a long way to go before it can be considered elite.

Offensive line

USC’s coaching staff added three offensive line starters through the portal last offseason, and the unit simply didn’t jell. The offensive line was embarrassed in the season’s final two games, losses to Oregon and UCLA, and was dominated by Notre Dame.

The Trojans will lose starting center Justin Dedich and Jarrett Kingston, who started games at right guard and right tackle. Starting left tackle Jonah Monheim could return but has not yet been asked about his future.

So USC has some things to figure out. If Monheim returns, that fills a spot at left tackle. But what about the right side? Do the Trojans put Michael Tarquin back out there after he struggled so much this season? Can the staff trust the inexperienced Elijah Paige against tough Big Ten fronts? Or will it move Mason Murphy back out to right tackle after he started the final six games at right guard? Will Gino Quinones be ready for the season after suffering a serious knee injury this fall?

Tarquin and Emmanuel Pregnon were two highly touted transfers who were very inconsistent this year, and Kingston had some issues, too. Offensive line coach Josh Henson will have to make better evaluations if he does go back to the portal this offseason.

The Trojans’ depth behind the starters is so young that they might have to go into the portal to add more experience. It’s hard to pinpoint where exactly USC needs help most; it could use a transfer at center, right tackle or right guard.

But the unit needs to be better next year. Big Ten defenses will be more physical and have more size than what the Trojans faced in the Pac-12.

Running back

USC will lose Austin Jones and could lose MarShawn Lloyd, who rushed for 820 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Raleek Brown’s father, Roscoe, confirmed to The Athletic on Monday that his son, who played running back (not receiver) against Washington, plans on entering the transfer portal.

So the Trojans might lose three potential options there — four if you count the veteran Darwin Barlow, who could leave as well. That’s a lot of experience to replace.

Quinten Joyner displayed some flashes this season but doesn’t have much experience. It seems like a pretty big leap for him to go from the No. 3 running back to USC’s starter in Year 1 in the Big Ten.

The coaching staff has added a running back in each of the past two offseasons, finding experienced options in Travis Dye, Jones and Lloyd. We’ll see if they do so again this offseason.

Quarterback?

We examined this in depth a few weeks ago, but barring a stunning decision, Caleb Williams has probably played his last game for USC.

Riley has had a lot of success with transfer quarterbacks in the past, which should make the program an attractive option for high-profile QB transfers this offseason.

The internal options are Miller Moss, who has been with the program since 2021, and Malachi Nelson, who was a five-star quarterback in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Moss has been the backup for the past two seasons, but Riley has never really gone with a quarterback like Moss, a more stationary passer who is not a true run threat. The offense would probably have to look different.

Nelson was the third-team quarterback all season and only threw three passes. Next year, USC opens with LSU and has games against Michigan, Penn State, Washington and Notre Dame. Is that the sort of fire Riley would want to throw a young, inexperienced QB into?

So both players present their own unknowns. It’s difficult to envision Riley going into a season the way Alabama and Ohio State did this fall, not knowing exactly what he had at quarterback. That’s why, from the outside looking in, adding a transfer makes sense.

What else to watch for

• USC lacks a true No. 1 wideout. In the past two offseasons, the staff has been aggressive in adding productive, prolific receivers. Jordan Addison worked out much better than Dorian Singer, who never found his footing this year. The Trojans still lack a playmaker they can count on on an-every-down basis — and they could lose Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice — so it doesn’t seem like it’d be a shock if they tried to add another wideout in the portal.

• The holes in the secondary were apparent over the second half of the season. USC needs more athleticism at safety, especially if Calen Bullock leaves for the NFL. Zion Branch helps in that department, but the Trojans need someone else alongside him. The corner group could stand to add some more talent, too, especially with Christian Roland-Wallace exhausting his eligibility.

• Like every other program, USC will suffer some attrition in the coming weeks. In addition to Raleek Brown, reserve safety Xamarion Gordon announced his plans to enter the portal on Tuesday after spending the past three seasons with the program. More will likely follow those two once the portal opens on Dec. 4.

(Photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)