The Trojans’ new special teams coach brings an enthusiasm to developing a unit that has hugely struggled under Lincoln Riley
Mike Ekeler, NEB’s special teams coord last April in Lincoln, Neb., has brought his enthusiasm to USC. (AP Photo/Dylan Widger)
Haley Sawyer (OC Register) — The visor atop Mike Ekeler’s head has faded to a rust-colored red, comfortably broken in from years of wear on sun-soaked football fields.
“That thing’s pretty old,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley joked after a spring football practice on Friday. “That’s probably older than maybe some of our players.
“It gets a lot of questions and looks until people figure out what it is. But that’s Coach Ek.”
It’s a rescued artifact from Ekeler’s first run with USC, when he was the Trojans’ linebackers coach in 2013. He’s back again for the 2026 season as the special teams and linebackers coach and his presence, like his visor, already has a lived-in feeling at USC.
“I understand the standard here,” Ekeler said. “That’s why when Lincoln called and offered me an opportunity to come back. I was like, ‘Heck yeah.’ I embrace that standard.”
USC’s special teams ranked 124th out of 200 FBS schools in the 2025 season, according to its 64.6% grade from Pro Football Focus. They allowed an average of 17.17 yards on punt returns and 26.3 yards on kick returns.
Ekeler has been brought on to change that, and his personal experience as a linebacker at Kansas State and as a linebackers coach could help with that.
Tackling is a priority, and Ekeler’s progressive style of teaching starts with the fundamentals.
“It’s not how many times you can tackle somebody and pound and take somebody to the ground,” Ekeler said. “It’s about how many times can you get your body into that position? It’s training yourself to drop your weight, it’s training yourself to take great angles, and training yourself to track the near hit. And all those techniques that go into it.”
The team has started the first portion of spring with reaction drills. Offensive and defensive players line up on the sideline in groups, testing their get-off speed and leverage against a teammate holding a pad, acting as a blocker.
Ekeler shouted feedback to whoever was near him, even providing instructions to freshman receiver Trent Mosley.
“That’s what really good coaches do – they don’t just come in and impact their own position,” Riley said. “They impact the entire program and he has experience, having a lot of different roles. He’s coached a lot of big-time places, seen a lot. That’s something you want to lean into.”
The energy that Ekeler brings to practices can’t be understated, either.
He’s constantly in motion, rushing up to players whether they’re doing something well or if they need pointers. He’s even been seen dousing himself with water alongside players during water breaks.
“If you’re sleepy in the morning, he’s gonna wake you up,” defensive tackle Floyd Boucard said. “Every day he’s gonna bring that energy and I just feel like everybody in the building feeds off of it because if one person is in this building got that energy, everybody else got it.”
Ekeler didn’t have an explanation for his high-motor personality when asked about it during a press conference in mid-February, claiming that it was just something that’s embedded within him.
He’s approached everything with the thrill-seeking mentality of a professional water skier – which is what he told reporters he would be doing if he weren’t coaching.
“When you’re going through a slalom course, if you get going, you’re going 36 miles per hour behind a MasterCraft. And you’re cutting, you get up to 80 miles per hour,” he said. “And I like that feeling. I like speed. And I like knowing that you’re on the edge of being out of control.”
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USC has 15 returning starters, the most of any FBS program. For this compilation, returning starters are defined as players who logged at least six starts during the 2025 season, including postseason games. Only offensive and defensive starters are included; special teams players were excluded. Offense [9] Jayden Maiava (QB), Waymond Jordan (RB), King Miller (RB), Tanook Hines (WR), Alani Noa (OL), Kilian O’Connor (OL), Elijah Paige (OL), Tobias Raymond (OL), Justin Tauanuu (OL) Defense [6] Jide Abasiri (DL), Kameryn Crawford (LB), Braylan Shelby (LB), Desman Stephens II (LB), Christian Pierce (DB), Marcelles Williams (DB) ND, OU, ORE and MARYD all return… Read more »
Dare we say we have depth and experience? 32 freshmen will have 8 months to get ready. Veterans on the OL, skill positions and LB. It’s on the coaching staff now.
