‘He’s the next Megatron:’ USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane breaks out against Wisconsin
Lane finished with 10 catches for 105 yards and shouldered the offense on a massive third-quarter drive, showcasing convergence of his potential and maturation
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane catches a TD as WIS CB Nyzier Fourqurean, center, and safety Hunter Wohler defend during the first half at the Coliseum on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — It was just another Tuesday practice in the middle of Red Mountain’s season, and wide receivers coach Diego Hernandez had no possibility to prepare for the show Ja’Kobi Lane unfolded before his very eyes.
He ran a simple out route, Hernandez remembered, his spindly limbs arriving to his destination before his quarterback could deliver. The ball arrived late, as Lane was already creeping towards the sidelines. So the kid threw his hands behind his back, toe-tapped to stay inbounds, and pinned the toss in his mitts.
“I was like, ‘Dude, that’s – human beings shouldn’t be allowed to do that kind of stuff,’” Hernandez remembered.
They have seen it coming, from Lane’s earliest days in Mesa, Arizona, a community waiting for the greatness to bloom within his towering frame and beating heart. He was the center of attention, at all times, because there was no way to ignore a 6-foot-4 kid who would walk around campus bumping music from his headphones and dancing with cheerleaders and asking teachers for candy. And his coaches, throughout time, have tried to figure out how to steer Lane straight, a special talent coming with a complex package.
And for two years at USC, flashes of greatness have come interspersed with growing pains, the program curating a delicate ecosystem for Lane to both feel prioritized and challenged in his maturity.
“He’s the next Megatron,” Lane’s high school coach Kyle Enders told the Southern California News Group earlier in the fall, comparing Lane to NFL star Calvin Johnson, “if he wants to be.”
He made that leap Saturday in USC’s victory over Wisconsin, preparation and personality and potential fusing together in an emphatic explosion. In another concerningly slow start for USC’s offense, as seemingly everything that could go wrong did in every facet of the game, Lane strapped up his behemoth of a right-arm brace and went to work in a star-making third-quarter drive.
Trailing 21-10, with some momentum deep in Wisconsin territory after a muffed punt recovered by long snapper Hank Pepper, quarterback Miller Moss – who has become both an off-field friend and on-field mentor – found Lane for a first down on a third-and-7. A few plays later, on a third-and-15, Moss rolled right and Lane drifted with him to the sideline, waving an outstretched left hand.
Moss fired, and with incredible mind-body awareness, Lane planted both his feet in a deep lunge inbounds before catching and toppling out-of-bounds with a first down.
“He stepped up,” head coach Lincoln Riley said postgame, “and made some big-time plays.”
He simply looked unguardable, stretching himself both horizontally and vertically, going up high for a go-get-it fade ball in the end zone on that same drive. He played with toughness, when USC desperately needed it, hauling in one second-quarter ball over the middle and immediately thumped so hard his helmet flew off.
Immediately, Lane pointed in a signal for a first-down, beaming from ear-to-ear.
“These things are always, there’s a little bit of a grind to it, obviously,” Riley said, earlier in the fall. “A lot of time, all that, involved. When you got people that are high-energy people that everybody enjoys being around, they affect the mood of the group, the energy level of the group so much.”
He gave USC a jolt, on each of his 10 catches Saturday, racking up the first 100-yard game of the season by any Trojans receiver. And even as a host of issues have plagued USC’s young receiving corps this season, and continued on Saturday – drops, missed blocks, poor clock awareness – they followed in Lane’s wake in much-needed second-half playmaking.
Fellow vertical target Duce Robinson caught just two of his five targets, but made them count, with a 32-yard grab late in the third quarter followed by a touchdown snag three plays later. Burner Zachariah Branch struggled mightily to start, muffing a punt and taking a poor route on a one-on-one ball that was intercepted, but he made a couple of big second-half plays in the flat and finished with 44 yards.
“We’ve made strides in being mature, becoming more football smart,” Lane said postgame. “Knowing where to be, when, why we’re in these spots.”
And USC, now, might have found its top target in a crowded room, their next Megatronfinding his breakout moment when his program desperately needed it.
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Miller Moss better get used to getting hit a lot and still hanging in there. After the Michigan game, everybody knows that the SC O-Line isn’t that good at protecting Moss and will be coming at him frequently with 5-6 guys.I just hope he doesn’t develope happy feet like J.T. Daniels and Kedon Slovis.
