What’s Next: How Will USC Replace its 2023 NFL Draft Picks?

Four USC Trojans heard their names called in the 2023 NFL Draft this past week. Wide receiver Jordan Addison went in the first round, No. 23 overall. Defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was a third-round selection and will join Addison with the Minnesota Vikings. And offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees is off to Baltimore as a seventh-round selection. What’s next for USC at those positions and how well prepared are the Trojans to fill those voids?

WR Jordan Addison

USC hasn’t had a player post the most receptions in back-to-back seasons since Juju Smith-Schuster did so in 2015 and 2016. That streak will continue in 2023 as Addison is off to the NFL, along with his team-leading 59 receptions, 875 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. Who replaces Addison for USC this fall can be answered in a couple of different ways.

USC fans got a glimpse last season when Addison was out injured and Michael Jackson III stepped up in his place. Jackson dealt with some injury issues last year but finished with 17 receptions for 236 yards and turned four of those 17 catches into touchdowns. And it might have been telling that it was Jackson taking the first reps at that wide receiver spot in the Trojans’ spring game.

There are bigger names among USC wide receivers. But Jackson is a hard worker and a talent in his own right. He shouldn’t be written off in this discussion.

But where most of the attention from USC fans will be centered is new arrival Dorian Singer. He’s more of an outside receiver than Addison was, but both are capable of lining up anywhere. Singer will get plenty of reps this fall, but he’ll need to earn them. He was very good at Arizona last season and might have the best set of hands on the team. But he doesn’t come in with Addison’s pedigree or accolades. And he’s not stepping into the same offense in desperate need of a playmaker.

It was obvious from the time he committed that Addison would finish the season as the No. 1 receiver for the Trojans. Even missing three full games and most of another, that’s exactly what happened. But you could probably make a case for four or even five different receivers to finish the year as the No. 1 guy for the Trojans in terms of receptions.

Tahj Washington finished No. 2 on the team last season. Brenden Rice and Mario Williams caught 39 and 40 passes, respectively. Singer caught 66 as part of a loaded Arizona receiving corps. And who knows what the ceiling for Zachariah Branch is as a true freshman.

It’s a good thing to have this many weapons at wide receiver. But with the game on the line, on the road, and one chance to make a play on the outside, Caleb Williams needs to know who “that guy” is going to be. It was Addison last year. Will it be Mario Williams this fall? Or can Singer make that same immediate impact Addison did?

DE Tuli Tuipulotu

USC should be able to get Addison’s same numbers out of a wide receiver this season. The injury made that achievable for any No. 1 guy. But it’s not expected that one person will reach the numbers Tuipulotu put up. Tuipulotu finished with 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss in 2022. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch wouldn’t turn that down from one player. But it’s not exactly reasonable to anticipate it.

The hope this fall is that Tuipulotu’s numbers and impact get spread across multiple positions. USC did quite a bit with Tuipulotu thanks to his versatility. He played defensive end and rush end and even lined up in a linebacker position to rush the quarterback.

Bear Alexander might be the guy to watch in terms of a replacement. He’s more of an interior player while Tuipulotu played more on the edge. But Alexander did mention Tuipulotu’s play last year as a selling point for him coming to USC. It’ll be interesting to see where he lines up when he gets to USC, but he’s another guy who could move all over the defensive line. And as far as a big-time, impact guy whom opposing offensive lines have to scheme against, USC needs that from Alexander.

The hope then would be guys like Anthony Lucas, Jack Sullivan, Solomon Tuliaupupu and others jump in and provide the sack and tackle-for-loss numbers that make this a fearsome defensive front for the opposition. The truth is that USC doesn’t just need to replace Tuipulotu. The Trojans need a significant step forward in terms of overall production and ability to control a game.

CB Mekhi Blackmon

Blackmon took more defensive snaps than any player on the Trojans last fall. And he was one of the top two or three most impactful players. There is a sizeable hole at left cornerback with him now in Minnesota.

And the competition for this spot will be fascinating to watch. It will likely play out all through fall camp.

The obvious answer would be Christian Roland-Wallace. His path would be very similar to the one Blackmon took. Both logged big minutes for bad Pac-12 defenses (Colorado for Blackmon, Arizona for Roland-Wallace). And both are looking to boost their draft stock and opportunities for wins in one final season at USC.

Roland-Wallace missed time this spring. And he didn’t participate in the spring game. Instead, Domani Jackson started the game at that left corner spot, backed up by Jacobe Covington.

Covington took a huge step forward this offseason. Jackson is healthy and playing consistently. Ceyair Wright was another spring riser. And Roland-Wallace has proven he can play against top wide receivers in this league. USC should be able to find a capable replacement in that group. But it would also be surprising if it all fell to one player the way it did to Blackmon. The depth looks stronger for USC at cornerback in 2023.

OG Andrew Vorhees

In terms of an experienced, veteran, interior lineman who is also the strongest player in the position group, Jarrett Kingston is that guy. He played a ton of snaps at guard and tackle at Washington State, just as Vorhees had done in his USC career going into 2022. What’s less clear is whether it will be Kingston taking over the left guard spot vacated by Vorhees. It doesn’t seem so based on early returns.

Kingston settled in at right guard this spring and started the spring game there, with Gino Quinones at left guard.

USC made a splashy pickup in the transfer portal recently, gaining a commitment from former Wyoming lineman Emmanuel Pregnon. It would be easy to pencil him in at left guard after he played well this past fall in his first season on the field and third season with the Cowboys. But he played right guard exclusively and figured to start there again for Wyoming this season. Flipping from the right side to left as a guard (or tackle) isn’t impossible, but it’s not exactly a guarantee it will work flawlessly. But whatever the case, USC now has three guards with starting experience, plus a very capable backup in Andrew Milek. And Jonah Monheim could always slide inside in a pinch.

It’s a very solid depth chart. Offensive line coach Josh Henson and Lincoln Riley will just need to figure out which guard, between Pregnon and Kingston (with Quinones likely giving a real push) fits best on the left side and which on the right.

The post What’s Next: How Will USC Replace its 2023 NFL Draft Picks? appeared first on On3.