What We Learned About the USC Cornerback Position This Spring
USC spring ball is finished, but we’re looking back at what we learned about the various position groups. There are some obvious takeaways and a couple of unexpected developments. And, as always now in the transfer portal era, these are some “at this time” thoughts that could change based on other additions to the roster this offseason. We’re now on to the USC cornerbacks.
Previous Position Groups
USC Cornerbacks
Cornerback Depth Chart
Ceyair Wright and Domani Jackson
Jacobe Covington and Christian Roland-Wallace
What We Learned About the Starters
We learned USC has more options as starting cornerbacks this year than the Trojans did last year. And we probably learned that there won’t be the same two names as starters for every game this season.
Ceyair Wright and Domani Jackson started the spring game at cornerback. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Jacobe Covington and Christian Roland-Wallace take the field first when USC lines up against San Jose State.
Roland-Wallace wasn’t at full strength this spring but has by far the most starting experience of the group. Lincoln Riley said Roland-Wallace was impressive in the conditioning sessions before spring ball began. That certainly tracks as Roland-Wallace is a physically impressive cornerback. Had he been good to go for all the spring, there’s a chance he would have had the same impact Blackmon did last spring.
There was a lot of positivity surrounding Covington this offseason. He’s another corner that seems to check all the NFL boxes in terms of length and physical presence.
There probably isn’t another position on this roster where naming the eventual fall starters is more of a challenge than at cornerback. Depending on how the coaches like to use these individual players in terms of left and right corners, it wouldn’t be surprising to see any combination of the four roll out there this season.
Wright continues to receive praise from Riley about his maturation and offseason development. He shouldn’t be written off despite the attention the other three receive.
What We Learned About the USC cornerback Depth
In 2022, Mekhi Blackmon settled in at left cornerback and took more snaps on defense than any other USC player. It’s difficult to see that same gap forming between the top option and the rest of the group this year. Though, that seems to be because the floor is much higher this season rather than the top guy not being nearly as good as Blackmon.
And whether he becomes an eventual starter or comes off the bench, Jackson is going to be an asset on defense this year. He’s understanding the position and the scheme more. And he’s looking fully healthy again.
Ross moved out to corner after lining up at nickel as a true freshman last season. It’ll be worth watching whether Prophet Brown moves back out to corner after playing some nickel this spring. The addition of Tre’Quon Fegans potentially changes the nickel depth chart if indeed that’s where he lands with the Trojans. Or Fegans could come in as a corner and add to the depth here.
True freshman early enrollee Maliki Crawford wasn’t available this spring. But he’s a legitimate 6-foot-4 on the outside and should be a major asset once he gets going. It might not be this season that he sees the field, but he could turn into a good one.
On paper, this looks like a really good group. And another position for the USC defense that looks like it could improve despite losing an NFL draft pick from the 2022 group. The Trojans are going to face some big-time quarterbacks in 2023. The pass rush will have its say in their effectiveness. But the corners should have plenty of opportunities to make plays this year.
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