NFL draft: Woody Marks’ versatility at USC could help him move up
Marks demonstrated durability and became USC’s best offensive option after transferring from Mississippi State. 2024 should help his draft chances
USC RB Woody Marks carries the ball on his way to a TD during the Trojans’ 42-20 victory over RUT on Oct. 25 at the Coliseum. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Aaron Heisen (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Woody Marks could run through the tackles, he could catch passes and turn upfield to make a play. He was capable of being a three-down running back. He just wasn’t in a system that called for that.
Rather, at Mississippi State, where he played the first four years of his college career, Marks was asked to protect his quarterback, to chip linebackers and then become a safety valve, and to run as a way that helped open up the passing game.
So, for his fifth and final year of eligibility, he transferred to USC, hoping to showcase his ability to be a bell cow. And he did just that, solidifying himself in the NFL Draft conversation.
But, with the draft right around the corner, Marks’ intangibles are becoming relevant again. His willingness to block and his sure-handedness separate him from his peers. And leaning into those things will help him find footing in the NFL.
“He’s got a really good reputation as a worker,” one NFL scout told the Southern California News Group. “He’s got a good reputation for being able to block. He’s got a good reputation for ball security. He’s got a good reputation for using his hands.”
Marks built that reputation through four years of loyalty and dedication at Mississippi State, and carried it onto USC. Justifiably, his fifth year in college was about him, his opportunity to show what he could do with the ball in his hands.
He rushed for 1,133 yards on 5.7 yards per carry, while hauling in 47 receptions. As the Trojans sputtered to a 7-6 record, and dealt with change at the quarterback position, Marks became their most consistent form of offense.
“That offense (at USC), they don’t want to run the ball, they want to throw the ball,” the NFL scout said. “When you’re at a school that’s constantly in these games — and they want to throw the ball, and they needed to catch up, and this guy still ran for 1,000 yards — in a normal situation, he could have gotten 1,400.”
Marks didn’t let circumstances define him or affect his play. That willingness to adapt and fit into multiple systems will serve him in the NFL. At 5-foot-10, 207 pounds, he’s built like a prototypical NFL running back, however, his 4.54 40-yard dash at the NFL combine left a bit to be desired in the speed category.
Many NFL offenses employ outside-zone run schemes, which derived from the Shanahan tree of coaching. Marks doesn’t exactly fit that prototype because of his lack of speed. Therefore, playing into his strengths as a blocker and pass-catcher will get him on the field and give him the opportunity to prove that he deserves carries in the NFL.
Most NFL running backs aren’t carrying the ball more than 15 times a game — like Marks did at USC — anyways. Those that prolong their careers bring something to the table that sets them apart. Marks can offer a team a durable, fundamental, and reliable option at running back.
“The way that he approaches the game is really good,” USC running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr. said. “To see the way he took care of his body, to see how he studied film and took it to the field; all of that will translate to the NFL.”
Whether Marks hears his name called on Friday during Rounds 2-4 or Saturday during Rounds 5-7 doesn’t matter much. He’ll take that opportunity, carry his desirable attributes into it, and approach it like he has every chance to play football: with a willingness to adapt to the team that selects him.
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Trojans sign FA contracts following the Draft Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — Several Trojans have signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, hoping to make the 53-man rosters. CB Greedy Vance – Las Vegas Raiders Vance became an immediate starter at nickel for the Trojans in his one year after coming over via the transfer portal from Florida State. He finished the 2024 season with 29 tackles, two pass deflections and an interception while playing in 11 games. CB John Humphrey – Las Vegas Raiders Humphrey was a solid addition to the CB room in his one year after transferring in from UCLA. He finished… Read more »
Zacharyus Williams commits to USC football: Trojans add UTAH’s ‘WR1’ Williams (6-2, 195) played only one season at UTAH. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — USC boosted its receiver room Saturday day with a transfer portal commitment from former Utah wideout Zacharyus Williams, a Gardena (Calif.) Serra alum. Williams played one season with the Utes catching 10 passes for 101 yards as a true freshman. Williams had been having an impressive spring at Utah though — Utes HC Kyle Whittingham called Williams the team’s WR1 during Utah’s spring game. This is a big addition for USC. Williams entered the portal Tuesday and committed to USC within the week.… Read more »
QB Shedeur Sanders — who bizarrely had his # 2 retired by dad, Primetime — was finally picked by the Browns in the 5th round at #144. His average predicted Draft spot was #7.4.
🤔
In one of the most amazingly brutal NFL Draft drops ever, CU QB Shedeur Sanders fails to get selected in either round 2 or 3 of the Draft today. “Seriously bad juju” sounds like a major understatement.