Poor J.T. In defense of him, from what I recollect at least, he never really had a chance to succeed at USC. He was under so much pressure all the time it was absurd to think he had time to set up and throw — especially as an early-entrant true freshman behind a porous line and coming from a Mater Dei program that gave him unlimited time and open receivers. The Miller Moss/Arch Manning approach to playing is so much better. Sit behind a good QB for a year or two and give yourself a chance to succeed when your… Read more »
I just hope Moss can adjust to performing well under pressure or that the O-Line improves considerably. I would just like to see SC get the kind of running games LR had at Oklahoma where they gained 2500 to 3500 yards on the ground for a 13 game season. I question whether that will ever happen under Josh Henson.
It’s amazing that 4-1 MICH is playing its first road game of the season in Seattle this Saturday (4:30 PT/NBC/Peacock) vs the 3-2 Huskies, who lost the NC last season to the Wolverines.
I’m picking slight fave UW to beat MICH. Call it the Revenge At Home Factor.
Game of the Year (The Athletic) Ralph Russo — USC at Michigan. I didn’t want us to all say Georgia–Alabama, but that’s the clear choice. Trojans at Wolverines in the Big House was the TV executive’s dream realized. A quintessential helmet game that had momentum swings, lead changes and a late touchdown to win it for Michigan. Stewart Mandel — I covered USC-LSU in Vegas, and it was the perfect way to start the season. We got our first hint that Lincoln Riley is in fact capable of fielding a decent defense. Miller Moss showed he can march a team down the field for a game-winning… Read more »
Now we get to go up against James Franklin again, this time in L.A. on Oct. 12, the first time since the great Sam Darnold 2017 Rose Bowl.
I remember when USC was on the hunt for a Clay Helton replacement, the prevailing Trojan fan sentiment was very clearly, “Please don’t let it be James Franklin.” Our wishes were granted. It should be quite a showdown.
Counting our chickens before they are hatched? Are we forgetting about a team that almost beat Michigan? In fact on a squib kick the refs made a poor call on an offsides that prevented the gofers from getting the ball at the end of the game. It’s an away game so maybe we should put James Franklin away for next week?
It’s true. I am doing exactly that — counting chickens. If USC can’t beat 2-3 MINN, then I have totally over-rated the Trojans. Everyone is talking about PSU at USC because that’s the game between the big boys that everyone can’t wait to see, and USC’s troubled OL will really have its hands full with that unblockable PSU defender Abdul Carter. Obviously, MINN is a trap game. But they won’t be able to handle our passing offense, and our defense gets more integrated and confident every week. We have better talent and a shot at the POs. MINN is going… Read more »
I didn’t want him either as he seems to lose too many big games and can’t elevate PSU to elite status. But if he beats LR in the Coliseum on Oct. 12, that will be a huge feather in his cap. I bet Franklin wants this one bad.
I’m sorry to have caused a hail storm here about looking ahead in games. I m very concerned about this USC team putting a full game together and doing it consistently. I am worried this half game trait is becoming a mental habit in the players minds it will bite us in the butt eventually, playing a team we should easily beat like a Minnesota or Nebraska or a Washington. These are definite trap games when you are inconsistent. I can’t even think about Penn St.
I agree with 1988 below, one game at a time–we aren’t good enough to look past anyone in the B1G.
Having said that, I do want to humiliate Franklin again in a significant game–his MO is being unable to will the big games. This guy is so over rated, but at least he doesn’t have a pedophile on his staff.
D.D.S., for clarity in case I was unclear, I never suggested for one second that we should be looking past anyone. In fact, I am assuming we are not. This would seem self-evident as USC was one of the most disappointing CFB teams in the country last season. USC has already had trouble in 2024 playing complete games, lost to MICH because of that, and needed a massive second-half comeback to beat also-ran WIS in the Coliseum. Now ranked by the AP again at #11, I’m assuming that USC’s staff has fully prepared this Trojan team on the rebound to… Read more »
All eyes will be on the Big 10 West Coast next week. Ohio St – Oregon in Eugene and Penn St – USC in LA. Hopefully they don’t put both games on at the same time.
The 3-2 Missouri State Bears currently have wins over the Lindenwood Lions, the UT-Martin Skyhawks and the Youngstown State Penguins, games three, four and five of their FCS schedule. For 2025, Missouri State becomes an FBS team in Conference USA.
27-24 … hmmm both teams were flat coming out at Michigan.
This may be a tougher game than we think despite Minny’s bad losses to UNC and the Herks of Iowa.
Need to get ahead of these Big 10 teams, so they can’t play stall ball.
Two amazing QBs leading what could be two top 10 ranked programs with great historical tradition at one of the most celebrated athletic stadiums ever built.