It’s always been on Riley and his staff, which is why USC has continued to fully underperform and disappoint at Clay Helton levels.
Except Helton’s teams actually won a spectacularRose Bowl. Maybe that gives us something to hope for — USC actually getting into a bowl game again where all the kids want to play instead of opting out and running for the hills. Maybe Lincoln Riley can finally get that done in year five.
Allen, we remember the scorn of Paul Finebaum coming down on Riley as a fraud. That was two seasons ago and today, he is becoming a fortune teller of “ I said so”! If anyone has been watching podcasts of ;Joel Klatt hinting his dismay of underachieving, Greg McElroy using numbers showing continuos failures on the field and now Josh Pate podcasting the return on the investment season ticket holders are thinking as well as the administration not getting and the fact all this positive promotion USC is sending out is “off the field” hope and not what shows up… Read more »
High school football coaching ‘legend’ Bob Johnson died Wednesday after fight with Alzheimer’s Dan Albano (OC Register) — Bob Johnson, 80, retired after the 2017 season as Orange County’s all-time leader in coaching wins with 338, and was known for mentoring elite QBs, including his sons, Bret (UCLA, MICH ST, CFL) and Rob (USC, 10-yr NFL career). His win total now ranks second in county history to former Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson, who has three more at 341. In a coaching career that spanned five decades, Johnson guided El Toro to three CIF Southern Section titles in the… Read more »
Men who dedicate their lives to coaching in high school are to be commended. They aren’t doing it for the Linkin Riley money. But their job is their passion and that can lead to a great life.
I dealt with Bob Johnson and Bruce Rollinson many times about their athletes, of which there were numerous college prospects at various levels. They were both first class, top rate coaches as well as mentors for their players and did everything they could to assist SuperPrep’s coverage of their players.
Evanston, Ill weekend forecast:
Friday; 43, cloudy, wind 27 mph
Saturday; 38, cloudy, wind 12 mph
Sunday, 45, rain, wind 15 mph.
Pitchers keep your arms warm, take an early flight home Sunday and just get the hell outa there! With a couple wins!
I hope the terrible weather in Evanston doesn’t affect the outcome of these games. We are better than them, but I don’t like playing these games in near freezing temperatures. Even here in Southern Utah, it is 80 degrees. So Cal must be baking.
10 big coaching storylines shaping CFB in 2026 Ari Wasserman (on3.com) — It’s finally “Do or Die” for Lincoln Riley, but will USC still keep him if he only goes 8-4 in the reg season? The Established Steve Sarkisian, Texas: Although Sarkisian hasn’t yet secured a national title at Texas, there’s no doubt he’s one of the more established coaches in college football. If you compare Texas when he took over (dysfunctional underachievers) to what it is now (annual title contenders), he has definitely raised the bar. That’s a significant achievement. However, after missing the College Football Playoff last year, Texas… Read more »
Interesting list. I would put Ryan Day in the established. All the “newcomers” are established where they were in ’25. Cignetti is a tweener, not a newby but not established just yet. Do or Die. Swinney is on the way out time to retire with his 2 Nattys. Josh Heupel may be the Kirk Ferentz of the SEC. DeBoer is capable of a NC, it may be more of the infrastructure around him at Bama. Unwinding the Saban system and getting with the new world of college football. Now Riley, Riley, Riley. Obviously he was more green than any of… Read more »
After beating Long Beach St 6-1 today, USC baseball is now off to its best start ever with a 16-0 record. The USC record for consecutive wins during any part of a season is 19, set in 1955.
The Trojans host San Diego on Wednesday at 6:30 pm before heading to Evanston, Ill. for a three-game series this weekend vs Northwestern.
The Trojan baseball team played this weekend in hot summer weather. Next weekend they travel to Northwestern where it is supposed to be in the 40s with a mix of wind rain and snow (if they get all games in). 56 regular season games, 5 games a week, baseball has to be the most of any college sport. Hope these Trojans can keep it going, a long grind ahead.