IMHO serves him right. If you talk sh.. and the real knowledgeable football people see your flaws but you think you are perfect, this is what happens. Back in the day Aaron Rodgers slipped down the draft board but not for the reasons Shedeur is sliding. He is not talented like his father was or in the same stratosphere as Travis Hunter. Perhaps the UFL or the CFL is where he should start his pro career. Lots of QBs have done that and gone on to the NFL in a few years.
USC CB Jaylin Smith gets drafted at #97 by the Houston Texans — keeping alive the venerable 24-year USC streak of getting at least one player taken before the end of round three of the Draft.
USC commit Alijah Arenas, son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert, is out of medically-induced coma and has made “significant” progress since car crash Family statement — “In a remarkable and hopeful development, Alijah Arenas has come out of his coma and has shown significant signs of progress within the last 24 hours. In a powerful and emotional moment, Alijah opened his eyes and was able to write on a piece of paper that he remembered the smoke and asked, ‘Did anyone get hurt?’ “Although he remains intubated, this progress marks a critical step forward in his recovery. His mother,… Read more »
I hope Zack Hanson turns out to be a really good O-Line coach. Right now USC football is the talk of the town. If they had wanted to, they would have had a chance to go out and get a really great O-Line coach. With SC in the limelight, many coaches would have jumped at a chance to come here. They chose to hire from within. I hope that was the right decision. I’m hearing rumors about how the O-Line is getting dominated by the D-Line in practice. I hope that’s just because our D-Line is that good.
USC made a great decision on Hanson moving to O line coach, he is a better recruiter, has sent players to the nfl, and has the experience needed. To add to that, they brought in a dynamic recruiter for tight ends/inside receivers in Chad Savage who has recruited So Cal quite well for a while now.
Does an Air Raid coach think much about anything but to pass like in the 4th quarter your team is ahead and your rushing game is working and can’t be stopped. What does an Air Raid playcaller call in that situation? Why of course, he calls passing plays the rest of the game, winds up losing the game!
With all those tight ends he is bringing in, I can’t help thinking that they are going back to the running game he had at Oklahoma. Last year the tight ends caught 33 passes en total. Right now they have 6 tight ends Do they really need 6 tight ends if they are not going to use them that much? But if they are going back to the Oklahoma offense of LR, where they used tight ends and H-backs in their running game then it makes sense.
Bill Plaschke — With Nico Iamaleava joining UCLA (“rolling around in filth”), everybody loses… Plaschke (LA Times) — The UCLA football program has a coach with a losing record, losing seasons in six of the last nine years, a losing bowl record, and a losing-their-minds fan base. This is a disappointing outfit desperately in need of a field leader, a staunch huddle general who can command loyalty and model integrity and win the battles. So what do they do? They hire a deserter. They hire a kid who just quit on one of the country’s top programs, who fled during the worst… Read more »
NFL draft: Which USC players might get picked and when Aaron Heisen (OC Register) — Here’s a breakdown of six Trojans who could hear their names called the next few days at Lambeau Field in Green Bay OL Jonah Monheim, 6-4, 302 Monheim has experience playing multiple positions on the O-line and doing so at a high level. He appeared in 51 games, starting 46 of them, across his last four seasons at USC and displayed consistency and durability. While he excelled at right tackle as a soph and JR, and willingly made the shift to the blind side… Read more »
Women of Troy add WSU forward Dayana Mendes from the transfer portal. That makes #3 for the Trojans. Ahmad Akkaoui (247sports.com) — Washington State freshman forward Dayana Mendes announced her commitment to USC earlier today. She’s a young prospect with a lot of upside. The 6-foot-2 French native started in nine of the 30 games she played in, and she earned WCC All-Freshman Team honors to complete her first collegiate season. She averaged 8.3 ppg on 41.3 percent from the field, 22.5 percent (on 40 attempts) from three-point range, and 78 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged 5.3 rebounds, including… Read more »
Women of Troy add Nikki Blue as assistant coach Former UCLA star Nikki Blue joins the Trojans staff from the WNBA coaching ranks. Ahmad Akkaoui (247sports.com) — Blue is no stranger to the cardinal and gold. She spent four years at UCLA before beginning a playing career in the WNBA and overseas. She entered the coaching ranks in 2008 at UNLV and stayed until 2014 when she went to Cal State Bakersfield. Blue went to Grand Canyon in 2017 then went to Arizona State in 2019. She earned an assistant coaching spot with the Phoenix Mercury in 2022 and… Read more »
Safety Jarvis Boatwright Jr. enters the NCAA transfer portal Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — He did not play a snap as a true freshman (3-star prep out of Clearwater, FL) and spent most of the season recovering from injury. That appeared to carry over into the spring and it was likely going to be difficult for Boatwright to carve out much time in a loaded safety room that is only adding more players. USC brings back Kamari Ramsey and Christian Pierce and added Bishop Fitzgerald as a transfer from North Carolina State this offseason. Marquis Gallegos returns for his second season and USC added Steve Miller as an early enrollee… Read more »
I keep thinking that the volatility of football and basketball rosters will kill the college game(s), but it doesn’t seem to be happening yet, just as the “one-and-done” basketball phenomenon has not hurt basketball. I guess the fans root for the brand of their teams. But as a college fan who has always liked the individual players and their stories, I don’t like it. It makes one not want to get to attached to players on my teams (SC, the Dodgers are about all for me these days).
