USC needs linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold to keep playing ‘mean’ against the Nittany Lions
The Oregon State transfer had a career-best 14 tackles in a loss to Minnesota last week, and he needs to continue picking up the slack with Eric Gentry out indefinitely
USC LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold had a career-best 14 tackles in the Minnesota loss, and he needs to continue picking up the slack with Eric Gentry out indefinitely. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Unfortunately, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold cannot quite pinpoint the moment he found out he was named after a baseball bat.
He knows, simply, it came as an homage from mother Toni, a former All-American and College World Series winner in her time playing softball at Arizona. Easton. The bat manufacturer. It was pure fate that Toni’s son would pick up a bat one day, too, his story written right there on his birth certificate.
The problem, however, was that Easton Mascarenas-Arnold did not like baseball.
He tried it. It was too slow. He tried basketball. It was too hard.
“The only sport I could really release my anger,” Mascarenas-Arnold smiled Wednesday, “was football.”
A few days ago, with USC deadlocked at 17-17 in the fourth quarter and momentum rapidly slipping to Minnesota, the linebacker roared ahead with the rest of the Trojans’ punt team and released his anger on one poor Golden Gopher. Minnesota’s Koi Perich caught the punt, traveled forward exactly 3 yards, and was promptly pile-driven by Mascarenas-Arnold.
Referees tossed a flag for unnecessary roughness. Mascarenas-Arnold, in the moment, jaunted right past it, roaring. Yellow flag. 15 yards. Didn’t matter.
“When I play good, I play mean,” Mascarenas-Arnold said, on Wednesday. “And I think I played really mean last game.”
Eventually, Minnesota buried USC under the ground on Saturday, running the ball 40 times for 193 yards. And as these Trojans look to regroup against a considerably more-potent Penn State attack on Saturday, they’ll need Mascarenas-Arnold to keep playing mean – penalties aside – as the former Mission Viejo High standout racked up a career-best 14 tackles against the Golden Gophers.
The senior had looked like USC’s most impactful transfer of the offseason, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2023 with Oregon State who instantly took on a leadership role in coming back home to Southern California this winter. Suddenly, fellow linebackers Eric Gentry and Mason Cobb had shoulders lifted, Mascarenas-Arnold there as a true Mike-backer to relay pre-snap communication.
“Had a good aggressiveness about him early on, to be a part of the changes that we wanted to make and really embraced it,” head coach Lincoln Riley said of Mascarenas-Arnold earlier in the fall. “It’s his last run, and he’s a guy who’s kind of leaving it all out there, not just as a player, but as a leader as well.”
“You respect him.”
Through a few games, though, Gentry received much of the shine in a defensive overhaul under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn as Mascarenas-Arnold hardly looked imposing. He missed two tackles and struggled in coverage in a season-opening victory over LSU; he finished with just one solo tackle in the win against Wisconsin.
He took to this game at 6 years old, with no mind to baseball, with a coach screaming in his face. This has been in Mascarenas-Arnold’s nature, and stayed that way. He stands 6-foot, nothing on the height of, say, 6-6 Gentry; Mascarenas-Arnold’s motor and communication is his weapon.
“Sometimes, I do be mean,” Mascarenas-Arnold smiled, during USC’s preseason media day. “I be an (expletive) sometimes, in my language. I mean, it is what it is. It’s football.”
After the game against Wisconsin, he turned that inward. Internal conflict, he described Wednesday. Heading into Minnesota, with Gentry’s innate heat-seeking capabilities sidelined with injury, Mascarenas-Arnold challenged himself “a little bit more mentally,” he said.
“I think that wasn’t even my best performance,” Mascarenas-Arnold said, reflecting on a career-best tackle count. “It was better, but it wasn’t still my best. I think this week, I’ve been working really hard, trying to get to the ball.”
USC (3-2 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) needs his best, desperately, against fourth-ranked Penn State (5-0, 2-0). Gentry, who was in street clothes at practice again Tuesday and Wednesday, is out indefinitely. Redshirt junior Anthony Beavers Jr., who started the first game at linebacker of his college career on Saturday, has been working in Gentry’s spot. And Penn State boasts one of the more potent rushing attacks in the country, ranked 18th in the nation in yards-per-game and averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
“I think this week,” Mascarenas-Arnold said Wednesday, “is gonna be a good one for me.”
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Elijah Page is not being developed. He is a really good player. When they flipped him from ND I was watching a podcast on YouTube by a bunch of ND pundants. ND had five 4 star O-Lineman commitments at that time so losing one should not have been the end of the world. But these guys were really mad. They said Paige was the best of the five. If we don’t see some major improvement in this O-Line by the end of the year then it’s time to start looking for another O-Line coach and not make the same mistake… Read more »
Will Zach Branch finally break out for USC? Where’s those yards after the catch? R.J. Abeytia (USCFootball.com) — Zachariah Branch has played in the slot on 83.4 percent of his snaps. Branch’s catch rate (61.8 percent) and his overall PFF grade (66.8) have not matched what Tahj Washington (79.7 catch rate, 82.2 PFF grade) gave the Trojans from that position last season. Branch’s lack of experience has made a difference as he tries to grow his game as a receiver. His mis-run route against Michigan set up the costly pick-six interception in Ann Arbor. Perhaps most surprising, only 16 of his 227 receiving yards… Read more »
That YAC stat is surprising but Zach does go down easily.They may want to look at someone else. Maybe Jay Fair…..maybe even Xavier Jordan…..that kid can play. Get someone in there to push Branch. Make him compete.
