Luca Evans (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — It simply became impossible to block out the noise at times last season, the lack of size on USC’s defensive front a consistent talking point that burrowed its way into the heads of players themselves.

This group, veteran edge Jamil Muhammad emphasized after USC’s spring game, was “night and day” from last season, from philosophy to execution to simply size – bigger, stronger, more visibly physical.

“I know me, and I know the rest of the defense – the whole ‘too small’ comments and this and that, I mean, it’s an opinion, but we definitely take it with a grain of salt,” Muhammad said April 20.

Too small is not an issue anymore, after an offseason of mandated meals and weigh-ins. The problem is simply too few.

A few weeks ago, USC talked returning defensive lineman Bear Alexander off the edge, but even with his retention, the Trojans’ defensive line is still noticeably thin. After the departure of Texas A&M transfer Isaiah Raikes and being connected to a number of names in the portal, USC hasn’t brought in any help on the defensive front in the spring-portal window as of Thursday, leaving the Trojans with Alexander and several largely untested underclassmen up the middle.

It remains a major need after two portal windows have opened and now shut, despite clear areas of growth at other positions, namely the secondary. And with a now all-but-stable view of the roster – save for a few names still in the portal whom USC could still target – here’s a breakdown of USC’s transfer portal work this offseason and where the program stands entering its first season in the Big Ten Conference.

WHO’S GONE

DL Korey Foreman, Jr., Fresno State (fall window): Former blue-chip local recruit struggled through three seasons of nagging injuries, weight fluctuation and positional change at USC.

CB Domani Jackson, Jr., Alabama (fall): Another former blue-chipper out of Mater Dei, Jackson started at cornerback for USC in 2023 but struggled notably at times in pass coverage and surrendering big plays.

WR Mario Williams, Sr., Tulane (fall): Came from Oklahoma to USC in 2022 along with Lincoln Riley and was a key part of USC’s receiver room, but his production dropped off in 2023 (29 catches for 305 yards) amid season-long struggles with drops.

QB Malachi Nelson, Fr., Boise State (fall): Poised to inherit USC’s QB job in the years to come, Nelson seemed to fall off the radar at times in working with the scout team this past season, but his departure was still one of the most surprising twists in USC’s offseason.

WR/RB Raleek Brown, Soph., Arizona State (fall): Delivered a number of highlights in a six-touchdown freshman year in 2022, but fell off the map after a positional change to wide receiver this past season.

WR Dorian Singer, Sr., Utah (fall): Was projected as a difference-maker coming in from Arizona in 2023 after a 1,105-yard campaign, but never seemed to develop true chemistry with Caleb Williams and finished with just 289 yards this past season.

CB Ceyair Wright, Soph., unknown (spring): Wright’s status has been a strange sub-plot for months, a one-time starting cornerback last year dropping out of USC’s rotation come midseason and entirely away from the team since.

LB Tackett Curtis, Soph., Wisconsin (fall): Once USC’s “Captain America” and a highly touted freshman recruit, Curtis showed potential as a ball-hawk in the middle of the field but struggled mightily with coverage and missed tackles as a true-freshman starter.

OL Jason Zandamela, Fr., Florida (spring): Top-ranked offensive lineman in the class of 2024 surprisingly entered the portal in early April after just a few months at USC.

DL Isaiah Raikes, Sr., Auburn (spring): A fall transfer from Texas A&M, Raikes barely had time to put on a USC jersey before pivoting out and winding up back in the SEC.

DE Romello Height, Sr., Georgia Tech (entered fall, committed spring)

DL De’jon Benton, Sr., New Mexico (fall)

DL Stanley Ta’ufo’ou, Sr., unknown (spring)

OL Michael Tarquin, Sr., Oklahoma (fall)

CB Tre’Quon Fegans, Soph., UCF (spring)

WR Michael Jackson III, Sr., Georgia (fall)

RB Matt Colombo, Sr., University of San Diego (fall)

RB Darwin Barlow, Sr., North Carolina (fall)

S Xamarion Gordon, Jr., Coastal Carolina (entered fall, committed spring)

TE Jude Wolfe, Sr., San Diego State (fall)

LB Chris Thompson, Jr., Tulsa (fall)

CB Fabian Ross, Soph., Hawaii (fall)

OL Andrew Milek, Sr., unknown (fall)

OL Andres Dewerk, Sr., unknown (fall)

OL Cooper Lovelace, Sr., unknown (spring)

DL Deijon Laffitte, Fr., Fresno State (spring)

WHO’S COME IN

S Akili Arnold, Sr., Oregon State (fall window): Longtime veteran going on his sixth year of collegiate football who has stepped into a leadership role in D’Anton Lynn’s defense.

RB Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks, Sr., Mississippi State (fall): Will step directly into MarShawn Lloyd’s vacated lead-back role after four years of consistent production in the SEC, and offers more versatility as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Sr., Oregon State (fall): Has filled a veteran’s role in the middle of USC’s defense with aplomb after a 106-tackle season at Oregon State.

S Kamari Ramsey, Soph., UCLA (fall): A young, talented defensive back with proven starting experience in a high-quality scheme and a year of familiarity with former UCLA coordinator Lynn who’s positioned to help significantly upgrade the Trojans’ pass defense.

QB Jayden Maiava, Soph., UNLV (fall): Has moved quietly since transferring from UNLV, but had a strong spring-game showing that has turned up the heat ever-so-slightly on Miller Moss to continue to earn USC’s QB1 job come fall camp.

WR Jaden Richardson, Sr., Tufts (fall): Comes from dominating in Division III and has a real chance to play an intriguing role in USC’s passing game.

CB DeCarlos Nicholson, Sr., Mississippi State (fall): A lanky 6-foot-3 corner who coaches past and present insist still has more room for development, Nicholson showed his length can be a potential game-changer in USC’s secondary during April’s spring game.

CB John Humphrey, Sr., UCLA (fall): Was out with an injury for USC’s spring game, but was quietly among the better corners in the country in Lynn’s scheme in 2024, missing just two tackles and holding targets to a 58% catch rate, according to PFF.

DL Nate Clifton, Sr., Vanderbilt (fall): Experienced, versatile defensive lineman who recorded 5.5 sacks last year and will be crucial on a thin defensive front in 2024.

WR Kyle Ford, Sr., UCLA (spring): Started his career at USC, transferred to UCLA in 2023, and now is back with one message: “My fault I was trippin’.”

CB Greedy Vance, Sr., Florida State (spring): USC got Greedy here, beefing up an already-stout secondary late in the portal window with the addition of Vance, an experienced corner with excellent coverage skills who held opposing receivers to a 45% catch rate in 2023.

WR Jay Fair, Jr., Auburn (spring): Adds another threat to an already-deep receiver group, a sure-handed 5-foot-10 speedster who dropped just one pass in 2023 but trailed off in production towards the end of a 31-catch season.

LS Hank Pepper, Jr., Michigan State (fall)

K Michael Lantz, Sr., Georgia Southern (spring)

ocregister.com

___________