Where’s Lincoln? Analyzing the USC head coach’s recruiting itinerary…
Riley has been especially active in Big Ten country and the South over the past couple weeks, signaling a key shift in program-building philosophy
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — From Jan. 22-26, a period of about 87 hours and 3,662 miles traversed, Lincoln Riley was in eight states in less than four days.
Such is life for USC’s head football coach, trying to plant the seeds for a 2025 recruiting class that already includes top-ranked Georgia quarterback Julian Lewis – assuming they can keep him from flipping to Georgia or another Big Ten program, which will be a tall order. Still, Riley has hit the recruiting trail across this second permissible contact period with a level of ferocity hardly matched across the country, his face popping up across Twitter the past couple of weeks from gleeful high schools commemorating his visits. Such ferocity, in fact, that it practically requires a degree in cartography to figure out the man’s travel itinerary.
Take this, for example. On Jan. 24, Riley spent the morning visiting 2025 running back Marquise Davis and 2025 cornerback Trey McNutt at Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights in Cleveland, respectively. He then flew into Huntington, West Virginia, and drove up to Ironton, Ohio, as detailed by Ironton High coach Trevon Pendleton, then somehow made it to Chicago that night – about 450 miles away – to visit Fenwick High. The only explanation for the execution of such activity, it seems, is witchcraft. Or a private jet. That, too.
From visits posted on social media (it’s quite possible there are more), The Southern California News Group charted every Riley stop across the past two weeks on the recruiting trail in the bulletin board below, using the mapping service pinmaps.net.
The details of Riley’s travel demonstrate a clear effort to build a recruiting presence in certain areas across the country, and further establish his philosophy in building USC’s foundation coming off a disappointing year – most starkly, hitting the trenches in Georgia and traversing Big Ten country.
“Now, they’re going to be right in the spotlight of Midwestern football,” said Pendleton, who has seen USC at Ironton in the past but still described Riley’s visit as a “unique” situation. “So I think, with that being said, they’re going to target some Midwest kids more.”
BIG TEN FOCUS
Barris Grant has been coaching at Hillside High in New Jersey for nine years. Riley’s visit to Hillside to chat with junior edge rusher Darren Ikinnagbon on Jan. 22, Grant said, was the first time USC had come out in his tenure – and Ikinnagbon the first potential Jersey kid to play for USC, that Grant could remember, since linebacker Brian Cushing.
“Takes us back to the glory days, right?” Grant said Wednesday.
USC has actually had a couple of Jersey kids since Cushing, in former linebacker Anthony Sarao and safety Antwine Perez. The point still stands, though. And Riley’s visit spoke volumes about the program’s belief in Ikinnagbon, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound edge rusher who’s deep on the national radar but is one of the best-rated prospects in New Jersey.
“He thought Darren was (one of the) top three recruits in the nation, told him he’d look great in a Trojans uniform,” Grant remembered Riley telling Ikinnagbon.
Along with Ikinnagbon, Riley is making a clear point to plant roots in the northeast United States, notable as USC enters the northeast-centered Big Ten in 2024. Excessively nitty-gritty data shows that USC has made a clear effort to recruit Big Ten-area recruits harder since news of their conference realignment broke in summer 2022. After generally doling out around 8% of their total offers to recruits in states with a Big Ten football program, USC has targeted about 15% of their offers in the 2024 and 2025 classes in Big Ten country, a jump that’s higher than any other program (Oregon, UCLA, Washington) also entering the conference.
In addition to Ohio and Jersey, Riley hit Maryland (quarterback Nick Cyrus and 315-pound lineman Mekhi Cousar) and Pennsylvania (linebacker Alex Tatsch) on Jan. 23, while also traversing Kansas on Jan. 25.
“If they’re going to be competitive in the Big Ten,” Stephens said of USC, “they’re going to have to do that, and be able to recruit the Midwest.”
GEORGIA BOYS
Our guys don’t look like that. We will soon.
The words foreshadowed USC’s recruiting approach for years to come. It was Riley’s promise after Georgia’s national championship win in 2022, pointing to the heft and size of their defensive line. And since, Riley has specifically targeted Georgia to bolster USC’s foundation in the trenches, continued with a couple days of travel in January.
On Jan. 17, Riley visited three Georgia programs in which USC has offered a defensive lineman – Cavalry Day’s Walter Mathis, 320-pound Greene County tackle Kevin Wynn, and Savannah Christian Prep blue-chipper Elijah Griffin. It’s a clear continuation of a USC emphasis, hitting the South for pass-rushers and heft on the line. According to 247 Sports, USC hadn’t recruited a Georgia defensive lineman/outside linebacker since 2009. But in the 2024 class alone, they snagged two in Kameryn Fountain and Lorenzo Cowan. The push for Southern passing game-wrecking balls continues.