I’d say that’s the overwhelming sentiment among USC fans. Yet we’re only 5-point dogs.
USC can win this game in the Coliseum. But we’ve got to play a lot better than we have been, and therein lies the big hurdle for USC. Can we run the ball when it matters and can we stop the run in the 4th Q? Since PSU runs the ball so well and their RB is back in service, we’ll need our best effort of the year for sure!
It’s going to be hard to run the ball against PSU. They are 4th in the nation in stopping the run.This is the best defense that we will have met all year so far.
USC (+5.5) losing a close one seems to be the theme. No. 4 PSU makes the trip across the country to Los Angeles to take on Big Ten newcomer USC fresh off of a disappointing loss to Minnesota. Joel Klatt forecasts two straight losses for the Trojans, with them covering the spread in a close, low-scoring battle. Joel Klatt — “I fear that Miller Moss is going to be under pressure, that leads to turnovers. And so I’ve got Penn State in this one in a tight one, I do think it’s going to be a really good game … Penn State’s favored… Read more »
AW the line dropped in the last few hours at least what I see. -4 PSU. Sure there’s other lines. These Vegas guys have so much data a crystal ball has a hard time competing. Our kids are gonna fight I think.
This Trojan team has fought hard all year. I love ’em. They just haven’t shown they can close out strong against B1G opponents.
I’m starting to actually feel sorry for Lincoln Riley. Give this guy a break! And how about some calls from the refs. Maybe home-field advantage should apply across the board!
Ya the calls a little tough to minimize. I’m not that “ref stole it”
guy but that last game, staying with the rules, was suspect. Not an excuse. This is USC. We must work through that. Your right that the kids are fighters to the end, which is a very good sign. Ok getting pumped typing this out. Let’s get loud Saturday!
I’m with you about the refs Tf. I don’t believe the refs are stealing games from USC. USC gets plenty of calls from what I see, but unfortunately, there have been some questionable rulings against us lately at crucial times. The latest squabble over MINN’s late TD is bizarre. When I watched the play live, I believed the Gophers had legitimately scored, and that seemed clear to me at least. Then suddenly, the refs ruled it a non-TD! Whoopee! But I never felt we were out of the woods because of my initial impression, and sure enough, the refs over-ruled… Read more »
The side judges came running in with inside foot spots … they didn’t think he scored.
The PI call by the back judge the series prior was worse. The side judge was right there and saw nothing. Crowd went crazy, and a 5 count later, here came the flag from back judge.
Jacobe Covington Injury Update: Lincoln Riley gives status of USC CB Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — Cornerback Jacobe Covington will be questionable for the USC Trojans this weekend, Lincoln Riley announced Thursday. Covington was injured late in the game against Minnesota during a punt coverage play. He was helped to the sideline and did not return to the game for what turned out to be the Gophers’ game-winning drive. “Covington will be questionable,” Riley said. “He’s been limited this week. Progressed a little bit faster than maybe we would have thought after the game” Riley said that immediately after the game, he would have… Read more »
Four big games penciled out by The Athletic’s Manny Navarro No. 1 Texas (-14.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma Quinn Ewers returns from an oblique injury, but Arch Manning proved he’s more than capable of filling his shoes if needed. The Sooners have won five of the past six meetings with Texas, 11 of the past 15 and 17 of 25. The problem for OU? The offense has been trash, ranking 124th in yards per play (4.71) and 130th in third-down conversions (26.87 percent). Sackmaster R Mason Thomas and a solid Oklahoma defense have forced 13 turnovers to help cover up some of those deficiencies. Still, QB Michael Hawkins Jr. will… Read more »
Easton & Cobb both were slow covering-penetrating opened gaps against Minnesota which allowed rushes into the defensive backfield. If this slow reaction was by design then it was defensive game plan mistake and if it was a lack of player judgement it was a coaching failure to address this issue immediately and wasn’t. If this same situation happens against Penn St. then the same results will happen. I am sure their coaching staff noticed this occurrence in the game film and will expose it again.
“The only sport I could really release my anger,” Mascarenas-Arnold smiled Wednesday, “was football.”