We’re all adjusting to the frequent, sometimes very important, changes in various USC team rosters. Everybody’s in the same boat. In some ways, these new rules even add excitement to the game. Who’s coming next? Who might leave? Why? Who’s that guy? It’s a giant game of chess. In the end, following a winning team is what it’s all about. Maybe we finally need names on the football uniforms. Would that be so bad? I wouldn’t mind it. At least I’d know who’s on the field. The nameless uniform thing is no longer a tradition that I find important, and… Read more »
DDS most of us fear the possibility of what happens when you involve agents, parents who definitely are living through their son, and undisciplined programs that don’t care about tomorrow based on their actions today. Professional mindset in a academic environment is mixing water & oil. The power base SEC & Big Ten need to get their ducks aligned in a straight row and get Congress to pass laws that protect the Universities from having to become little more than a minor league operation
and eventually disassociate itself as its only option left.
Looking on the bright side. Gone are the days where a 17/18 yo kid makes the wrong choice of his life and is stuck at a school, on a program where he/she doesn’t fit or get the coaching they thought. There will be schools, just like pro teams, that will burn through money and never get anywhere. The best run Athletic Departments will spend wisely, choose wisely and win. USC with Jen Cohen and Chad Bowden are looking like a well oiled machine. Trojans could very well end up with top 10 programs in Football, MBB and WBB.
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) —USC’s offensive line isn’t set in stone. But it seems pretty close at this point. Elijah Paige, at left tackle, and Alani Noa, at right guard, were always locks to remain in their starting spots. J’Onre Reed, a veteran center, came to USC with the intention of stepping in as a starter. The only two question marks came at left guard and right tackle. But at left guard, transfer DJ Wingfield has, according to Lincoln Riley, been even better than anticipated. “It looks like he’s been with us forever,” Riley said of Wingfield. As for right… Read more »
In case you hadn’t heard, as of about two weeks ago, and about five days after Avery Howell entered the Portal… The 6-0 freshman guard averaged 7.5 ppg (43%, team high 40% 3-point), 3.0 rebounds last season for USC, playing 20.8 mins per game. The Boise HS grad was ranked as the nation’s No. 23 2024 recruit by espnW and was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American — only the second Idahoan girl in history to be selected. The two-time Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year initially turned down DUKE, IU, UTAH and UW to play for the Women of Troy. Howell was an alternate on Team… Read more »
I like the poster boy choices, Makai Lemon and Kamari Ramsey. It’s always fun to analyze schedules. Sometimes the expected losses and victories can get guite mixed up! Just four months ago, this USC team looked so different. I thought we were on an auto-loss trip to Eugene on Nov. 22. Now, I think USC will win this game. I really like the date picked for the Ducks, sandwiched between IOWA (in L.A.) and UCLA (which looks pretty broken). And I agree. This looks like a 9-win minimum season, especially with the two cupcake leads. So much depends on our… Read more »
Will Maiava have such a command of the playbook that the game slows down for him? LR no longer has to be the contract negotiator, draft guru, salary cap guru, media savvy, traveling salesman. Will that clear his head to be a football coach that makes the right decisions? Yes to those questions and this team will go far.
Maiava is a mystery to me. I think a lot of Trojan fans feel that way about him based on what I read everywhere. Does he have “it”, whatever that is? Great QBs need to have the “it” factor. I question whether a great command of the playbook is enough. I think either Maiva, or Longstreet if necessary, can be good. They shouldn’t need to be great. I’m totally dismissing Huard at my own risk. What I want to see from the USC offense this season is a much smarter, better-used, and reliable run game. I think we have the… Read more »
I’m with you on the “has to back it up” front. I watched the whole interview also. LR talks a good game. If you had no history of his game time coaching, you’d think the guy was indeed a genius. He says all the right things. But his actions of the past don’t match his words of the present. Here’s to hoping his future actions match his words of the present.
