USC Looks Reloaded and Ready to Go at Rush End
When the USC Trojans hit the practice field for the first day of fall camp this past Friday, there might not have been a position that more represented the potential difference between the 2022 and 2023 seasons than rush end. There were times last season when position coach Roy Manning was working with just one or two scholarship players going through individual drills at the start of practice. On Friday, it looked like Manning would need extra time just to get all his players through one rep.
Jamil Muhammad and Anthony Lucas were major additions via the transfer portal. Romello Height is back on the field following a season-ending injury early last year. And true freshmen Sam Greene and Braylan Shelby have the look of instant-impact standouts. Solomon Byrd also returns as a potential contributor there after a solid first season with the Trojans.
Lucas and Height are as impressively built as any players on the roster. Muhammad put together a solid showing at Georgia State and is plenty motivated to prove he can do it at this level. Shelby has the length, build and athleticism that will make NFL scouts take notice this season. And Greene proved this spring he’s ready to contribute right now.
It’s safe to say Manning is looking forward to seeing what this group can do.
“I’ll tell you what,” Manning said during USC’s in-house media day last week. “This is my 14th year coaching college football and man, this is probably the most excited I’ve been about my room. Just because I’ve got guys that are close. They all are very hungry. They push each other. They’re all students of the game. They always want to watch extra, do extra. They really make me earn my check.”
Manning said there are probably four players in that group who could wind up starting. He really doesn’t know how things will play out this fall.
“I’m champing at the bit, and that’s how it should be at this level,” Manning said. “We should have guys that we feel good about. It’s only Year 2, but I’m dang excited about my group.”
What’s Needed at Rush End for USC
Manning is looking for consistency and toughness from his eventual contributors.
“When I look at that tape, I want to see a room that takes it to whoever they’re going to,” Manning said. “I want it to be a wow factor on tape, whether that’s in the run game, whether that’s getting in the backfield or getting to the quarterback. Our position specifically needs to flash on tape.”
When Height went down last season, Byrd and Korey Foreman stepped to the front of the position group. Byrd finished with four sacks and Foreman had a key interception against UCLA. But Nick Figueroa eventually moved to rush end midway through the year to give the Trojans more size up front and try to generate more production. Figueroa finished with 5.5 sacks but only six tackles for loss. It was clear the position wasn’t the game-changing presence Manning spoke about it needing to be during spring ball.
Manning cited Nik Bonitto and Frankie Luvu as players this group of Trojans can look to. Bonitto was a second-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2022. Luvu was an undrafted free agent in 2018 who just recorded 111 tackles, seven sacks, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and an interception in 14 starts for the Carolina Panthers.
“I’m looking for those guys here at ‘SC to take that to heart,” Manning said. “That position needs to have an impact. I said that a year ago and we didn’t get that done, in my opinion. That’s something that motivates me as a position coach.”
The post USC Looks Reloaded and Ready to Go at Rush End appeared first on On3.