“Sometimes, I do be mean,” 
Elijah Page is not being developed. He is a really good player. When they flipped him from ND I was watching a podcast on YouTube by a bunch of ND pundants. ND had five 4 star O-Lineman commitments at that time so losing one should not have been the end of the world. But these guys were really mad. They said Paige was the best of the five. If we don’t see some major improvement in this O-Line by the end of the year then it’s time to start looking for another O-Line coach and not make the same mistake… Read more »
Will Zach Branch finally break out for USC? Where’s those yards after the catch? R.J. Abeytia (USCFootball.com) — Zachariah Branch has played in the slot on 83.4 percent of his snaps. Branch’s catch rate (61.8 percent) and his overall PFF grade (66.8) have not matched what Tahj Washington (79.7 catch rate, 82.2 PFF grade) gave the Trojans from that position last season. Branch’s lack of experience has made a difference as he tries to grow his game as a receiver. His mis-run route against Michigan set up the costly pick-six interception in Ann Arbor. Perhaps most surprising, only 16 of his 227 receiving yards… Read more »
That YAC stat is surprising but Zach does go down easily.They may want to look at someone else. Maybe Jay Fair…..maybe even Xavier Jordan…..that kid can play. Get someone in there to push Branch. Make him compete.
My heart says SC but my logic says PSU
I’d say that’s the overwhelming sentiment among USC fans. Yet we’re only 5-point dogs.
USC can win this game in the Coliseum. But we’ve got to play a lot better than we have been, and therein lies the big hurdle for USC. Can we run the ball when it matters and can we stop the run in the 4th Q? Since PSU runs the ball so well and their RB is back in service, we’ll need our best effort of the year for sure!
The real question is if we are running the ball well how quickly will LR abandon the run?
It’s going to be hard to run the ball against PSU. They are 4th in the nation in stopping the run.This is the best defense that we will have met all year so far.
Thats a big “if”
If Vandy can beat Bama, we can beat PSU but if you’re betting…..PSU is the best bet.
USC (+5.5) losing a close one seems to be the theme. No. 4 PSU makes the trip across the country to Los Angeles to take on Big Ten newcomer USC fresh off of a disappointing loss to Minnesota. Joel Klatt forecasts two straight losses for the Trojans, with them covering the spread in a close, low-scoring battle. Joel Klatt — “I fear that Miller Moss is going to be under pressure, that leads to turnovers. And so I’ve got Penn State in this one in a tight one, I do think it’s going to be a really good game … Penn State’s favored… Read more »
AW the line dropped in the last few hours at least what I see. -4 PSU. Sure there’s other lines. These Vegas guys have so much data a crystal ball has a hard time competing. Our kids are gonna fight I think.
This Trojan team has fought hard all year. I love ’em. They just haven’t shown they can close out strong against B1G opponents.
I’m starting to actually feel sorry for Lincoln Riley. Give this guy a break! And how about some calls from the refs. Maybe home-field advantage should apply across the board!
Ya the calls a little tough to minimize. I’m not that “ref stole it”
guy but that last game, staying with the rules, was suspect. Not an excuse. This is USC. We must work through that. Your right that the kids are fighters to the end, which is a very good sign. Ok getting pumped typing this out. Let’s get loud Saturday!
I’m with you about the refs Tf. I don’t believe the refs are stealing games from USC. USC gets plenty of calls from what I see, but unfortunately, there have been some questionable rulings against us lately at crucial times. The latest squabble over MINN’s late TD is bizarre. When I watched the play live, I believed the Gophers had legitimately scored, and that seemed clear to me at least. Then suddenly, the refs ruled it a non-TD! Whoopee! But I never felt we were out of the woods because of my initial impression, and sure enough, the refs over-ruled… Read more »
The side judges came running in with inside foot spots … they didn’t think he scored.
The PI call by the back judge the series prior was worse. The side judge was right there and saw nothing. Crowd went crazy, and a 5 count later, here came the flag from back judge.
Go ahead and think the refs are all against USC and that’s why USC loses.
That doesn’t work for me at all because it’s not why USC is losing these games.
Jacobe Covington Injury Update: Lincoln Riley gives status of USC CB Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — Cornerback Jacobe Covington will be questionable for the USC Trojans this weekend, Lincoln Riley announced Thursday. Covington was injured late in the game against Minnesota during a punt coverage play. He was helped to the sideline and did not return to the game for what turned out to be the Gophers’ game-winning drive. “Covington will be questionable,” Riley said. “He’s been limited this week. Progressed a little bit faster than maybe we would have thought after the game” Riley said that immediately after the game, he would have… Read more »
Four big games penciled out by The Athletic’s Manny Navarro No. 1 Texas (-14.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma Quinn Ewers returns from an oblique injury, but Arch Manning proved he’s more than capable of filling his shoes if needed. The Sooners have won five of the past six meetings with Texas, 11 of the past 15 and 17 of 25. The problem for OU? The offense has been trash, ranking 124th in yards per play (4.71) and 130th in third-down conversions (26.87 percent). Sackmaster R Mason Thomas and a solid Oklahoma defense have forced 13 turnovers to help cover up some of those deficiencies. Still, QB Michael Hawkins Jr. will… Read more »
Easton & Cobb both were slow covering-penetrating opened gaps against Minnesota which allowed rushes into the defensive backfield. If this slow reaction was by design then it was defensive game plan mistake and if it was a lack of player judgement it was a coaching failure to address this issue immediately and wasn’t. If this same situation happens against Penn St. then the same results will happen. I am sure their coaching staff noticed this occurrence in the game film and will expose it again.
When will SC have something other than journeymen linebackers and a D front middling. Finally have D coaches how about getting real SC type players.