It’s like Alex Grinch and literally most of LR’s entire initial staff never existed. Yet that was LR’s biggest first brutal mistake — bringing aboard a horde of assistants who couldn’t hack it. That infected a lot of stuff that wasn’t a part of any “plan” USC fans could have ever anticipated.
LR’s interviews are like doing (saying) the same thing over and over again expecting different results. The interviewers ask the same question’s previous ones have asked giving an impression they are scripted by LR’s staff to where he gives the same answers like before. I can take 5-minutes of these LR videos before turning it off not learning anything I heard from him before. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a prompter in that room facing him or the interviewer. It all sounds canned.
If Maiava went down early it may take Huard to carry the team until the freshman is ready or Maiava is healthy. Lets hope the O line keeps the QB in one piece.
That’s an interesting thought about Huard being able to “carry the team.” That’s a big label. That sounds like you’d have to be a pretty good QB to do that for a team like USC in the B1G conference. Maybe he can. But I don’t think that’s a given based on his completely poor-to-mediocre history and the fact I have heard absolutely no “buzz” about him whatsoever during this spring. Huard just seems to have this “elder statesman” feel to him on the team, for lack of a better description. Is he a program “clipboard holder“, and all teams need… Read more »
Personally, I would go with Longstreet. Matt Barclay didn’t do that bad as a true freshman. Let Longstreet get his feet wet…..hopefully on the way to a long successful career. Huards career is really over.
With today’s changing landscape in CFB, we’d better be restructuring Bowden’s contract right now. $1M is chump change with the amount money flowing in these opposing programs. At least make these schools work for it. Make the buyout difficult. Hope it doesn’t come to this.
Trojans add former Penn State linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson Ta’Mere Robinson was a four-star recruit in Penn State’s 2023 class. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — Former Penn State LB Ta’Mere Robinson (6-3, 223) pledged to USC Tuesday, giving the Trojans their second transfer portal victory of the spring. Robinson visited USC over the weekend and quickly committed. Robinson gives the Trojans’ LB room some much-needed depth. Robinson didn’t play much on defense in his two years with the Nittany Lions (107 total defensive snaps), but he was having a solid spring camp in Happy Valley before entering the portal. “He’s playing very well right now, but we’re going… Read more »
A linebacker from “Linebacker U” sounds good. USC actually has had more LBs drafted than Penn St and Penn St got that nickname in the 70s. Bowden seems to be trying to fill holes for this season in addition to an amazing ’26 class.
3&4-star OL Kannon Smith (6-5, 260, Highlands Ranch Valor Christian, CO) is USC’s latest 2026 class addition, the Trojans’ 23rd prep, and the fifth OL in the group. He’s good in space, has good hands, is flexible, plays nasty, shows good feet and bends well. Smith was part of the group that visited USC for its first big JR day back in February, and he had already planned to take an official visit with the program in June. But Smith pulled the trigger early and chose the Trojans over ORE (yet another win over the Ducks) and PSU. ALA, MICH,… Read more »
With the 2025 NFL Draft coming up this Thursday, which college football programs get the most players picked? Cody Nagel (247Sports.com) — NFL Draft history is often used as a benchmark of college football success, mentioned alongside championships and win totals when measuring program excellence. Talent typically fuels titles, which is why many of the traditional college football powers occupy the top spots for most all-time NFL Draft picks — and first-rounders, too. Since the inaugural NFL Draft in 1936, more than 26,000 players have been selected from nearly 800 different programs — ranging from power conference giants to small schools… Read more »
“The quarterback trade is complete,” Chris Low (ESPN) said. “Joey Aguilar plans to sign with Tennessee after transferring to UCLA from Appalachian State in the winter portal, sources tell ESPN. He trades places with Nico Iamaleava, who transferred from Tennessee to UCLA in the current portal. Back to business as usual.”
Stewart Mandel (The Athletic) — “God Bless this sport.”
