Southern Cal’s offensive line is taking shape as the Trojans prepare for their inaugural season of Big Ten play.
USC has produce Hall of Fame offensive linemen Anthony Munoz, Bruce Matthews, and Tony Boselli. Thus, much is expected of Southern Cal’s men in the trenches.
While not set in stone, the likely starting offensive line in 2024 is as follows:
- Elijah Paige — Left Tackle
- Emmanuel Pregnon — Left Guard
- Jonah Monheim — Center
- Gino Quinones — Right Guard
- Mason Murphy — Right Tackle
The Members of Southern Cal’s 2024 Offensive Line
Below is detailed background information concerning the likely offensive line starters, followed by additional information concerning the likely backup players.
Jonah Monheim
Jonah Monheim is a redshirt senior. He is 6’5″ and weighs 305 lbs. He has started 34 games for the Trojans — 18 at right tackle, 12 at left tackle, and four at right guard.
For the 2024 season, Monheim returns as a team captain.
Head coach Lincoln Riley announced that Monheim is going to start at center for USC.
For his part, Monheim is content with the shift to center. As he told 247Sports:
“I’ve had interest in playing inside in the past. And obviously, [the coaches are] always just trying to get the best group of guys on the field that they can. However that works at center, guard or tackle, and I’ve just been for whatever we need to do for whatever’s best for the group.
“Center’s good. Everything’s just got to be a little quicker, a little faster, a lot tighter. You don’t have as much space as you do at tackle. That’s physically, and then mentally obviously making a lot of calls, quarterbacking the o-line there up front.”
Before Riley announced Monheim’s move to the center position, PFF rated Monheim the third best tackle in the country for the 2024 season.
Most valuable FBS OTs since 2022 according to PFF WAA
1. Joe Alt
2. Jonah MonheimKeep in mind, Monheim did that while playing RT/RG in 2022 and flipping to LT this past season.
#79 is a versatile stud for the Trojans.pic.twitter.com/51EqtJ0aIF
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
PFF explains Monheim’s value:
“No matter where Monheim lines up, he performs at a high level. In 2022, he played 731 snaps at right tackle and 292 snaps at right guard. Despite moving around the offensive line constantly, the redshirt sophomore was still one of only 10 Power Five offensive linemen that year who earned 80.0-plus grades as both a pass protector and run blocker. His 570 pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack or a hit that year were the most among FBS offensive linemen.
“Monheim flipped to left tackle as a redshirt junior and remained an elite pass protector. His 87.8 pass-blocking grade in 2023 placed sixth among all offensive tackles in college football. He moved back to right guard for USC’s Holiday Bowl victory over Louisville and didn’t concede pressure on any of his 33 pass-blocking snaps.
“Joe Alt is the only offensive tackle in college football who has been more valuable than Monheim over the past two seasons, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.”
Monheim looks like the solid anchor of the Trojans offensive line in 2024.
Emmanuel Pregnon
Emmanuel Pregnon is 6’5″ and weighs 320 lbs. He is a redshirt senior.
Pregnon transferred to USC from Wyoming in 2023, and was rated a four-star transfer. He played in all 13 games in the 2023 season, starting 12 of the games at left guard.
247Sports posted the following scouting report concerning Pregnon in 2022:
“Pregnon has intriguing capabilities as an interior lineman with ideal body structure and movement skills. He plays with the willingness to bury people in the run game and shows outstanding effort in pass sets. Pregnon is still very raw which gives him exciting potential. He has ability to be an upper-tier offensive guard in college football if he continues to grow in terms of technique, leverage, and awareness. He’s quickly becoming one of the most coveted transfers in this window.”
Since transferring to USC, Pregnon has blossomed. Hence, Coach Riley praised Pregnon’s development:
“Pregnon has really come on. He played his best game in the bowl game. He’s so much different than he was last year at this time. He’s made huge strides.”
Elijah Paige
Elijah Paige was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. Before committing to USC, he was recruited by Arizona, Miami, Notre Dame, and UCLA.
As a true freshman in 2023, Paige played in five games. Heading into the 2024 season, Paige is the likely starter at left tackle, which is the position he played in high school, and the position he played for the Trojans in the 2023 Holiday Bowl.
Paige is 6’7″ and weighs 316 lbs. He is studying journalism.
Coach Riley raved about Paige’s play in the Holiday Bowl:
“Elijah came in in the Holiday Bowl and dominated. He probably played the best game for us that a tackle played all year last year against a quality defensive line, so we are really pleased with his progress.”
Mason Murphy
Mason Murphy was a four-star recruit out of high school. He is 6’5″ and weighs 310 lbs. He is a redshirt junior.
Murphy made his first start for the Trojans at right tackle in 2022. He is the likely starter at right tackle during the 2024 season.
Coach Riley has been impressed with the quality of Murphy’s play.
Lincoln Riley on USC's depth at tackle:
"The quality is good. The depth is a little bit of a concern right now. There's certainly a possibility that we may add someone there."
Said freshman Elijah Paige and junior Mason Murphy would be the "first two out there" this spring.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) March 20, 2024
Gino Quinones
Gino Quinones was born in Hawaii. He is 6’3″ and weighs 302 lbs. He is a redshirt senior. Over the course of his Trojan career, he has played in 19 games, starting in two. He missed the majority of the 2023 season due to injury.
He may face some competition from freshman Alani Noa for the position of starting right guard.
Likely Offensive Line Reserves
Alani Noa is a 6’4″, 333-lb. sophomore, who saw action in six games as a true freshman in 2023. Noa was a three-star recruit.
Amos Talalele is a 6’4″, 337-lb. redshirt freshman who saw action in the Holiday Bowl. Talalele was a four-star recruit.
Micah Banuelos is a 6’2″, 300-lb. redshirt freshman who saw action in one game in the 2023 season. Banuelos was a four-star recruit who was pursued vigorously by Oregon, but chose to play with the Trojans.
Tobias Raymond is a 6’7″, 314-lb. redshirt freshman who saw action in two games in 2023. Raymond was a three-star recruit, coveted for his height and high upside potential.
Justin Tauanuu is a 6’6″, 305-lb. freshman. He was a four-star recruit, rated by 247Sports as the 26th best tackle in the nation. He is expected to compete for playing time in 2024 as a true freshman.
Promising Prospects for USC’s Offensive Line in 2024
As reflected by the details set out above, the Trojans have an experienced group of likely starters on the offensive line. That group is backed up by talented, young players. All Trojan offensive linemen are big and tall.
Coach Riley has tweeted about his excitement concerning the upcoming season.
the day one vibes were just right ☀️✌️ pic.twitter.com/rDh9tVNN2O
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) March 20, 2024
In particular, Coach Riley has also expressed optimism about the offensive line as the Trojans head into the 2024 season and Big Ten play. Yet, he also acknowledges that the Trojans may look to buttress the depth of the line by bringing in a player from the transfer portal.
Lincoln Riley says the depth at offensive tackle is a “concern” but they like the quality there.
Says there is a possibility they bring someone in. #USC
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) March 20, 2024
Specifically, on March 19, 2024, Riley told media “a portal addition at offensive tackle is a possibility.”
For now, the Trojans offensive line looks solid — comprised largely of four-star recruits and otherwise highly regarded players. It remains to be seen whether the line will be strengthened even further.
For more related sports news, focused primarily on the USC Trojans and Los Angeles Rams, follow me at @VictorH67967.
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