The Trojans lead the series 6-4. USC won the first game ever played between the two schools on Jan 1, 1923, 14-3, also the first time that the Rose Bowl Game was held at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
ESPN GameDay Week 7 potential locations include OU at TEXAS (Cotton Bowl in Dallas), OHIO ST at ORE, UF at TENN, PSU at USC, and OLE MISS at LSU.
GameDay is going to OU vs Texas … Herbie and his dog are not missing a chance to go see his boy pals Suck and Venables. Not that it matters where that show is.
Lincoln Riley very briefly on two of USC’s injuries. They’re “questionable” for Saturday:
“Akili’s (Arnold, injury undisclosed) progressing. He had a good week last week. It was obviously good to be able to not play him. But he’ll still be questionable going into this game, as will Eric (Gentry, injury undisclosed).”
USC LB Raesjon Davis (6-0, 220, Santa Ana Mater Dei) will redshirt this season Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — USC linebacker Raesjon Davis will redshirt this season, according to a source. Davis has played in all four games for the Trojans this fall, which means he can’t play in another to preserve his redshirt season. Davis injured his hand in spring ball, which put him behind the eight ball, and he hasn’t been able to break in with the first-team defense this season under D’Anton Lynn since. True freshman Desman Stephens II has earned more snaps (11) than Davis (nine) through four games this season. Davis… Read more »
I love Davis’s work ethic and attitude. Red shirting makes sense, as next year his chances for increased playing time are much better.
I sure hope he is playing for USC next year, and not somewhere else.
Too bad Bear doesn’t have Davis’s mind set..
Domani Jackson on upholding 12/28/23 commitment to Alabama: ‘The A doesn’t change’ — “I just wanted to have a change and reset my college career” Thomas Goldcamp (8/6/24) — There were plenty of changes at Alabama this offseason with coach Nick Saban‘s sudden retirement (1/10/24), but USC transfer Domani Jackson was not one of them. Jackson committed to Alabama out of the NCAA transfer portal prior to Saban’s retirement, but he didn’t opt to pull his pledge and head elsewhere despite the change in leadership. “I mean truthfully the ‘A’ doesn’t change, you know?” Jackson said on Tuesday, by way of explanation. “It’s still a powerhouse, run college football. I… Read more »
Happy for Domani that he playing well. Note: he’s not 1st string, but in the main rotation as CB & NB (dat’s why the impressive 7 passing yds). The change and transfer turned out well for him. But, if he were still at USC, I think he would have improved as well (good DB coaches vs last year). However, I do not think he would be 1st string. DJ would be in the rotation (like at Bama). We have Xlent DB’s who he would not beat out. I’ve seen all of Bama’s games. Domani still is not a DB that… Read more »
It’s also consistent with Reggie’s approach to Bush Gate all along. Reggie actually never lifted a finger to help USC vs the NCAA. He just skipped off to the NFL with a huge contract and many endorsements after quickly and voluntarily returning his Heisman (since he knew he was guilty), while USC paid the full brutal price in numerous different ways – throughout many years. Reggie also never attempted to help Todd McNair who had to take on, and defeat, the NCAA by himself without Reggie’s assistance. Reggie has never believed in the word “apology”, even though it was his… Read more »
I don’t know, maybe SC owes him knowing how the game is now. Reggie saved the 2005 season with amazing performances at ASU, at ND especially at ND, and vs Fresno and probably would had saved Texas had he had not been standing on the sidelines for last 4 plays. Think about that, best player in college football in decades, not getting to touch the ball in final series … not even in the game the final series. Great coaching there🙄 The regulations are a joke now. So whatever. I’ll remember Reggie for what he did on the field for… Read more »
Really? USC should pay off Bush’s recent atty fees because he (yes, Reggie too) and his family were fully on the take during the latter part of his USC CFB career making him an ineligible player who secretly had an agency agreement much of the time. And because Pete Carroll intentionally (and stupidly) left Reggie off the field vs TEXAS, USC should now be paying for that too? Were it not for super-talented and well-coached USC, Reggie may never have even won the Heisman. There’s sure no guarantee he would have been just as successful anywhere else. He was never… Read more »
SC has the money … consider it a deferred NIL. Reggie deserves it for saving 2005 alone. Or just get Bear’s money back and throw Reg a bone.
Would it shock us if Haden is Reggie’s attorney. Never underestimate Pat Haden’s ability to fleece SC or anyone or anything, like a charity. Remember that scam.
So his parents make a greedy deal that screws USC. McNair shows the NCAA is corrupt. Reggie gets his Heisman back. Reggie suing the NCAA for defamation. Now he wants USC to pay NIL from 20 years ago that nobody got? The other NCAA lawsuits provide some money to past players as well as future. Is this a ploy to get USC to help get his records back? And he wants to get money from the Pac12 that no longer exists as it once was? Wow, where is his head at? After 20 years when do you move on?
