Anthony Lucas highlights new-look USC defense
‘I’ve seen him do some crazy stuff, bro.’
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — Take one look at Anthony Lucas — or, rather, glance up at him as he towers over you — and it’s not difficult to connect the dots of how he ended up here, in the middle of a USC defense that was walked over like a doormat late last season.
Lincoln Riley didn’t mince words in the wake of that disappointing finish: His defense had to get bigger and stronger up front, adding depth wherever it could, and here, waiting in the transfer portal, was precisely the sort of hulking presence they were hoping to find, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound ball of raw athleticism and potential.
“Just not many body types like that walking around,” Riley said.
The massive former five-star has certainly made for a convenient signpost this spring for a defense in desperate need of change.
Since Lucas has arrived at USC, coaches and teammates say he’s made himself impossible to miss. Down to the shock of newly dyed blond hair atop his head.
“I’ve seen him do some crazy stuff, bro,” linebacker Shane Lee said Thursday, with a laugh.
Others will finally get an extended glimpse Saturday, when USC unveils its revamped defense during the spring game. All eyes will be on a front seven that was last seen being run over for more than 10 yards per play in the Cotton Bowl.
If the buzz around Lucas this spring has been any indication, he could make quite the impression in his Coliseum debut. USC hasn’t been shy about testing the boundaries of his ability this spring, trying him all over the Trojans’ retooled front. He’s spent time at defensive tackle, defensive end and edge rusher, chasing the quarterback on one play, then flipping his hips to drop into coverage on the next. During a recent scrimmage, he recovered and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
After just a few weeks, coaches have already started comparing him to departing defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu, who led the nation in sacks last season. Albeit with some caveats.
“The great ones you just kind of feel a presence,” Riley said, “and Anthony — I’m not saying he’s Tuli. I’m not saying he’s a great player yet. But he’s certainly got the chance to be.”
That was the expectation when Lucas enrolled at Texas A&M a year ago, one of eight five-star prospects in the nation’s top recruiting class. But his single season in College Station ended after just six games. He was suspended in October following a locker room incident in the aftermath of the Aggies’ loss to South Carolina. He never returned to the team.
“The situation that went down over there, I didn’t feel like I fit in the culture over there … so I chose to remove myself from the situation,” Lucas said. “Why am I going to elongate a stay somewhere I’m obviously not wanted?”
USC offered a fresh start, with a defensive line coach who’d already earned his trust. Shaun Nua was at Michigan when he met Lucas as a standout at Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Ariz. The two formed a close bond over a lengthy recruitment, a relationship that later paid off for USC.
That trust has been reciprocated this spring as Nua hasn’t hesitated to add new roles to his plate.
“That’s what we did with 49 last year,” Nua said, referring to Tuipulotu. “We want all of our great players to embrace and accept that role. You should see him everywhere up front.”
But like Tuipulotu before him, Lucas alone won’t fix all the issues facing USC’s defensive front. Its biggest problem last season wasn’t the talent at the top of the depth chart, but the steep dropoff in depth after its standouts like Tuipulotu.
Riley says he believes “that gap has closed” this spring.
“We have more competition, more depth, guys are really having to push, guys know the system better, we’ve got some good leaders on that side of the ball,” Riley said. “So certainly a long ways from where we were a year ago, there’s no question about that, but still a long ways to go.”
It’s hard to argue with his optimism at linebacker especially, where new additions Mason Cobb and freshman Tackett Curtis have made it feel like “a completely different room,” says inside linebacker coach Brian Odom.
Along USC’s defensive line, Lucas isn’t the only newcomer who’s made an early impact. Nua characterized versatile Purdue transfer Jack Sullivan as “a great addition” capable of playing multiple positions, while Kyon Barrs, at 6-2, 290 pounds, has provided much-needed size and experience on the interior.
Whether that’s enough to change USC’s fate up front remains to be seen. At least now, Nua says, they have the numbers to try.
“The one thing that was missing last year was just the numbers,” Nua said. “We were not deep in numbers at all. Talent-wise, that’s hard to tell. This group still has got to prove themselves.”
latimes.com
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Did not see the game on live. Watched the highlights on UTube, so my grasp of what happened is clearly limited and skewed. Overall observation: the game was intended to evaluate and to develop talent as well as to limit injuries to vital players. It was not meant to showcase talent. Some kids who played a lot in this game will not see the field in the fall. If a healthy kid did not see the field much in this game, either you are very good and have your spot locked or you are in not long for the roster.… Read more »
RJJ, I watched the whole thing on TV. Your evaluation is spot on. The D did make plays, sacks, TFL, and interceptions. But hard to tell who out there might make the field in the Fall and who will ride the bench. Overall I think we can be confident this team will be better than last year on both sides of the ball. How far that takes them who knows.
What I saw today at linebacker impressed me. Cobb, Davis, and Curtis. That is some depth especially when you throw in Gentry and Lee. Even Garrison Madden played well. Did Foreman even play?
I’ll start the debate. Is the “revamped” defense any better? Granted there were limited practices and new personnel, but either the offense is off the charts (I think it is) or the defense is just average. Some of the excitement from last season is gone because we know some of the expectations, but I’m already convinced I’m going to the games this season.
Caleb will be presented with his Heisman Trophy today at halftime of the spring game
Nice to have a celebration in front of team mates and fans. Hope they show it on Pac12Network. SC should have promoted that better, might have got more people in the Coliseum. Recruits should be impressed.
It has been a long time since USC has a Heisman winner.
It seems Coach Riley has a knack for developing players who win
the Heisman.
The Portal is officially back open For the next 15 days, starting today, college football players are once again free to move about the country. The Athletic — The Mondays after spring games should produce a lot of portal entries in the weeks ahead. The open transfer window expedites those conversations and decisions on both sides. These players don’t have much time to take visits and figure out where they’re going next, so they need to enter as quickly as possible. In January, the D-I Council updated its guidelines for approving waivers for underclassmen who are transferring a second time.… Read more »
Did you see the new rule about recruits are now able to take unlimited official visits? That is going to inflate some football budgets for sure.
Thanks. I did notice that, and I commented about here a couple of days ago. Here’s what I said on Thursday about the increased drama to come: Prospects are no longer restricted to 5 official visits Ari Wasserman (The Athletic) — The NCAA announced Thursday afternoon that its Div I council has created new official and unofficial visits rules. The main change is that as of August, prospects will no longer be restricted to five official visits but will be limited to only one official visit per school, unless there is a coaching change. Prospects with extensive offer lists previously had… Read more »
Just watched last years game against Cal on Pac12 network. Wow, our defense was so bad. I don’t think we even have to be good on D to be a great team this year, just don’t be terrible. Excited to see todays game and the changes we’ve made.