SO LONG, CALIFORNIA
One major weakness in USC’s recruiting approach under Riley has been a seeming inability to attract some of the top talent in California, frequently losing out to programs like Oregon. That appears intentional, at some level, as Riley has rarely missed opportunities to point out flaws in the roster he inherited when taking over as head coach in 2022.
“You go take a deep dive into, alright, what hasn’t quite clicked in the previous years and we really studied that,” Riley said on national signing day, “and I came here and I saw a roster full of California kids. Full of ’em.”
And the further dive into the Northeast, Midwest and South, along with the conference change, has brought a decreased emphasis in California. USC hosted plenty of local recruits for on-campus visits last weekend, but Riley has rarely been seen out at California programs over the past couple of weeks. Since 2022, USC has offered more recruits from Texas than from in-state.
“People have to realize we’re not in the Pac-12 anymore,” Riley said on signing day. “Those days are over. Look where we’re playing. Look at the competition that we’re playing.”
ocregister.com
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Women of Troy return to AP top 10 after Bay Area sweep, upset of No. 4 Stanford
The 16-4 USC women sweep the Bay area schools and beat CAL in Berkeley 79-69. The Lady Trojans were down by as much as 13 in the first half. Amazing frosh JuJu Watkins scored 29 points. NOTABLE per USCTrojans.com: – USC’s win at No. 4 Stanford and victory at CAL marked the Trojans’ first winning road trip through the Bay Area schools since the 2000-01 season. – USC’s comeback from a 13-point deficit marked its biggest winning comeback effort this season. – USC’s win also marked the first time the Trojans have come back to win after trailing entering the fourth… Read more »
Much like USC football with Caleb, WBB will need more than Ju Ju to go far in March, but beating the Furd is a big win.
JuJu Watkins Unplugged – With her 51 points against #4 STAN, FR JuJu Watkins set the USC record for most points scored by a Trojan in a game, beating Cherie Nelson’s previous record of 50 scored vs. Cal on March 11, 1989. – Watkins has now tallied seven games this season with 30 or more points — the most such outings by a Trojan since Nelson had eight as a senior in 1988-89. – In adding 11 rebounds, Watkins recorded her fourth double-double. – Watkins’ 25 first-half points marked the most she’s scored in a half this season. – Watkins’ 51 points is the most scored… Read more »
I wonder if that is a record for ANY Trojan basetball player?
I think so. John Block scored 45 points in the ’65-66 season vs UW. That’s the highest single-game total I can find for men.
Harold Miner scored 43 vs NEB in ’91 in a losing effort.
good research Allen. thanks. she is a remarkable player.
I was a freshman and at the game when Block scored 45. So were about 1200 other people. He made 21 free throws and missed either zero or one. 45 is still the record.
Oh, and SC lost by a point.
John Block was the Center on that 1965-66 team. My Glendale High School coach Bill Westphal, Paul’s older brother, was a starting forward on that team. Interesting that actor Tom Selleck was a reserve on that team as well.
Finally, in the news, 1, SC just hired another DL coach – he was Henderson’s assistant at the Rams. My guess is Henderson wants the additional help as he will be working with both the OL and the DL. Going to the B1G gave SC the funds to make hires like this. And, Jen Cohen is willing to spend the money. I reiterate, I am really impressed by Cohen, LR and Lynn. I think SC has the best run athletic department and football coaching staff in the B1G. 2.Kingsbury just withdrew from the Raider OC position. My guess is he… Read more »
Why would Henderson work with the OL?
Chris, Henderson has 3 titles: (1) co-DC, (2) head DL coach, and (3) run game coordinator. His third title means to me that he is going to be working with the OL, the RBs and the WRs (for blocking downfield). If his third title was not merely window dressing, he will need help with the DL.
Gotcha. As I understand it, he is the defensive run game coordinator.
ChocoChipster going back to NFL? Probably. The dumpster fire that is ucla football continues its conflagration. I am so sad😆
It is amazing just how much a mess UCLA football is now in. And, think, at season’s end, UCLA had just destroyed SC (that was about as bad a beat down of a good SC team by a mediocre UCLA team I can recall) and won their bowl game. I am so sad for the Bruins!
I feel your grief, RJ. Cry me a river for the Bruins.