Lincoln Riley impressed by Minnesota Defense USC plays MINN (2-3, 0-2) in Minneapolis this weekend at 4:30 p.m. PDT (B1G Network). MINN LB Maverick Baranowski. (Photo: Dan Owen, 247Sports) The Golden Gophers’ defense is ranked first nationally in passing yds allowed (96.8) and 22nd nationally in scoring defense (15.4 ppg). It’s a unit Riley has a lot of respect for. “They’ve done everything well so far,” Riley said. “Now, they’ve had some unique opponents with some different offensive styles. They’ve had a hodgepodge of that here in the first several games. When they’re ranked where they are defensively, you’re pretty… Read more »
Five “Stock Up” performers for the USC defense through four games Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — We’re looking at five USC defensive players who have outperformed expectations or generally raised their stock through the first four games of the season. LB Eric Gentry Heading into the game against LSU, it was the Tigers’ Harold Perkins who was billed as the most impactful and disruptive LB in the nation. Gentry might not be quite there yet on a national level, but he’s making his way. He’s always possessed a unique skill set and frame for a LB. While the defensive coaches last year couldn’t… Read more »
It was a freak fall where the Wisconsin ball carrier was tackled to the ground and Gentry came a second later and tripped on an arm or leg and flipped onto the ground on his head. You would think to get your hands up beyond your head to soften the landing but he didn’t landing squarely on his head.
Ya, it looked awkward, and just like the type of neck tweak/jam that could be a real concern. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious that will cause Gentry to miss too much time. He’s an invaluable playmaker who has a knack for making crucial stops at the right time.
‘The women’s version of the Yankees:’ USC women’s hoops trying to build best brand in the country… In a boundary-pushing move, USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb hired former sports marketing leader Amy Broadhead in a general manager role, aiming to help curate player’s individual brands. Luca Evans (OCR) — Lindsay Gottlieb wants to win. She wants to win, too, in the NIL space, positioning USC at the forefront of every aspect of collegiate basketball. So does Amy Broadhead. And in their first conversations around that GM role, they discussed a vision for USC as not only a national… Read more »
NIL puts women’s college basketball in a unique position. Star players can potentially make more in college than in the WNBA. They will most likely stay all 4-5 years in college before turning pro.
It was mentioned a couple times Saturday that we have a tall roster, especially in the receiver room. I guess our recruiting has been for basketball players. (Although Duce Robinson played baseball). If Riley beefs up the running plays (think student body right) I think the passing game will open up.
Pete Rose’s play was not affected by his gambling. It was done privately and was really part of his personality. We wouldn’t even know his name if he wasn’t a great player, so he should be on the HOF. If they want to mention his gambling fine, but don’t take away from his athletic performance.
I met Pete, 2 years ago at Amen Corner at the Masters. Nice guy, was wearing a way over sized Reds t-shirt. No, I did not say ‘ Pete, I’ll bet you he misses this putt’.
From the new documentary on him, sounds like betting was the least of his problems and not the only thing keeping him out of the Hall of Fame.
Either way, growing up in 70’s you never missed a Pete Rose at bat.
Rose slammed head first into catcher Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star Game, severely injuring his shoulder. I guess that some would applaud him for being a tough competitor. No HOF vote from me.
that’s how baseball used to be played! Can’t fault rose for that play—Fosse was blocking the plate to keep rose from scoring the winning run (I thought it was the 1971 game).
Unfortunately, Fosse tried to block the wrong guy. You take your competitors as you find them. For what it’s worth — “In the short term, Rose was praised for playing the All-Star Game the ‘right way.’ Like it really mattered. For the first several years afterward, whenever Fosse, a rookie phenom with the Cleveland Indians in 1970, was asked about the collision he said Rose didn’t do anything wrong. Fosse also often pointed out that because he was blocking the plate without the ball Rose would have injured himself seriously by trying his trademark headfirst slide. I loved Pete Rose… Read more »
This whole Pete Rose saga has always been just a crying shame. “Charlie Hustle”, aka “The Hit King” deserves a thousand times over to be in the baseball HOF because of his unique abilities and incredible performance over so many years. But he bet big-time on baseball as a manager of the Reds. I don’t care whether he bet for or against his team, his frequent betting on professional baseball completely undermined the integrity of the game. Without that integrity, sports lose their fundamental competitive lure and attraction because games can and will be fixed for profit. History has proven… Read more »
I am sorry to hear that we were right and we wasn’t an impressive coach. I see his assistant can’t even get his ball in the same sack. (According to the picture)
Harrell’s offense at USC per LAT — “Ineptitude in the red zone, questionable use of the run game and a poorly executed passing attack that isn’t creating the explosive plays in space fans were promised when Helton hired Harrell out of North Texas.”
