USC football breakdown: How the Trojans look at linebacker
Part 5 of 6 on USC’s roster after the transfer portal, looking at a key inside linebacker group
Louisville’s Maurice Turner is tackled by USC LB Mason Cobb and Bryson Shaw, bottom, during the first half of the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27, 2023, in San Diego. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — The migration of former top recruits at USC made perfect sense, and one could point to a clear and justifiable reason for each bird flying east in the winter.
Raleek Brown never found the playing time or the role he quite wanted in Lincoln Riley’s offensive scheme. Domani Jackson never found consistency at cornerback, and his recruiter Donte Williams left for Georgia. Malachi Nelson’s departure was surprising, maybe, but it never felt like he was quite being groomed as the heir apparent at quarterback to Caleb Williams.
But Tackett Curtis? That was a surprise, and a big punch to USC.
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 26: LB Tackett Curtis looks on during a game between San Jose State Spartans and USC on August 26, 2023, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The freshman linebacker, dubbed “Captain America” by teammates in fall camp, was publicly revered by USC’s defensive staff – mainly by now-fired coordinator Alex Grinch, but Lincoln Riley was especially high on Curtis. And sure, Curtis was often out of position and struggled in pass coverage in his freshman year at USC, but he also played too much too quickly and had a clearly-bright future in the middle of a defense. So when he was considering leaving the portal, USC had several meetings to try to convince him to stay, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Southern California News Group.
It was of no avail. And Curtis’ eventual departure for Wisconsin, it can’t be sugarcoated, was a blow to USC’s future – particularly when looking at the Trojans’ depth at inside linebacker.
Eric Gentry (18) has two years of eligibility and was a consistent playmaker in 2023, but his ceiling is known. Mason Cobb is an effective defensive leader, but struggled at times with missed tackles in Grinch’s scheme and has one year left. This USC group was responsible as much as any other for an abysmal run defense in 2023, in the bottom 15 in yards-per-game allowed in the nation.
Exit Curtis. Exit Brian Odom, in all likelihood, the linebackers coach who gamely stuck it out in the Holiday Bowl even as his replacement was announced weeks earlier. Enter Matt Entz, a former two-time FCS national champion head coach at North Dakota State and a killer hire at linebackers coach for USC. And enter Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, a former Oregon State Beaver who could be the best ILB USC has had on its roster since the Cameron Smith days of 2017-18.
In comparison to a defensive overhaul in other rooms of the roster, though, this has the least personnel change and the largest margin for error. Entz’s ability to get the most out of Cobb and Gentry in the spring will be paramount, and Mascarenas-Arnold will have a hefty responsibility on his shoulders after a 107-tackle season in 2023.
Here’s a full breakdown of USC’s inside linebacker room entering spring practice, the first in a six-part series examining the post-portal outlook for every part of the roster.
Inside linebacker
Returning: Jr. Raesjon Davis, Sr. Mason Cobb, Jr. Eric Gentry, Fr. Garrison Madden
Arriving: Jr. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, True Frosh Desman Stephens
Departing: Fr. Tackett Curtis, Sr. Chris Thompson Jr., Sr. Shane Lee (eligibility)
Top questions
Who starts? Applicable to any position, really, but particularly key here. USC cycled through a variety of linebacker alignments in 2023, never quite finding the perfect shoe that fit. Gentry’s playing time, as the biggest playmaker of the bunch, was confounding. Davis didn’t find a fair shot, either. Mascarenas-Arnold will almost certainly fill the mike spot; most likely, Gentry will play opposite him with Cobb as Mascarenas-Arnold’s backup.
Can Entz solve USC’s tackling issues? USC’s simple inability over the past two years to wrap up, or taking head-scratching angles on tackling ball-carriers, has been a major problem that led to Grinch’s late-season firing. The Trojans tied for first in the Pac-12 in missed tackles among linebacker groups in the conference, according to Pro Football Focus. Entz brings championship pedigree and a wealth of defensive-coordinator experience; establishing consistent technique with his linebacker group at USC will be paramount in the spring.
Group X-factor
Stephens is the only ILB commit in USC’s 2024 recruiting class, but even he in himself is a bit of a mystery. At 6-1.5, 208 pounds, the three-star athlete played in the secondary and at wide receiver at Clarkston High in Michigan, but has a nose for the ball and strength and quickness in tackling that’s led to USC tabbing him a member of their linebacker corps.
Riley was particularly high on Stephens on national signing day, mentioning he believed the Michigan product was “great”, and “a steal” who has been “undervalued,” and Stephens will have a chance to compete for snaps in the spring. “He’s physical, and obliterates people,” added Riley. “Could also play outside linebacker.”
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Could Desmond Stephens be another Matt Grootegood? He sounds like it reading this article. He’s 6’1″ 208, but has a nose for the ball with strength & quickness tackling the ball carrier. If Matty got his hands on you, you weren’t going anywhere. PC said when Groots was in the game, good things started happening. We could be so lucky to have another one like #6. Just hope Stephens has a chance to show what he can do.