Long, long way to go. But you’ve gotta love Stanky and how this Trojan team looks so far. Baseball can be such a streaky sport. 15-0 is pretty darn amazing and ties USC’s best ever start in 1988.
But that Mike Gillespie team finished with a 13-17 record in Pac-10 Southern Div play, placing fourth in the division (only 36-26 overall).
The three game series at #1 ranked UCLA (13-2) from April 3-5 should go a long way to letting us know where we really stand.
They host #23 Oregon St Mar. 24. The only other Top 25 team on their schedule. The SEC dominates the Rankings with 11 teams in the Top 25, ACC with 7, only 3 West Coast teams.
247sports — “In 2024, Nebraska finished with an aggregate SFEI special teams ranking of No. 86.
“Ekeler showed up and the Cornhuskers finished No. 3 in the same category. Nebraska’s punt return, kickoff and kick return teams all finished in the top 20 and the former two finished among the top six.”
Ekeler
USC has 15 returning starters, the most of any FBS program. For this compilation, returning starters are defined as players who logged at least six starts during the 2025 season, including postseason games. Only offensive and defensive starters are included; special teams players were excluded. Offense [9] Jayden Maiava (QB), Waymond Jordan (RB), King Miller (RB), Tanook Hines (WR), Alani Noa (OL), Kilian O’Connor (OL), Elijah Paige (OL), Tobias Raymond (OL), Justin Tauanuu (OL) Defense [6] Jide Abasiri (DL), Kameryn Crawford (LB), Braylan Shelby (LB), Desman Stephens II (LB), Christian Pierce (DB), Marcelles Williams (DB) ND, OU, ORE and MARYD all return… Read more »
Dare we say we have depth and experience? 32 freshmen will have 8 months to get ready. Veterans on the OL, skill positions and LB. It’s on the coaching staff now.
It’s always been on Riley and his staff, which is why USC has continued to fully underperform and disappoint at Clay Helton levels.
Except Helton’s teams actually won a spectacular Rose Bowl. Maybe that gives us something to hope for — USC actually getting into a bowl game again where all the kids want to play instead of opting out and running for the hills. Maybe Lincoln Riley can finally get that done in year five.
Allen, we remember the scorn of Paul Finebaum coming down on Riley as a fraud. That was two seasons ago and today, he is becoming a fortune teller of “ I said so”! If anyone has been watching podcasts of ;Joel Klatt hinting his dismay of underachieving, Greg McElroy using numbers showing continuos failures on the field and now Josh Pate podcasting the return on the investment season ticket holders are thinking as well as the administration not getting and the fact all this positive promotion USC is sending out is “off the field” hope and not what shows up… Read more »
High school football coaching ‘legend’ Bob Johnson died Wednesday after fight with Alzheimer’s Dan Albano (OC Register) — Bob Johnson, 80, retired after the 2017 season as Orange County’s all-time leader in coaching wins with 338, and was known for mentoring elite QBs, including his sons, Bret (UCLA, MICH ST, CFL) and Rob (USC, 10-yr NFL career). His win total now ranks second in county history to former Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson, who has three more at 341. In a coaching career that spanned five decades, Johnson guided El Toro to three CIF Southern Section titles in the… Read more »
Men who dedicate their lives to coaching in high school are to be commended. They aren’t doing it for the Linkin Riley money. But their job is their passion and that can lead to a great life.
RIP, Coach Johnson.
I dealt with Bob Johnson and Bruce Rollinson many times about their athletes, of which there were numerous college prospects at various levels. They were both first class, top rate coaches as well as mentors for their players and did everything they could to assist SuperPrep’s coverage of their players.
As you said, RIP Coach Johnson.
USC just came from behind in the tenth inning to beat San Diego at Dedeaux, 7-6. 17-0 now.
Awesome! Ann the new Dedeaux is open!
Evanston, Ill weekend forecast:
Friday; 43, cloudy, wind 27 mph
Saturday; 38, cloudy, wind 12 mph
Sunday, 45, rain, wind 15 mph.