Miller Moss better get used to getting hit a lot and still hanging in there. After the Michigan game, everybody knows that the SC O-Line isn’t that good at protecting Moss and will be coming at him frequently with 5-6 guys.I just hope he doesn’t develope happy feet like J.T. Daniels and Kedon Slovis.
Poor J.T. In defense of him, from what I recollect at least, he never really had a chance to succeed at USC. He was under so much pressure all the time it was absurd to think he had time to set up and throw — especially as an early-entrant true freshman behind a porous line and coming from a Mater Dei program that gave him unlimited time and open receivers. The Miller Moss/Arch Manning approach to playing is so much better. Sit behind a good QB for a year or two and give yourself a chance to succeed when your… Read more »
I just hope Moss can adjust to performing well under pressure or that the O-Line improves considerably. I would just like to see SC get the kind of running games LR had at Oklahoma where they gained 2500 to 3500 yards on the ground for a 13 game season. I question whether that will ever happen under Josh Henson.
It’s amazing that 4-1 MICH is playing its first road game of the season in Seattle this Saturday (4:30 PT/NBC/Peacock) vs the 3-2 Huskies, who lost the NC last season to the Wolverines.
I’m picking slight fave UW to beat MICH. Call it the Revenge At Home Factor.
Agree … with tape out on Mich TE/QB that O is going to be hard to travel with. Udub qb is capable too.
Game of the Year (The Athletic) Ralph Russo — USC at Michigan. I didn’t want us to all say Georgia–Alabama, but that’s the clear choice. Trojans at Wolverines in the Big House was the TV executive’s dream realized. A quintessential helmet game that had momentum swings, lead changes and a late touchdown to win it for Michigan. Stewart Mandel — I covered USC-LSU in Vegas, and it was the perfect way to start the season. We got our first hint that Lincoln Riley is in fact capable of fielding a decent defense. Miller Moss showed he can march a team down the field for a game-winning… Read more »
Great now let’s go 11-1 … or do we want to go 10-2 and miss the BIG title game and rest for the playoff game(s).
Now we get to go up against James Franklin again, this time in L.A. on Oct. 12, the first time since the great Sam Darnold 2017 Rose Bowl.
I remember when USC was on the hunt for a Clay Helton replacement, the prevailing Trojan fan sentiment was very clearly, “Please don’t let it be James Franklin.” Our wishes were granted. It should be quite a showdown.
Need to take of business in Minny. But oh my vs unbeaten PennSt would be something and a chance to make up for bad loss at Michigan.
Counting our chickens before they are hatched? Are we forgetting about a team that almost beat Michigan? In fact on a squib kick the refs made a poor call on an offsides that prevented the gofers from getting the ball at the end of the game. It’s an away game so maybe we should put James Franklin away for next week?
It’s true. I am doing exactly that — counting chickens. If USC can’t beat 2-3 MINN, then I have totally over-rated the Trojans. Everyone is talking about PSU at USC because that’s the game between the big boys that everyone can’t wait to see, and USC’s troubled OL will really have its hands full with that unblockable PSU defender Abdul Carter. Obviously, MINN is a trap game. But they won’t be able to handle our passing offense, and our defense gets more integrated and confident every week. We have better talent and a shot at the POs. MINN is going… Read more »
PSU can keep Franklin.
I didn’t want him either as he seems to lose too many big games and can’t elevate PSU to elite status. But if he beats LR in the Coliseum on Oct. 12, that will be a huge feather in his cap. I bet Franklin wants this one bad.
One of those two good PSU rbs is injured and not expected to play vs the gutties … something says he plays vs SC
I’m sorry to have caused a hail storm here about looking ahead in games. I m very concerned about this USC team putting a full game together and doing it consistently. I am worried this half game trait is becoming a mental habit in the players minds it will bite us in the butt eventually, playing a team we should easily beat like a Minnesota or Nebraska or a Washington. These are definite trap games when you are inconsistent. I can’t even think about Penn St.
If USC loses to MINN, we’ll all see a real Trojan hailstorm occur.
In the meantime, your “complete game” concerns are certainly legit Jam.
Hopefully, LR and staff have this team fully ready to beat the Gophers, who will undoubtedly be very fired up to derail the upstart Trojans.
