USC offensive line in flux as Trojans open fall camp

There were very few questions regarding the USC offensive line heading into the 2022 season. Andrew Vorhees, Brett Neilon, Justin Dedich and Jonah Monheim all returned as starters. And that allowed position coach Josh Henson to lock in on sorting out the left tackle position through spring ball and fall camp. But as 2023 fall camp kicks off, Henson sees an offensive line that will require many more decisions over the coming weeks.

“I think we have a lot more fluidity in the depth chart this year than we did last year,” Henson said.

USC lost starters at left tackle, left guard and center from last year’s team. Dedich, now at center, and right tackle Jonah Monheim were the two returning starters heading into spring ball. Jarrett Kingston came in from Washington State and looked to have locked in a starting spot at right guard. Michael Tarquin came over from Florida and spent all spring at left tackle. And Emmanuel Pregnon became the third offensive line transfer when he came in from Wyoming this summer.

Three bodies for three open spots seemed to present an easy plug-and-play opportunity for Henson up front. But heading into fall camp, there are still some big questions and opportunities for Henson to fully discover the potential of his group. He said having to find multiple new starters will mean more coaching for him this camp compared to last. His plan is to grade more live periods so he can give immediate feedback and let players battling for positions know exactly where they stand.

“It creates a little more work, but what that work comes more excitement for me,” Henson said. “I’m kind of looking forward to this fall camp, because I don’t know how it’s gonna turn out. I don’t know really who’s going to win that job.”

Henson provided a hint of what he’s feeling on Thursday. He said he’s flipped Monheim to left tackle and Tarquin to right tackle heading into camp. He also said guards and tackles would likely flip sides more this fall than in the past as he looks for the best combination of a starting five.

Head coach Lincoln Riley said after Friday’s first day of fall camp that the Trojans want to get a look at Monheim at left tackle at least early on in camp.

“There’s just a lot of comfort there that he certainly can do it,” Riley said of Monheim making the switch. “We worked both in the summer. I’m sure we’ll work both into camp. And knowing how these seasons go, there’s a good chance that both those guys may have to move around.

“Working combinations, we felt like this one was the best one to start camp with,” Riley said.

Competitive Depth Across the USC Offensive Line

USC also lost Courtland Ford from the offensive line, making it four experienced veterans gone from last year’s group. But Henson feels more comfortable with the depth overall this season than last.

“I do think we have more guys below the obvious four or five that can get themselves in position to play for us this year than last year, from a talent standpoint,” Henson said. “And that, to me, is exciting.”

One of those depth pieces will likely be either Pregnon or Gino Quinones as they battle for a guard spot. Quinones has experience in the system, but Pregnon was a full-time starter at Wyoming last season.

Henson said what stands out about Pregnon is his “top-end potential as a guy who can really move you off the ball.”

He said Quinones’ work ethic and constant desire to ask questions and get better mentally have the veteran with “a real shot to be a really strong contributor for us this year and play a lot of ball.”

Quinones will be another lineman on the move this fall as he’s going to get some work at center. Henson said he hopes Quinones can develop quickly into a viable option behind Dedich in case the Trojans have to go down the depth chart there.

“He’s very intelligent,” Henson said. “He’s worked really hard. And I’m really proud of him. He’s done a great job.”

Improving from 2022

Henson has a few areas of focus in mind when it comes to getting improved play from his group this fall. In the running game, Henson wants to see the offensive line get better pad level and keep their hands inside.

“That’s going to help us tremendously,” Henson said.

Taking a results-oriented view, Henson wants to see more success in double-team opportunities. He said there were too many opportunities for USC linemen to move a defensive player with a double team and simply didn’t create the movement they needed to. Help should come from the new arrivals and strength gains from the returners.

“We have a chance to be beefier and a little bigger,” Henson said. “So I do think we have a chance to move double-teams more. As we do get bigger, we need to make sure there’s production with that size.”

The post USC offensive line in flux as Trojans open fall camp appeared first on On3.