Women of Troy add UCLA point guard Londynn Jones from transfer portal USC women’s basketball secures its second portal addition. Ahmad Akkaoui (247sports.com) — Londynn Jones is heading to the other side. UCLA’s starting point guard announced her commitment to USC on Instagram Monday. The 5-foot-4 guard started in 31 of the Bruins’ 37 games and helped them to a 34-3 overall record and a Final Four berth. She averaged 8.5 points per game on 34.7 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from three-point range, and 80.5 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged 1.8 assists, 1.1 rebounds, and almost one steal per… Read more »
Trojans sign FA contracts following the Draft Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — Several Trojans have signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, hoping to make the 53-man rosters. CB Greedy Vance – Las Vegas Raiders Vance became an immediate starter at nickel for the Trojans in his one year after coming over via the transfer portal from Florida State. He finished the 2024 season with 29 tackles, two pass deflections and an interception while playing in 11 games. CB John Humphrey – Las Vegas Raiders Humphrey was a solid addition to the CB room in his one year after transferring in from UCLA. He finished… Read more »
Zacharyus Williams commits to USC football: Trojans add UTAH’s ‘WR1’ Williams (6-2, 195) played only one season at UTAH. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — USC boosted its receiver room Saturday day with a transfer portal commitment from former Utah wideout Zacharyus Williams, a Gardena (Calif.) Serra alum. Williams played one season with the Utes catching 10 passes for 101 yards as a true freshman. Williams had been having an impressive spring at Utah though — Utes HC Kyle Whittingham called Williams the team’s WR1 during Utah’s spring game. This is a big addition for USC. Williams entered the portal Tuesday and committed to USC within the week.… Read more »
OC Jonah Monheim goes to the Jax Jags with pick #221 in the 7th round.
What position will he end up playing on the O-line? He needs more lower-body strength and mass.
QB Shedeur Sanders — who bizarrely had his # 2 retired by dad, Primetime — was finally picked by the Browns in the 5th round at #144. His average predicted Draft spot was #7.4.
🤔
Woody Marks just got selected by Houston with pick #116 of the 4th round. The Texans also selected CB Jaylin Smith with pick #97.
The Grinch spotted at the Draft
In one of the most amazingly brutal NFL Draft drops ever, CU QB Shedeur Sanders fails to get selected in either round 2 or 3 of the Draft today. “Seriously bad juju” sounds like a major understatement.
Still on the outside looking in…
IMHO serves him right. If you talk sh.. and the real knowledgeable football people see your flaws but you think you are perfect, this is what happens. Back in the day Aaron Rodgers slipped down the draft board but not for the reasons Shedeur is sliding. He is not talented like his father was or in the same stratosphere as Travis Hunter. Perhaps the UFL or the CFL is where he should start his pro career. Lots of QBs have done that and gone on to the NFL in a few years.
Trojans extend special NFL Draft streak!
USC CB Jaylin Smith gets drafted at #97 by the Houston Texans — keeping alive the venerable 24-year USC streak of getting at least one player taken before the end of round three of the Draft.
ALA QB Jalen Milroe gets drafted #92 by Seattle, home of $37 million QB Sam Darnold.
I cant believe how far Shedeur Sanders has fallen. He must have really pissed off the league.
Lynn Swann announces the 83rd pick of the Draft for the Steelers
Derrick Harmon’s mom (Oregon DL) died a few hours after he was chosen 21st in the draft by the Steelers.
Mrs Harmon…..you did good……RIP.
USC commit Alijah Arenas, son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert, is out of medically-induced coma and has made “significant” progress since car crash Family statement — “In a remarkable and hopeful development, Alijah Arenas has come out of his coma and has shown significant signs of progress within the last 24 hours. In a powerful and emotional moment, Alijah opened his eyes and was able to write on a piece of paper that he remembered the smoke and asked, ‘Did anyone get hurt?’ “Although he remains intubated, this progress marks a critical step forward in his recovery. His mother,… Read more »
OHIO ST 4, MICH 3, TEXAS 3, GA 3, OLE MISS 2, ORE 2, ALA 2, PSU 2, CU 1, LSU 1, MIA 1, MO 1, UNC 1, NDSU 1, BOISE ST 1, A&M 1, TENN 1, UK 1, ARIZ 1
I hope Zack Hanson turns out to be a really good O-Line coach. Right now USC football is the talk of the town. If they had wanted to, they would have had a chance to go out and get a really great O-Line coach. With SC in the limelight, many coaches would have jumped at a chance to come here. They chose to hire from within. I hope that was the right decision. I’m hearing rumors about how the O-Line is getting dominated by the D-Line in practice. I hope that’s just because our D-Line is that good.
USC made a great decision on Hanson moving to O line coach, he is a better recruiter, has sent players to the nfl, and has the experience needed. To add to that, they brought in a dynamic recruiter for tight ends/inside receivers in Chad Savage who has recruited So Cal quite well for a while now.