Pitchers keep your arms warm, take an early flight home Sunday and just get the hell outa there! With a couple wins!
The Cubs and White Sox are in Arizona. That’s where Northwestern should be playing baseball in March. Not fricking Chicago!
I hope the terrible weather in Evanston doesn’t affect the outcome of these games. We are better than them, but I don’t like playing these games in near freezing temperatures. Even here in Southern Utah, it is 80 degrees. So Cal must be baking.
It’s about 82 in Laguna at 5:20 pm. Light breeze, sparse clouds, slightly hazy. Beautiful day. Not too hot yet, as I like it.
10 big coaching storylines shaping CFB in 2026 Ari Wasserman (on3.com) — It’s finally “Do or Die” for Lincoln Riley, but will USC still keep him if he only goes 8-4 in the reg season? The Established Steve Sarkisian, Texas: Although Sarkisian hasn’t yet secured a national title at Texas, there’s no doubt he’s one of the more established coaches in college football. If you compare Texas when he took over (dysfunctional underachievers) to what it is now (annual title contenders), he has definitely raised the bar. That’s a significant achievement. However, after missing the College Football Playoff last year, Texas… Read more »
Interesting list. I would put Ryan Day in the established. All the “newcomers” are established where they were in ’25. Cignetti is a tweener, not a newby but not established just yet. Do or Die. Swinney is on the way out time to retire with his 2 Nattys. Josh Heupel may be the Kirk Ferentz of the SEC. DeBoer is capable of a NC, it may be more of the infrastructure around him at Bama. Unwinding the Saban system and getting with the new world of college football. Now Riley, Riley, Riley. Obviously he was more green than any of… Read more »
After beating Long Beach St 6-1 today, USC baseball is now off to its best start ever with a 16-0 record. The USC record for consecutive wins during any part of a season is 19, set in 1955.
The Trojans host San Diego on Wednesday at 6:30 pm before heading to Evanston, Ill. for a three-game series this weekend vs Northwestern.
Buckeye Prez Ted Carter caught inappropriately associating “with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business.” You Go Ted!
The Trojan baseball team played this weekend in hot summer weather. Next weekend they travel to Northwestern where it is supposed to be in the 40s with a mix of wind rain and snow (if they get all games in). 56 regular season games, 5 games a week, baseball has to be the most of any college sport. Hope these Trojans can keep it going, a long grind ahead.
Love Coach Ek. He presence will be felt on special teams and the Linebacker group. And Coach Stank has us 15-0, with great pitching
15-0 Trojans have a lot to smile about these days!
Could the 2026 baseball Trojans be the 2026 version of the 2025 football Hoosiers?
Long, long way to go. But you’ve gotta love Stanky and how this Trojan team looks so far. Baseball can be such a streaky sport. 15-0 is pretty darn amazing and ties USC’s best ever start in 1988.
But that Mike Gillespie team finished with a 13-17 record in Pac-10 Southern Div play, placing fourth in the division (only 36-26 overall).
The three game series at #1 ranked UCLA (13-2) from April 3-5 should go a long way to letting us know where we really stand.
USC plays 12-3 ORE May 14-16 in Eugene.
I’ll admit…..it is a stretch….let’s just say I have big dreams
They host #23 Oregon St Mar. 24. The only other Top 25 team on their schedule. The SEC dominates the Rankings with 11 teams in the Top 25, ACC with 7, only 3 West Coast teams.
Trojans go for a 3 game sweep of the Illini at 12:30. Illinois has yet to score in the series.
89 degrees, sunny, light wind in LA today.
Well Trojans didn’t get a shut out but they remain undefeated with a 5-3 win.
So I assume he’s gonna try some special teams special plays?
247sports — “In 2024, Nebraska finished with an aggregate SFEI special teams ranking of No. 86.
“Ekeler showed up and the Cornhuskers finished No. 3 in the same category. Nebraska’s punt return, kickoff and kick return teams all finished in the top 20 and the former two finished among the top six.”