If Minnesota loses, they will be 2-4 with 4 out of the next 6 games on the road. I don’t think they want that.
I agree with 1988 below, one game at a time–we aren’t good enough to look past anyone in the B1G.
Having said that, I do want to humiliate Franklin again in a significant game–his MO is being unable to will the big games. This guy is so over rated, but at least he doesn’t have a pedophile on his staff.
D.D.S., for clarity in case I was unclear, I never suggested for one second that we should be looking past anyone. In fact, I am assuming we are not. This would seem self-evident as USC was one of the most disappointing CFB teams in the country last season. USC has already had trouble in 2024 playing complete games, lost to MICH because of that, and needed a massive second-half comeback to beat also-ran WIS in the Coliseum. Now ranked by the AP again at #11, I’m assuming that USC’s staff has fully prepared this Trojan team on the rebound to… Read more »
All eyes will be on the Big 10 West Coast next week. Ohio St – Oregon in Eugene and Penn St – USC in LA. Hopefully they don’t put both games on at the same time.
Like everybody else here, let’s take care of Mr. Gopher first.
“Man in the boat overboard”; “It’s in the hole!”
The 3-2 Missouri State Bears currently have wins over the Lindenwood Lions, the UT-Martin Skyhawks and the Youngstown State Penguins, games three, four and five of their FCS schedule. For 2025, Missouri State becomes an FBS team in Conference USA.
The new Pac? is looking even more like a basketball conference with the addition of Gonzaga yesterday.
This Saturday the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3) host Miller Moss and the No. 11 USC Trojans (3-1) at 4:30 p.m. PT on BTN.
Both teams lost to MICH in Ann Arbor 27-24.
27-24 … hmmm both teams were flat coming out at Michigan.
This may be a tougher game than we think despite Minny’s bad losses to UNC and the Herks of Iowa.
Need to get ahead of these Big 10 teams, so they can’t play stall ball.
Get ready. This one should be fantastic!
Two amazing QBs leading what could be two top 10 ranked programs with great historical tradition at one of the most celebrated athletic stadiums ever built.
The Trojans lead the series 6-4. USC won the first game ever played between the two schools on Jan 1, 1923, 14-3, also the first time that the Rose Bowl Game was held at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
ESPN GameDay Week 7 potential locations include OU at TEXAS (Cotton Bowl in Dallas), OHIO ST at ORE, UF at TENN, PSU at USC, and OLE MISS at LSU.
GameDay is going to OU vs Texas … Herbie and his dog are not missing a chance to go see his boy pals Suck and Venables. Not that it matters where that show is.
Big Ten postseason chances/PLAYOFF%/B1G TITLE% (The Athletic)
Lincoln Riley very briefly on two of USC’s injuries. They’re “questionable” for Saturday:
“Akili’s (Arnold, injury undisclosed) progressing. He had a good week last week. It was obviously good to be able to not play him. But he’ll still be questionable going into this game, as will Eric (Gentry, injury undisclosed).”
USC LB Raesjon Davis (6-0, 220, Santa Ana Mater Dei) will redshirt this season Connor Morrissette (USCFootball.com) — USC linebacker Raesjon Davis will redshirt this season, according to a source. Davis has played in all four games for the Trojans this fall, which means he can’t play in another to preserve his redshirt season. Davis injured his hand in spring ball, which put him behind the eight ball, and he hasn’t been able to break in with the first-team defense this season under D’Anton Lynn since. True freshman Desman Stephens II has earned more snaps (11) than Davis (nine) through four games this season. Davis… Read more »
I love Davis’s work ethic and attitude. Red shirting makes sense, as next year his chances for increased playing time are much better.
I sure hope he is playing for USC next year, and not somewhere else.
Too bad Bear doesn’t have Davis’s mind set..
Domani benefits from change in scenery
Maybe I don’t understand the understory, but I wonder if he would’ve been coached by our new D staff, would he have hung around. He is a local kid.
Domani Jackson on upholding 12/28/23 commitment to Alabama: ‘The A doesn’t change’ — “I just wanted to have a change and reset my college career” Thomas Goldcamp (8/6/24) — There were plenty of changes at Alabama this offseason with coach Nick Saban‘s sudden retirement (1/10/24), but USC transfer Domani Jackson was not one of them. Jackson committed to Alabama out of the NCAA transfer portal prior to Saban’s retirement, but he didn’t opt to pull his pledge and head elsewhere despite the change in leadership. “I mean truthfully the ‘A’ doesn’t change, you know?” Jackson said on Tuesday, by way of explanation. “It’s still a powerhouse, run college football. I… Read more »
Happy for Domani that he playing well. Note: he’s not 1st string, but in the main rotation as CB & NB (dat’s why the impressive 7 passing yds). The change and transfer turned out well for him. But, if he were still at USC, I think he would have improved as well (good DB coaches vs last year). However, I do not think he would be 1st string. DJ would be in the rotation (like at Bama). We have Xlent DB’s who he would not beat out. I’ve seen all of Bama’s games. Domani still is not a DB that… Read more »
I’m definitely getting sick of Reggie “I’m the eternal victim” Bush
Reggie Bush’s attorney says the Heisman winner expects USC to pay his legal fees
latimes.com
It appears that Reggie and his representatives are completely tone-deaf.
