10 QUESTIONS: 2023 USC Starting Lineups, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Mater Dei, 2024 Recruiting Ranking, Top NIL Collectives + More
On Sunday Night (7/16), our Subscribers submitted questions for THE LATEST edition of the WeAreSC Football AND Recruiting Q&A.
This is a feature we did weekly throughout the season and will continue up until the February 1, 2024 signing period.
All questions were submitted on our “WeAreSC Members Only” Forum.
WEARESC SUBSCRIBER QUESTIONS
Will USC stay in the 4-7 recruiting ranking, when all the shouting is over for 2024 class?
I believe where USC finishes in the final 2024 team recruiting rankings will be determined in part by how the Trojans play this season. That said, I’m expecting USC to have a solid season and as a result, hover around the Top 5 when it’s all said and done. But you won’t really know until November. Speculating right now is just that, I’m not a fortune teller.
When does Fall Camp start?
We’re told July 26, but we’ll confirm later this week.
Is USC expecting any positive news this month or is to be continued until Early Signing Day?
USC is optimistic they’ll have some positive recruiting news. “Expecting” isn’t a word I’d use at this point, but I’d also refrain from saying they don’t expect any. It’s just unknown as of Monday July 17 at 6am PT.
Ignore the rankings by others. Where do you rank USC’s 2024 recruiting class as of today?
On3 has USC ranked No. 6 and that seems pretty appropriate to me. To be honest, I spend very little time checking rankings of players or recruiting classes. Just don’t believe it’s a vital part of my job considering nobody at On3 asks for my opinion.
But I’m always up for sharing thoughts on individuals players I’ve seen.
Seems as though USC has finally gotten its collective game in order since House of Victory launched three months ago (i.e. being one of 7 collectives to form the Collective Alliance this past week).
What are you hearing about how USC’s NIL collective efforts compare on a national level and what should we reasonably expect from them going forward (i.e. USC will have one of the 10 best/most effective NIL programs in the country)?
This is also a topic I let our experts at On3 handle, because it’s not something I’m well informed about outside of USC. I don’t spend a single waking minute speaking to other NIL Collectives, so I’d basically be talking out of my rear end if I answered this question.
What I can tell you is USC’s primary NIL Collective House of Victory is crushing it right now and very competitive with other elite NIL collectives. USC won’t compete with a few other programs like Texas A&M, Miami, Tennessee, Florida, at times Ohio State and Texas, but neither will Georgia and Alabama…..by choice. It’s by choice at USC, too.
Ohio State may end up getting 5-Star Buford (GA) Safety KJ Bolden because Georgia will not offer what the Buckeyes are willing to. Ohio State ended up with a commitment from Justin Scott after what I’d consider a crazy NIL deal. I’m told Ryan Day believes in order to win a National Championship, he needs to get guys SEC schools typically grab. Hard to argue he’s wrong, too.
But Ohio State has really upped its NIL game this year per a few sources.
What are your thoughts on what it will take for the NCAA to give Reggie Bush his Heisman back? Knowing full well all the payments that have occurred with players.
Lie most, I’ve always thigh it was horse**** the NCAA forced the issue with the Heisman Trophy. Glad USC put it back on display at Heritage Hall.
Who do you think are the 11 starters on offense and defense against San Jose?
Erik will publish an article at some point after a few weeks of Fall practices, so it’ll obviously be a far more informed take than I can provide on July 17. Mine is nothing but a partially informed guess, but just a guess nonetheless.
So for entertainment and discussion purposes, here ya go.
OFFENSE: Caleb Williams, MarShawn Lloyd, Dorian Singer, Mario Williams, Brenden Rice, Michael Tarquin, Jarrett Kington, Justin Dedich, Jonah Monheim, Emmanuel Pregnon and Lake McRee.
DEFENSE: Ceyair Wright, Jacobe Covington, Christian Roland-Wallace, Calen Bullock, Bryson Shaw, Mason Cobb, Eric Gentry, Anthony Lucas, Bear Alexander, Kyon Barrs and Jamil Muhammad.
Obviously Jaylin Smith and Domani Jackson could obviously be inserted into the defensive list above.
How confident are you in our DL depth behind Kyon Barrs and Bear Alexander? Do you think this could be an area we augment prior to the season starting?
Considering there wasn’t a Bear Alexander a year ago, that alone puts USC in a far better position defensively than 2022. But guys like Jack Sullivan and several others are going to rotate in this season.
Not sure anyone will be able to determine “confidence” until the game are played, but Shaun Nua told me last month a lot of guys will get plenty of reps. He will be rotating guys in and out often to remain fresh.
With the news of Tennessee finally getting their sanctions and not receiving a bowl ban, what are your thoughts on it and when do you think the NCAA will finally relinquish control of Power 5 football? Love all of your info as I have learned so much since joining the board.
I believe the NCAA will be go by the wayside sooner than later, if we’re talking about the playoff contending programs. Not sure what the number will ultimately be with a super conference or multiple playoff conferences, but the NCAA will not be the governing entity in the long run. The NCAA will handle the smaller conferences and hoops, in my opinion. We’ll see, but the NCAA is a complete farce and as corrupt an organization as they come.
Does Tennessee’s recent scandal affect the recruitment of Mike Mathews in any way?
I would think the latest ruling by the NCAA would encourage business as usual in the SEC.
Will there be a difference in the class of 2024 & 2025 at Mater Dei in terms of how they perceive USC?
Perception really isn’t an issue, so I can’t offer much on this topic. I personally don’t anticipate USC having many issues recruiting Mater Dei kids in the upcoming years.
Is Austin Overn gonna play football or concentrate on baseball? It’d be nice to have Zach Branch and Overn returning kickoffs.
It’s my understanding Austin will focus on baseball.
Of the draft eligible wide receivers on the USC roster, who do you think is the best NLF prospect?
Probably Mario Williams.
How much playing time do you see Miller Moss getting this year? FIGHT ON!
Hard to answer that question, but I do strongly believe it’ll be a far bigger priority to get Miller in games this season vs 2022.
As great as June was, how does USC bounce back from losing out on Dre’lon Miller, Tyanthony Smith and then potentially Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Taylor Tatum… I like the class we have but most of the players mentioned were very high priority.
It’s 2023 and you go get other guys you believe will help you win football games. Missing on prep prospects isn’t cause for panic anymore. At some point I’m sure that mindset will prevail.
Scott, for a guy who travels as much as you, do you have a girl in every city?
Most, not all lol
The post 10 QUESTIONS: 2023 USC Starting Lineups, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Mater Dei, 2024 Recruiting Ranking, Top NIL Collectives + More appeared first on On3.
