Seven USC Trojans to Watch This Fall After Minimal Spring Impact

USC welcomed a couple of new additions this summer who should make huge contributions to the 2023 Trojans in defensive lineman Bear Alexander and offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon. But there are a few other Trojans who were on the roster this spring but were limited to some degree due to injury. Here are seven USC Trojans to watch this fall who didn’t fully participate in the spring, but could make sizable impacts when practices start again.

LB Eric Gentry

Linebacker Eric Gentry is maybe the most obvious name in this group. He missed the entire spring after undergoing offseason surgery right before camp started to fully repair that ankle he injured against Utah last October. Gentry was one of the top playmakers for the USC defense last season. He was among the team leaders in tackles despite missing multiple games. And he had a hand in some key turnovers, specifically against Oregon State and Utah. How those two inside linebacker positions shake out will be worth watching this fall, as Gentry, Mason Cobb and Shane Lee are all starting-caliber players. Gentry looks to be healthy again and should see plenty of time this fall as a key part of the USC defense.

CB Christian Roland-Wallace

Arizona cornerback transfer Christian Roland-Wallace seemed to be more out than in this spring and did not participate in the spring game. He’s part of a group of four cornerbacks all battling for starting jobs, but the experience he brings could give him an edge. Head coach Lincoln Riley said Roland-Wallace impressed during the winter conditioning session. And Roland-Wallace certainly brings an impressive stature to the position. The comparison is going to be to Mekhi Blackmon as an intraconference veteran cornerback transfer. But Blackmon made a quick impact on the field during the spring as one of the defense’s best playmakers. Roland-Wallace wasn’t able to do that this spring. Though, it’s a good bet he’ll make a quick impact this fall.

DL Tyrone Taleni

Defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni was one of the true surprises for the Trojans last season. He arrived with very low expectations after proving little on the field at Kansas State. But he quickly showed that he could be a real piece of the USC defense and was a fun Trojan to watch develop throughout the season. He finished with 25 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and five stacks. Taleni played in 12 games and started the final nine, earning a spot on the AP All-Pac-12 Second Team. This is going to be a new-look defensive line with all the transfer additions, but Taleni could still be a key piece in giving USC an impactful two-deep up front. He brings a big-time motor and should continue to show that steep trajectory as he gets more familiar with the sport and position.

S Zion Branch

Safety Zion Branch said a few times this spring that he felt fully healthy. But he never appeared cleared for full contact and didn’t participate in the spring game. He should be ready to go for fall camp. Branch hasn’t done it at this level yet, but he definitely has the look of a difference-maker in that USC secondary. It will be interesting to see where Branch spends most of his time considering his versatility and players returning at all three spots. But whether it’s pushing for a starting spot, or providing depth, or working on special teams, Branch should be on the field and making plays in some capacity this fall.

Rush Romello Height

Romello Height grabbed the starting rush end job pretty quickly after arriving on campus last spring. And then it seemed that just as quickly, he was gone. Height went into the season with a shoulder injury, was ejected in the first half of the first game due to targeting and then was lost for the year when he hurt that shoulder early in Game 2. He’ll be another guy who is looking for time at rush end this season. The position is suddenly pretty crowded after having just a couple of bodies at each practice last year. There was a lack of depth to begin with and then injuries took a major toll. USC should have the bodies there this season. Height is a Trojan to watch to see if he is a guy who can generate production.

DL Solomon Byrd

Like Taleni, Solomon Byrd is a holdover up front who shouldn’t be discounted just because new additions arrived. He showed some positional versatility last season playing on the defensive line and at rush end. He tied for No. 2 on the team in tackles for loss and finished No. 4 in sacks. Byrd, too, missed all of spring and should now help the depth along the defensive line.

WR Makai Lemon

Zachariah Branch was the true freshman receiver who got all the attention this spring at USC. There’s no thought that he shouldn’t have gotten it. Branch is that good. But a fully healthy Makai Lemon would have made plenty of noise as well and is a Trojan to watch. As it was, he was slowed a bit and didn’t participate in the spring game. But Lemon wasn’t some throw-in with this group of wide receivers. He’s a big-time talent and it wouldn’t be surprising to hear his name a bit during camp. There isn’t a need for multiple true freshmen to step up at receiver because there are so many veterans. But Lemon has the physical tools to see the field early. And he will be fired up after not being able to fully get after it in the spring.

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