It’s also consistent with Reggie’s approach to Bush Gate all along. Reggie actually never lifted a finger to help USC vs the NCAA. He just skipped off to the NFL with a huge contract and many endorsements after quickly and voluntarily returning his Heisman (since he knew he was guilty), while USC paid the full brutal price in numerous different ways – throughout many years. Reggie also never attempted to help Todd McNair who had to take on, and defeat, the NCAA by himself without Reggie’s assistance. Reggie has never believed in the word “apology”, even though it was his… Read more »
He sure has worn out his welcome around here.
Sad, but so true, at least with many of us Trojans.
I don’t know, maybe SC owes him knowing how the game is now. Reggie saved the 2005 season with amazing performances at ASU, at ND especially at ND, and vs Fresno and probably would had saved Texas had he had not been standing on the sidelines for last 4 plays. Think about that, best player in college football in decades, not getting to touch the ball in final series … not even in the game the final series. Great coaching there🙄 The regulations are a joke now. So whatever. I’ll remember Reggie for what he did on the field for… Read more »
Really? USC should pay off Bush’s recent atty fees because he (yes, Reggie too) and his family were fully on the take during the latter part of his USC CFB career making him an ineligible player who secretly had an agency agreement much of the time. And because Pete Carroll intentionally (and stupidly) left Reggie off the field vs TEXAS, USC should now be paying for that too? Were it not for super-talented and well-coached USC, Reggie may never have even won the Heisman. There’s sure no guarantee he would have been just as successful anywhere else. He was never… Read more »
SC has the money … consider it a deferred NIL. Reggie deserves it for saving 2005 alone. Or just get Bear’s money back and throw Reg a bone.
Would it shock us if Haden is Reggie’s attorney. Never underestimate Pat Haden’s ability to fleece SC or anyone or anything, like a charity. Remember that scam.
So his parents make a greedy deal that screws USC. McNair shows the NCAA is corrupt. Reggie gets his Heisman back. Reggie suing the NCAA for defamation. Now he wants USC to pay NIL from 20 years ago that nobody got? The other NCAA lawsuits provide some money to past players as well as future. Is this a ploy to get USC to help get his records back? And he wants to get money from the Pac12 that no longer exists as it once was? Wow, where is his head at? After 20 years when do you move on?
Lincoln Riley impressed by Minnesota Defense USC plays MINN (2-3, 0-2) in Minneapolis this weekend at 4:30 p.m. PDT (B1G Network). MINN LB Maverick Baranowski. (Photo: Dan Owen, 247Sports) The Golden Gophers’ defense is ranked first nationally in passing yds allowed (96.8) and 22nd nationally in scoring defense (15.4 ppg). It’s a unit Riley has a lot of respect for. “They’ve done everything well so far,” Riley said. “Now, they’ve had some unique opponents with some different offensive styles. They’ve had a hodgepodge of that here in the first several games. When they’re ranked where they are defensively, you’re pretty… Read more »
Five “Stock Up” performers for the USC defense through four games Erik McKinney (WeAreSC) — We’re looking at five USC defensive players who have outperformed expectations or generally raised their stock through the first four games of the season. LB Eric Gentry Heading into the game against LSU, it was the Tigers’ Harold Perkins who was billed as the most impactful and disruptive LB in the nation. Gentry might not be quite there yet on a national level, but he’s making his way. He’s always possessed a unique skill set and frame for a LB. While the defensive coaches last year couldn’t… Read more »
I think I asked tthe question about Gentry’s head/neck injury from this last game. But there was no response. Did I miss something?
As soon as any report comes out from Lincoln Riley or USC, I’m sure it will immed find its way here.
Until then, we’re all worried sick that the Trojans have lost their best LB.
It was a freak fall where the Wisconsin ball carrier was tackled to the ground and Gentry came a second later and tripped on an arm or leg and flipped onto the ground on his head. You would think to get your hands up beyond your head to soften the landing but he didn’t landing squarely on his head.