Good article by Dan Weber on how much money SC is making mostly off of football. They were #13 in the country from 2020-2022(two of those seasons were not good at all). Oregon is not even on the list. Neither is Miami(another big spending school). Florida State and Tennessee who are being investigated for spending violations are 19 and 14. You make money in college football. SC should start playing the game of spending more in their NIL.
https://247sports.com/college/usc/article/usc-football-column-dan-weber-trojans-revenue-big-ten-move-226562374/
Parcelman, I think SC is playing the NIL game very well. Did you see that the B1G and the SEC commissioners met this last week. My guess is Saban leaving AL caused shock waves in the SEC. Look for these two conferences to adopt rules on “first year” NIL deals., basically controlling the NIL payments to high school kids and transfers. Hence, these rules are about to change. SC has decided to await the final outcome of the process. I do not disagree with the call. I liked Arhedge’s approach – all pay for play NIL deals for first year… Read more »
A lot of this is hard to understand. You must be a lawyer. But if you do know what you are talking about that is encouraging that they can put some restraints on this zero restraint free agency whereby the rich schools will win most of the championships and eventually destroy college football.
Sorry I made it so difficult. Not my intent. And, yes, I am a retired lawyer. Graduated from USC Law.
JuJu Watkins thrills with USC-record 51 points in upset win over No. 4 Stanford LAT (AP) — PALO ALTO — JuJu Watkins pulled up from long range and hit contested three-pointers. She powered to the rim against Stanford’s two star posts to draw fouls and get to the line. She outscored Stanford all by herself in the third quarter. The sensational freshman scored a USC-record 51 points — the most in major NCAA women’s basketball this season — and the 15th-ranked Trojans upset No. 4 Stanford 67-58 last night. “I’ll never forget this,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “And again it’s meaningful… Read more »
Allen, This confirms to me what I wrote yesterday about Andy – his career is now over. I imagine Collins looks at himself as the male equivalent to Watkins. Watkins was the star of ESPN this morning. Has Collins ever made such a splash? Did Collins have SC in the top 10 in the country? Do you think Collins is going to tell himself that he was not the legitimate #1 player in the country? Andy took a huge risk in taking on Collins. I think Andy lost that bet. And lost it big.
Anyone else watching Juju Watkins drop 51? Wow!
Andy Enfield back in the days when he could really shoot free throws
Enfield (second from left) with other senior members of the Johns Hopkins University men’s basketball team in ’90-91
Too much smoke now- SEC and Big10 will make their own football conference apart from the NCAA and it will be done by 2025. Not sure what it will look like, but college football as we have known it is officially dead. Glad we are in one of the two power conferences.
Nicole Auerbach & Seth Emerson (The Athletic) — The Big Ten and the SEC announced on Friday the formation of a joint advisory group that will be made up of university presidents and athletic directors. It will discuss recent court decisions, pending litigation, governance proposals and state laws. The goal, the leagues said, is to “take a leadership role in developing solutions for a sustainable future of college sports.” The Men In Charge The announcement essentially formalizes a collaborative relationship between the two leagues that has been growing ever since commissioner Tony Petitti (right) took over the Big Ten last year. Petitti and… Read more »
Add the best 6 programs from the Big 12 and ACC to the BIG/SEC and you have the new D-1 football. Yes Chris, glad SC is part of it.
“Teamwork makes the dream work” — Jim Harbaugh
I sure like this guy. So glad the Chargers emptied their coffers to finally bring in a coach who can properly make use of an enormous talent like Justin Herbert.
Caleb Williams Doesn’t Have a Big Entourage Colin Cowherd — “I’m told by NFL executives that Caleb Williams is the best quarterback prospect they can ever remember. Better than Andrew Luck. He led the nation in offense, despite having only one great teammate the last two years. A true five-tool guy. He should be taken number one. He’s a LeBron. He’s a Trevor Lawrence. “He doesn’t really have a choice where he goes. The Bears, who have the number one pick, have no history of winning consistently, and are actually professional quicksand for your quarterbacks. They are not a winning… Read more »
The Bears have a first round QB from 3 years ago, Justin Fields. If I were the Bears GM I would work on building a team around Fields, not start over paying first pick money to CW. Trade down to get more picks. Should be fun the next 3 months to see the rumors on where CW may go and finally end up. Who has a good team that needs to just plug in a great QB to take off?
Justin Fields is still on his rookie contract, worth slightly less $18 mil (not including signing bonus). The fully guaranteed contract (signed in 2021 for four years) gives Fields an average annual salary of only $4,717,989 in 2024. If the Bears want to resign Fields, they’ll pay a lot more for that big second contract than they will for a rookie based on the numbers I’ve looked at. For instance, Joe Burrow just signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension that averages $55 million per season, blowing past the previous high-water mark of $52.5 million annually. I haven’t watched Fields enough to… Read more »
Remember Jim McMahon in the Bears uniform? Partying in NO at the super bowl with the 85 Bears? How about the Rozelle headband? What a hoot, and a one hit wonder.