I hope you’re right
Ex-USC QB Jaxson Dart gets drafted at #25 by the NY Giants. Shedeur Sanders remains undrafted in Round 1 so far.
Pete Carroll drafts amazing RB Ashton Jeanty with the #6 pick. RBs back in fashion. Highest selection ever for a BOISE ST player.
Maybe Lincoln Riley’s watching?
Does an Air Raid coach think much about anything but to pass like in the 4th quarter your team is ahead and your rushing game is working and can’t be stopped. What does an Air Raid playcaller call in that situation? Why of course, he calls passing plays the rest of the game, winds up losing the game!
With all those tight ends he is bringing in, I can’t help thinking that they are going back to the running game he had at Oklahoma. Last year the tight ends caught 33 passes en total. Right now they have 6 tight ends Do they really need 6 tight ends if they are not going to use them that much? But if they are going back to the Oklahoma offense of LR, where they used tight ends and H-backs in their running game then it makes sense.
Bill Plaschke — With Nico Iamaleava joining UCLA (“rolling around in filth”), everybody loses… Plaschke (LA Times) — The UCLA football program has a coach with a losing record, losing seasons in six of the last nine years, a losing bowl record, and a losing-their-minds fan base. This is a disappointing outfit desperately in need of a field leader, a staunch huddle general who can command loyalty and model integrity and win the battles. So what do they do? They hire a deserter. They hire a kid who just quit on one of the country’s top programs, who fled during the worst… Read more »
NFL draft: Which USC players might get picked and when Aaron Heisen (OC Register) — Here’s a breakdown of six Trojans who could hear their names called the next few days at Lambeau Field in Green Bay OL Jonah Monheim, 6-4, 302 Monheim has experience playing multiple positions on the O-line and doing so at a high level. He appeared in 51 games, starting 46 of them, across his last four seasons at USC and displayed consistency and durability. While he excelled at right tackle as a soph and JR, and willingly made the shift to the blind side… Read more »
Women of Troy add WSU forward Dayana Mendes from the transfer portal. That makes #3 for the Trojans. Ahmad Akkaoui (247sports.com) — Washington State freshman forward Dayana Mendes announced her commitment to USC earlier today. She’s a young prospect with a lot of upside. The 6-foot-2 French native started in nine of the 30 games she played in, and she earned WCC All-Freshman Team honors to complete her first collegiate season. She averaged 8.3 ppg on 41.3 percent from the field, 22.5 percent (on 40 attempts) from three-point range, and 78 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged 5.3 rebounds, including… Read more »
Women of Troy add Nikki Blue as assistant coach Former UCLA star Nikki Blue joins the Trojans staff from the WNBA coaching ranks. Ahmad Akkaoui (247sports.com) — Blue is no stranger to the cardinal and gold. She spent four years at UCLA before beginning a playing career in the WNBA and overseas. She entered the coaching ranks in 2008 at UNLV and stayed until 2014 when she went to Cal State Bakersfield. Blue went to Grand Canyon in 2017 then went to Arizona State in 2019. She earned an assistant coaching spot with the Phoenix Mercury in 2022 and… Read more »
Safety Jarvis Boatwright Jr. enters the NCAA transfer portal Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — He did not play a snap as a true freshman (3-star prep out of Clearwater, FL) and spent most of the season recovering from injury. That appeared to carry over into the spring and it was likely going to be difficult for Boatwright to carve out much time in a loaded safety room that is only adding more players. USC brings back Kamari Ramsey and Christian Pierce and added Bishop Fitzgerald as a transfer from North Carolina State this offseason. Marquis Gallegos returns for his second season and USC added Steve Miller as an early enrollee… Read more »
Thursday’s first round of the 2025 NFL Draft will kick off at 5 p.m. PT, with coverage airing across NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2.
Good Luck Woody Marks in the NFL draft with what you went through and have done in your career and your personal life up to now.
The revolving door just goes round and round…
Just hours after landing coveted Rodney Rice from MARYD, USC guard Desmond Claude has finally entered the Portal, on the last day possible.
Claude scored 25 or more points six times last season and he ranked ninth in scoring in the B1G (17.3 points).
I keep thinking that the volatility of football and basketball rosters will kill the college game(s), but it doesn’t seem to be happening yet, just as the “one-and-done” basketball phenomenon has not hurt basketball. I guess the fans root for the brand of their teams. But as a college fan who has always liked the individual players and their stories, I don’t like it. It makes one not want to get to attached to players on my teams (SC, the Dodgers are about all for me these days).