Groots was so special. I’ve said previously here that Carson Palmer, Junior Seau and Groots were the best Trojan high school players I ever saw in person. The much smaller Groots was the most versatile, focused, and instinctive, but there were concerns he would be a ‘tweener. After overcoming an early case of mono and redshirting, Groots became an All-American LB at 5-11 (if that), 210-215, in 2004 when he was a USC captain (along with Shaun Cody and Matt Leinart) on the national championship team that smashed OU in the Orange Bowl 55-19. Evaluated as too small for the… Read more »
A lot of people, including myself, have thought about how bad it is to follow a legend specifially in regard to taking the Alabama job. I didn’t know this until today that DeBoer took the job knowing that Saban would remain at Alabama in another capacity to be able to help Deboer whenever he needed it. What a great deal, getting paid a lot of money to get schooled by the GOAT.
Why Cam Ward Will Be A Playmaker For The Miami Hurricanes
Breaking down Cam Ward’s big-time talents
Brian Smith (SI.com) — From the time Washington State quarterback Cam Ward made his name available in the Transfer Portal, the Miami Hurricanes began to court him. He took a visit to Miami (Dec. 12) and then to Florida State (Dec. 14).
Of course, Ward made a statement that he would go to the NFL Draft as well. He never officially made that happen, and now he’s heading to Coral Gables. So, what will Canes fans see with Ward in a Miami uniform?
Jim Harbaugh set for head coach interview with 1 NFL team Larry Brown Sports — Harbaugh will meet with the Los Angeles Chargers next week, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Harbaugh is still expected to garner interest from other teams as well. Rapoport noted that the Chargers also have a vacancy at general manager. While Harbaugh would not necessarily be given the power to fill that role, the organization would make sure there is “synergy” between Harbaugh and the new GM if they did opt to hire Harbaugh as head coach. There is a… Read more »
Gentry with his wingspan and fair speed will be needed playing inside or outside depending on the opponent. But the concern is he is injury prone it seems. This might put pressure on Davis & Cobb to raise their level of execution. You want a young talent like Stephens to succeed right away and be able to spell the others needing a blow, but it will take a while to get him comfortable and competent not being out of position or missing an assignment as was the case with Curtis. The big change USC will experience is moving from a… Read more »
The thing to me that will save the linebacker room is the addition of Arnold. I do believe that with Entz and Lynn on the defense staff that Davis could finally step up and shine.
Eric Gentry (18) has two years of eligibility and was a consistent playmaker in 2023, but his ceiling is known. Mason Cobb is an effective defensive leader, but struggled at times with missed tackles in Grinch’s scheme and has one year left. This USC group was responsible as much as any other for an abysmal run defense in 2023, in the bottom 15 in yards-per-game allowed in the nation.
Could Desmond Stephens be another Matt Grootegood? He sounds like it reading this article. He’s 6’1″ 208, but has a nose for the ball with strength & quickness tackling the ball carrier. If Matty got his hands on you, you weren’t going anywhere. PC said when Groots was in the game, good things started happening. We could be so lucky to have another one like #6. Just hope Stephens has a chance to show what he can do.
Groots was so special. I’ve said previously here that Carson Palmer, Junior Seau and Groots were the best Trojan high school players I ever saw in person. The much smaller Groots was the most versatile, focused, and instinctive, but there were concerns he would be a ‘tweener. After overcoming an early case of mono and redshirting, Groots became an All-American LB at 5-11 (if that), 210-215, in 2004 when he was a USC captain (along with Shaun Cody and Matt Leinart) on the national championship team that smashed OU in the Orange Bowl 55-19. Evaluated as too small for the… Read more »
One thing about that guy is that when you get hit by him, you know you’re not playing badmitton.
A lot of people, including myself, have thought about how bad it is to follow a legend specifially in regard to taking the Alabama job. I didn’t know this until today that DeBoer took the job knowing that Saban would remain at Alabama in another capacity to be able to help Deboer whenever he needed it. What a great deal, getting paid a lot of money to get schooled by the GOAT.
Why Cam Ward Will Be A Playmaker For The Miami Hurricanes
Breaking down Cam Ward’s big-time talents
Brian Smith (SI.com) — From the time Washington State quarterback Cam Ward made his name available in the Transfer Portal, the Miami Hurricanes began to court him. He took a visit to Miami (Dec. 12) and then to Florida State (Dec. 14).
Of course, Ward made a statement that he would go to the NFL Draft as well. He never officially made that happen, and now he’s heading to Coral Gables. So, what will Canes fans see with Ward in a Miami uniform?
si.com
Jim Harbaugh set for head coach interview with 1 NFL team Larry Brown Sports — Harbaugh will meet with the Los Angeles Chargers next week, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Harbaugh is still expected to garner interest from other teams as well. Rapoport noted that the Chargers also have a vacancy at general manager. While Harbaugh would not necessarily be given the power to fill that role, the organization would make sure there is “synergy” between Harbaugh and the new GM if they did opt to hire Harbaugh as head coach. There is a… Read more »
Chargers have been in dire need of a good GM ever since John Butler passed away in 2003. Harbaugh could help them find one.
I’d like to see Pete luck into this job, but I think Harbaugh’s got it if he wants it.
Gentry with his wingspan and fair speed will be needed playing inside or outside depending on the opponent. But the concern is he is injury prone it seems. This might put pressure on Davis & Cobb to raise their level of execution. You want a young talent like Stephens to succeed right away and be able to spell the others needing a blow, but it will take a while to get him comfortable and competent not being out of position or missing an assignment as was the case with Curtis. The big change USC will experience is moving from a… Read more »
The thing to me that will save the linebacker room is the addition of Arnold. I do believe that with Entz and Lynn on the defense staff that Davis could finally step up and shine.