Back in the days when McMahon’s brain still worked efficiently
Boom, there it is! Nice get.
Chip Kelly apparently really wants out of UCLA — and he really wants back in the NFL Now here’s the kicker — Former Bruin DC D’Anton Lynn was an extremely popular fan favorite as a potential Kelly replacement, but USC snagged him just in time to leave the Bruins with a bizarre football program situation, and a HC who apparently doesn’t want to be there. Mike Florio (Pro Football Talk) — Last month, a specifics-free report indicated that Chip Kelly “has been mentioned” as a potential offensive coordinator by multiple head-coaching candidates in the current hiring cycle. After that, his… Read more »
It wouldn’t surprise me or anyone else for that matter, if Kelly leaves the Bruin administration would go after the star of last year’s team, Lynn. In that scenario, would Lynn understand the limitations he would have to overcome trying to build & win in an environment of mediocre support. He’s in a program right now that wants to win national championships. Across town, what do they want to win? Anyone know? But crazy as it sounds, what if Kelly does leave, and Lynn stays at USC, who else is out there that would get everyone’s attention, who himself has… Read more »
So you think D’Anton Lynn might pull another Kliff Kingsbury on USC? Scary thought! That would sure blow up LR’s plan for a Trojan resurrection on D. I am sure many USC fans would suggest that the other defensive coach additions could still fill in the slack with a Lynn departure, which I would view as a disaster. PS — I don’t think PC would ever agree to coach UCLA. At 72, he’s not ready now for that kind of intense rebuild on the way to the B1G, especially with NIL, which is already driving coaches out of CFB to… Read more »
Jamaica, See my above post. I think there is next to zero chance that Lynn and Henderson (they are a package) would leave the huge upside they have at SC for a grease fire of a program where the odds of destroying your career are quite high. If Lynn and Henderson move SC to heights totally unexpected (imagine winning a NC In Year 2), how much do you think those guys will be worth? They will be able to take over another B1G team or an SEC team with huge salaries, momentum, massive resources, and upside. I am really impressed… Read more »
Allen, were you ever right on Chip being an A-Hole. Per reports, he is actively interviewing for NFL OC jobs. KK beat him out for Las Vegas. He is now supposedly actively interviewing for the Washington job with Dan Quinn. If he leaves now, UCLA is totally hosed. All the quality coaches have landed jobs. Will Lynn want to take over a grease fire for his first HC job? I just do not see it. I think Lynn and Henderson came to SC as a package to shock the world next year. I really do. Can you imagine how much… Read more »
Poor UCLA is damned if they do and damned if they don’t. What’s worse?
Keeping Chip Kelly, who doesn’t even want to be in Westwood, or trying to suddenly replace him now, when coaching musical chairs dictates only scraps remain?
That administration across town could follow UDUBs (Jen Cohen) hiring a few years back hiring a successful division 2/3 HC like a DeBoer who would jump at an opportunity. Or some assistant coach at a Big Ten/SEC school wanting a HC job. It just wouldn’t be a big name. But that has never been a problem at a basketball school.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold on the other side of town. I don’t think UCLA’s football program will ever be on par with their basketball program, or what used to be a powerhouse program back in the day. On the same thread, USC will always be a football school. When I was a student at SC in the 70s, we had an excellent basketball program under Bob Boyd with players like Paul Westphal and Gus Williams. John McKay and the footballers were winning Nattys, so the basketball program was second fiddle and it always has been.… Read more »
I agree. But, I do not think SC wants a crappy men’s BB program. And, unfortunately, this is the worst men’s team I can recall. At a time when the women’s team is soaring. As I have written, I think Andy’s tenure is now over. If Andy stays, next year’s team will be as bad as this one, maybe worse.
I agree with you 100% TrojanRJJ. If it weren’t for the Mobley’s, I think Andy would have been gone by now. It always amazes me how his teams can be poor in shooting free throws, when Andy was one of the all-time career leaders in college basketball. When he played at John’s Hopkins in the early 90s, he shot over 90% from the line for his career. Yet he can’t coach his team to shoot well from the line.
What A position that school across town is in. With their HC wanting out and not being shy about it. And it’s all their fault for being less supportingly cheap. Actually Kelly worked some wonders making his program competitive these past few years. But now going into a super conference making big money, they are like always, sitting on their hands and being minimal. Football over there is about participating just like their big brother CAL. Not about winning championships at any level.