We’re all adjusting to the frequent, sometimes very important, changes in various USC team rosters. Everybody’s in the same boat. In some ways, these new rules even add excitement to the game. Who’s coming next? Who might leave? Why? Who’s that guy? It’s a giant game of chess. In the end, following a winning team is what it’s all about. Maybe we finally need names on the football uniforms. Would that be so bad? I wouldn’t mind it. At least I’d know who’s on the field. The nameless uniform thing is no longer a tradition that I find important, and… Read more »
DDS most of us fear the possibility of what happens when you involve agents, parents who definitely are living through their son, and undisciplined programs that don’t care about tomorrow based on their actions today. Professional mindset in a academic environment is mixing water & oil. The power base SEC & Big Ten need to get their ducks aligned in a straight row and get Congress to pass laws that protect the Universities from having to become little more than a minor league operation
and eventually disassociate itself as its only option left.
Looking on the bright side. Gone are the days where a 17/18 yo kid makes the wrong choice of his life and is stuck at a school, on a program where he/she doesn’t fit or get the coaching they thought. There will be schools, just like pro teams, that will burn through money and never get anywhere. The best run Athletic Departments will spend wisely, choose wisely and win. USC with Jen Cohen and Chad Bowden are looking like a well oiled machine. Trojans could very well end up with top 10 programs in Football, MBB and WBB.
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) —USC’s offensive line isn’t set in stone. But it seems pretty close at this point. Elijah Paige, at left tackle, and Alani Noa, at right guard, were always locks to remain in their starting spots. J’Onre Reed, a veteran center, came to USC with the intention of stepping in as a starter. The only two question marks came at left guard and right tackle. But at left guard, transfer DJ Wingfield has, according to Lincoln Riley, been even better than anticipated. “It looks like he’s been with us forever,” Riley said of Wingfield. As for right… Read more »
In case you hadn’t heard, as of about two weeks ago, and about five days after Avery Howell entered the Portal… The 6-0 freshman guard averaged 7.5 ppg (43%, team high 40% 3-point), 3.0 rebounds last season for USC, playing 20.8 mins per game. The Boise HS grad was ranked as the nation’s No. 23 2024 recruit by espnW and was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American — only the second Idahoan girl in history to be selected. The two-time Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year initially turned down DUKE, IU, UTAH and UW to play for the Women of Troy. Howell was an alternate on Team… Read more »
Too bad. I guess she was home sick.
Howell will also reunite with a familiar face in five-star forward Brynn McGaughy, as the two were AAU club teammates with META Hoops.
This schedule looks like 9-3 is an easy get. Of course the unknowns at QB and HC could move the record either way.
I like the poster boy choices, Makai Lemon and Kamari Ramsey. It’s always fun to analyze schedules. Sometimes the expected losses and victories can get guite mixed up! Just four months ago, this USC team looked so different. I thought we were on an auto-loss trip to Eugene on Nov. 22. Now, I think USC will win this game. I really like the date picked for the Ducks, sandwiched between IOWA (in L.A.) and UCLA (which looks pretty broken). And I agree. This looks like a 9-win minimum season, especially with the two cupcake leads. So much depends on our… Read more »
Will Maiava have such a command of the playbook that the game slows down for him? LR no longer has to be the contract negotiator, draft guru, salary cap guru, media savvy, traveling salesman. Will that clear his head to be a football coach that makes the right decisions? Yes to those questions and this team will go far.
Maiava is a mystery to me. I think a lot of Trojan fans feel that way about him based on what I read everywhere. Does he have “it”, whatever that is? Great QBs need to have the “it” factor. I question whether a great command of the playbook is enough. I think either Maiva, or Longstreet if necessary, can be good. They shouldn’t need to be great. I’m totally dismissing Huard at my own risk. What I want to see from the USC offense this season is a much smarter, better-used, and reliable run game. I think we have the… Read more »
I’m with you on the “has to back it up” front. I watched the whole interview also. LR talks a good game. If you had no history of his game time coaching, you’d think the guy was indeed a genius. He says all the right things. But his actions of the past don’t match his words of the present. Here’s to hoping his future actions match his words of the present.
It’s like Alex Grinch and literally most of LR’s entire initial staff never existed. Yet that was LR’s biggest first brutal mistake — bringing aboard a horde of assistants who couldn’t hack it. That infected a lot of stuff that wasn’t a part of any “plan” USC fans could have ever anticipated.
LR’s interviews are like doing (saying) the same thing over and over again expecting different results. The interviewers ask the same question’s previous ones have asked giving an impression they are scripted by LR’s staff to where he gives the same answers like before. I can take 5-minutes of these LR videos before turning it off not learning anything I heard from him before. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a prompter in that room facing him or the interviewer. It all sounds canned.