Ya, it looked awkward, and just like the type of neck tweak/jam that could be a real concern. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious that will cause Gentry to miss too much time. He’s an invaluable playmaker who has a knack for making crucial stops at the right time.
LR will probably give a vague update on injuries by Thursday, maybe? We all know how transparent he is.😉
Yes GT
Rumor is 6’6 Duce is now The Mad Giraffe, he flipped over to D this week. Lynn loves his Mad Giraffes 🦒
Lane and Duce Robinson are a great combo heading into the rest of the Big 10 games for us.
‘The women’s version of the Yankees:’ USC women’s hoops trying to build best brand in the country… In a boundary-pushing move, USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb hired former sports marketing leader Amy Broadhead in a general manager role, aiming to help curate player’s individual brands. Luca Evans (OCR) — Lindsay Gottlieb wants to win. She wants to win, too, in the NIL space, positioning USC at the forefront of every aspect of collegiate basketball. So does Amy Broadhead. And in their first conversations around that GM role, they discussed a vision for USC as not only a national… Read more »
NIL puts women’s college basketball in a unique position. Star players can potentially make more in college than in the WNBA. They will most likely stay all 4-5 years in college before turning pro.
Great talent, fun player … make a tackle vs Michigan and his late TD catch goes down in SC lore.
It was mentioned a couple times Saturday that we have a tall roster, especially in the receiver room. I guess our recruiting has been for basketball players. (Although Duce Robinson played baseball). If Riley beefs up the running plays (think student body right) I think the passing game will open up.
Pete Rose has died at age 83. Will he ever get into the HOF? Should he?
Pete Rose’s play was not affected by his gambling. It was done privately and was really part of his personality. We wouldn’t even know his name if he wasn’t a great player, so he should be on the HOF. If they want to mention his gambling fine, but don’t take away from his athletic performance.
I met Pete, 2 years ago at Amen Corner at the Masters. Nice guy, was wearing a way over sized Reds t-shirt. No, I did not say ‘ Pete, I’ll bet you he misses this putt’.
From the new documentary on him, sounds like betting was the least of his problems and not the only thing keeping him out of the Hall of Fame.
Either way, growing up in 70’s you never missed a Pete Rose at bat.
Growing up a Dodger fan I would have preferred he sat out a few games against the Dodgers. That being said he belongs in the HOF.
Rose slammed head first into catcher Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star Game, severely injuring his shoulder. I guess that some would applaud him for being a tough competitor. No HOF vote from me.
that’s how baseball used to be played! Can’t fault rose for that play—Fosse was blocking the plate to keep rose from scoring the winning run (I thought it was the 1971 game).
It was an exhibition game and Fosse was probably not expecting what was about to happen to him.
Unfortunately, Fosse tried to block the wrong guy. You take your competitors as you find them. For what it’s worth — “In the short term, Rose was praised for playing the All-Star Game the ‘right way.’ Like it really mattered. For the first several years afterward, whenever Fosse, a rookie phenom with the Cleveland Indians in 1970, was asked about the collision he said Rose didn’t do anything wrong. Fosse also often pointed out that because he was blocking the plate without the ball Rose would have injured himself seriously by trying his trademark headfirst slide. I loved Pete Rose… Read more »
This whole Pete Rose saga has always been just a crying shame. “Charlie Hustle”, aka “The Hit King” deserves a thousand times over to be in the baseball HOF because of his unique abilities and incredible performance over so many years. But he bet big-time on baseball as a manager of the Reds. I don’t care whether he bet for or against his team, his frequent betting on professional baseball completely undermined the integrity of the game. Without that integrity, sports lose their fundamental competitive lure and attraction because games can and will be fixed for profit. History has proven… Read more »
Graham Harrell, the USC OC from 2019-21 under Clay Helton, has been fired in his second year as the PUR (1-3) OC.
Harrell’s dismissal comes after PUR (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten) lost its third straight game following a season-opening win over FCS school IND ST.
The Boilermakers have been outscored 83-17 in the first three-quarters of those three losses. They next play at WIS (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday.
I am sorry to hear that we were right and we wasn’t an impressive coach. I see his assistant can’t even get his ball in the same sack. (According to the picture)
Harrell’s offense at USC per LAT — “Ineptitude in the red zone, questionable use of the run game and a poorly executed passing attack that isn’t creating the explosive plays in space fans were promised when Helton hired Harrell out of North Texas.”
Our miserable run of coaches from HC to assistants 2010 to 2021 was embarrassing and so beneath USC. This hack was the epitome of that.
Another success from the Uncle Hugs coaching tree😎