Crumbling 8-13 USC (2-8 in Pac) gets hammered again 78-69, this time by shorthanded ORE (tied with ARIZ for top of the Pac) at the way-too-empty, morbidly quiet Galen Center, even though USC scored 11 straight heading into the last minute of the game. But USC’s issues with turnovers continued to plague them – coughing up 14 possessions – and four Ducks scored in double figures. Sixth straight loss (longest losing streak since dropping nine in a row in the 2014-15 season, Enfield’s second at USC). “USC all season long has been very poor defensive rotation-wise. Andy Enfield has been… Read more »
Although I find Bill Walton incredibly annoying on broadcasts and always mute the broadcast when he’s the analyst, I have to agree with him. Maybe SC can turn things around when Collier gets back; hopefully before the PAC-12 tournament in Las Vegas.
Ron, As I state above, why would Collins return? He is better off simply calling it a season and getting ready for the NBA or to transfer.
I know little to nothing about either collegiate or professional BB. But, I think I can “read the signs.” I think Andy has now entered in the “Grinch zone”, a place where you made a mistake that formed a narrative that simply cannot be fixed. Andy got the #1 prospect in the country, he got Bronny James (the largest young BB influencer in the nation – for those who do not know what that is – it is having a large number of internet followers – I think Bronny has about 7,000,000), and he had most of last year’s team… Read more »
Ya, Andy tends to have exciting off-seasons, and he’s brought in serious NBA talent to USC. But he’s just an average college hoops coach which Trojan fans always routinely settle for because our basketball tradition is lukewarm at best, downright poor at worst.
Maybe he needs to take his free-throw expertise somewhere else. That would be fine with me, especially since I have so much confidence in Jen Cohen to find a replacement who might do better, particularly in the post-season where Andy’s Trojans tend to get beat very quickly, assuming they even get into the Dance.
You’re spot on. Plus, as HC of bruins, Lynn would have to deal with the offense too. Just no long term upside.
USC hosts the Badgers on Sept. 28 at the Coliseum CBSSports.com — “Alex Grinch followed Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to USC following the 2021 season despite growing scrutiny over his defensive scheme. That fire grew more intense during the 2022 season when USC gave up 136 points in its three losses, including a whopping 46 in its Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane. “Despite a massive transfer portal haul on that side of the ball, USC’s defensive numbers plummeted in 2023. At the time of his firing in November, the Trojans were near the bottom of the FBS statistical rankings (119th in… Read more »
This might be the home game I’ll attend in person. It is a 5-hour drive for me to get to the Coliseum from where I am living in Bullhead City, Arizona and I’m planning on going to one game this year. I’m sure Grinch has a grudge and will be doing everything he can to capture some revenge from USC who fired him.
Doesn’t worry me. Grinch’s grudge match D did nothing against Utah the last 3 times we played them.
If we just have an average spirited defense this year, not one which garnered national attention the last two, we will start to punch, counter punch with the Lannings.
Riley is working it and planting those seeds that will fullfill the USC recruiting needs. Those Cali kids will come when USC gets in the game monetarily. But then those big southern kids will come also when USC gets into the game full blown. Along with the attraction of the new coaching staff things have to get better for recruiting. I wonder how many of the CA recruits that went to Oregon or elsewhere are having second thoughts. We don’t get to hear much about that.
Really good short video on how NIL and transfer portal are ruining college football and how in the near future the schools will only be able to keep the really good college coaches one year or so before they leave for the pros where they can do what they really want to do…..coach….and not recruit and babysit these kids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3b_r4vnyd8&list=PLPIS6q7he8Gc7-RCXWFfzQK7w4agPNytT&index=1
Raiders are expected to hire USC SR Offensive Analyst Kliff Kingsbury as their OC
Albert Breer (SI) — The Raiders are working to hire USC asst/ex-Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator, per sources. Kingsbury had interest from a variety of teams with coordinator openings, and lands in Vegas.
The 44-year-old Kingsbury returns to the NFL after spending about one month at USC as the Trojan OC under Clay Helton. From 2019 to 2022, Kingsbury was the HC of the Arizona Cardinals (28-37-1).
Good riddance!
I have no idea what KK’s role was at USC outside of standing next to Caleb Williams during games sometimes.
But whatever he did sure worked out for him well, even if the Trojans suffered when he was on staff. He wanted the Raiders OC job from the beginning more than the other openings. Poor Chip Kelly is still stuck at UCLA because KK beat him out for the Vegas OC gig.