If Maiava went down early it may take Huard to carry the team until the freshman is ready or Maiava is healthy. Lets hope the O line keeps the QB in one piece.
That’s an interesting thought about Huard being able to “carry the team.” That’s a big label. That sounds like you’d have to be a pretty good QB to do that for a team like USC in the B1G conference. Maybe he can. But I don’t think that’s a given based on his completely poor-to-mediocre history and the fact I have heard absolutely no “buzz” about him whatsoever during this spring. Huard just seems to have this “elder statesman” feel to him on the team, for lack of a better description. Is he a program “clipboard holder“, and all teams need… Read more »
Personally, I would go with Longstreet. Matt Barclay didn’t do that bad as a true freshman. Let Longstreet get his feet wet…..hopefully on the way to a long successful career. Huards career is really over.
With today’s changing landscape in CFB, we’d better be restructuring Bowden’s contract right now. $1M is chump change with the amount money flowing in these opposing programs. At least make these schools work for it. Make the buyout difficult. Hope it doesn’t come to this.
They got the LB they needed, perhaps one more for depth, but I have never seen SC recuit like this. PC was close to it but it was a different time.
Trojans add former Penn State linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson Ta’Mere Robinson was a four-star recruit in Penn State’s 2023 class. Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — Former Penn State LB Ta’Mere Robinson (6-3, 223) pledged to USC Tuesday, giving the Trojans their second transfer portal victory of the spring. Robinson visited USC over the weekend and quickly committed. Robinson gives the Trojans’ LB room some much-needed depth. Robinson didn’t play much on defense in his two years with the Nittany Lions (107 total defensive snaps), but he was having a solid spring camp in Happy Valley before entering the portal. “He’s playing very well right now, but we’re going… Read more »
A linebacker from “Linebacker U” sounds good. USC actually has had more LBs drafted than Penn St and Penn St got that nickname in the 70s. Bowden seems to be trying to fill holes for this season in addition to an amazing ’26 class.
Chad Bowden is amazing.
It’s like USC recruiting, both through the Portal and from the preps, is on jet fuel.
All they have to do now is keep the tanks full.
Fill’er up Chad!
The big Josh Pate/Lincoln Riley interview. Almost 34 minutes.
Everybody’s talking about it, or excerpting from it.
So here it is. Lots of interesting stuff here to analyze, support, appreciate, or second-guess.
LR’s version of the “rebuild”
3&4-star OL Kannon Smith (6-5, 260, Highlands Ranch Valor Christian, CO) is USC’s latest 2026 class addition, the Trojans’ 23rd prep, and the fifth OL in the group. He’s good in space, has good hands, is flexible, plays nasty, shows good feet and bends well. Smith was part of the group that visited USC for its first big JR day back in February, and he had already planned to take an official visit with the program in June. But Smith pulled the trigger early and chose the Trojans over ORE (yet another win over the Ducks) and PSU. ALA, MICH,… Read more »
With the 2025 NFL Draft coming up this Thursday, which college football programs get the most players picked? Cody Nagel (247Sports.com) — NFL Draft history is often used as a benchmark of college football success, mentioned alongside championships and win totals when measuring program excellence. Talent typically fuels titles, which is why many of the traditional college football powers occupy the top spots for most all-time NFL Draft picks — and first-rounders, too. Since the inaugural NFL Draft in 1936, more than 26,000 players have been selected from nearly 800 different programs — ranging from power conference giants to small schools… Read more »
Trading Places
“The quarterback trade is complete,” Chris Low (ESPN) said. “Joey Aguilar plans to sign with Tennessee after transferring to UCLA from Appalachian State in the winter portal, sources tell ESPN. He trades places with Nico Iamaleava, who transferred from Tennessee to UCLA in the current portal. Back to business as usual.”
Stewart Mandel (The Athletic) — “God Bless this sport.”
Women of Troy add UCLA point guard Londynn Jones from transfer portal USC women’s basketball secures its second portal addition. Ahmad Akkaoui (247sports.com) — Londynn Jones is heading to the other side. UCLA’s starting point guard announced her commitment to USC on Instagram Monday. The 5-foot-4 guard started in 31 of the Bruins’ 37 games and helped them to a 34-3 overall record and a Final Four berth. She averaged 8.5 points per game on 34.7 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from three-point range, and 80.5 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged 1.8 assists, 1.1 rebounds, and almost one steal per… Read more »