Takeaways from USC’s first two-deep depth chart

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)  —  USC released its first two-deep depth chart of the season on Thursday ahead of the season opener against San Jose State. There were no shocking decisions, but still some enlightening revelations from the release. Here are a few takeaways.

1. Malcolm Epps secured the starting tight end job (or Y receiver, per depth chart) despite missing much of camp with turf toe. That shows USC’s trust in the Texas transfer and his knowledge of the playbook. True freshman Michael Trigg got the nod as Epps’ backup after a fall camp in which he wowed with his athleticism and his hands. Last year’s starter at tight end, Erik Krommenhoek, was listed as the first-string h-back, the 12th position on the offense, with Jude Wolfe behind him on the depth chart. USC has used some two-tight end sets in camp, so Krommenhoek will be utilized but not as much as in past years.

2. Let the redshirt freshmen reign on the offensive line. Courtland Ford secured the left tackle job while Jonah Monheim will start on the right side, supplanting last year’s starter Jalen McKenzie. The writing was on the wall in regards to this decision, but USC went with the players who had the best camps. There might be some growing pains early in the season, but Ford and Monheim are the future of the USC offensive line.

3. Another presumed decision was that USC’s 1A and 1B running backs would be Vavae Malepeai and Keaontay Ingram, and that is indeed the case, with both listed as the first-string backs for this coming weekend. TCU transfer Darwin Barlow and Kenan Christon get second-string distinction on the depth chart.

4. Everyone knew Drake Jackson would start at receiver, the question was who would take the jobs next to him. The answer, at least for this week, is Memphis transfer Tahj Washington and true freshman Joseph Manjack IV. Both impressed during camp, Washington with his route-running ability and Manjack with his athleticism and hands. Kyle Ford, John Jackson III and K.D. Nixon are listed as the backups, but Gary Bryant Jr. (in health and safety protocols this week) is not listed, so a shakeup to this position could be in the future once he returns.

5. There were no major surprises on the defensive side, where there haven’t been position battles. But USC isn’t tipping its hand for how it will handle nose tackle, with Stanley Ta’ufo’ou, Jamar Sekona and Kobe Pepe all listed as co-first stringers.

ocregister.com

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