USC Trojans Head Coach Lincoln Riley said on April 18, 2024, that the team’s primary focus in the Spring transfer portal will be to bring in defensive tackles.
“God didn’t make many of those guys (defensive tackles)… I think that’s probably the most immediate need for us.”@uscfb head coach Lincoln Riley joined @bmarcello on 247Sports Live to discuss the Trojans' needs in the transfer portal. @ThePeristyle pic.twitter.com/qMGrXKC4Si
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 18, 2024
This focus is the wheelhouse of USC’s new Defensive Line Coach, Eric Henderson, who is currently ranked as the third-best recruiter in the nation.
USC Trojans New Focus On Defense
The Trojans have made no secret about their intention to usher in a strong, new, defensive-oriented culture as they prepare for their inaugural season of Big Ten play.
Their defense was abysmal the last two seasons. USC was a bad defensive team in 2022. That team, however, was typically able to overcome poor defense as a result of the heroics of Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison. The team made the Cotton Bowl, but gave up 46 points to Tulane. The defense only worsened in 2023. All Trojans FanNation aptly summarized the situation:
“USC end[ed] the [2023] regular season 118th in opponent points per game, 116th in opponent yards per game, 102nd in opponent yards per play, and 100th in opponent third down conversion percentage. From top to bottom, the defense was atrocious, and yes, a lot had to do with the coaching, but the players were also just as bad. “
Thus, Coach Riley did a major overhaul of the defensive coaching staff. In addition to bringing in Henderson, who will serve as USC’s co-defensive coordinator, running game coordinator, and defensive line coach, the principal coaches on the Trojans’ defense are now:
- D’Anton Lynn — Defensive Coordinator
- Matt Entz — Assistant Head Coach for Defense / Linebackers Coach
- Doug Belk — Secondary Coach
- Shaun Nua — Defensive Ends Coach
Lynn, Entz, and Belk are all new to the staff. Lynn was UCLA’s defensive coordinator in 2023, following nine seasons as an NFL assistant coach. Entz was the head coach of North Dakota State, and he led the team to two FCS national championships. Belk was an associate head coach / defensive coordinator for the Houston Cougars.
Nua is the only key returning member of the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. And, Nua is fairly new to the staff. He was the Michigan Wolverines defensive line coach through the 2021 season.
The Trojans hope to rely on Henderson’s recruiting bona fides to land top-notch defensive linemen in the transfer portal as well as in upcoming recruiting classes.
#DAWGWORK🐕 https://t.co/Uxa8CTu0NL
— Eric Henderson (@Coach_Henny) April 11, 2024
It doesn’t hurt that Henderson gets an occasional assist from his friend, Aaron Donald, who he coached when he was with the L.A. Rams.
Now THAT is a recruiting pitch 🔥
New USC DL coach Eric Henderson has Aaron Donald repoing the Trojans ✌🏼
Henderson has been the Rams DL coach the past 5 seasons. https://t.co/rG07QWAuj9
— Marshall Levenson (@MarshallRivals) January 17, 2024
The Trojans’ History is Full of Legendary Defensive Players
USC Trojan football has a rich history of stellar defensive play.
Included on the list of stand-out Trojan defenders are Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu, Willie McGinest, and Junior Seau. Clay Matthews, who will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame later this year, may also be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the future.
:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45227858/usa-today-3462631.0.jpg "USC Trojans Set Primary Focus on Acquiring Defensive Tackles in the Spring Transfer Portal 6")
The Trojans and their new defensive staff look to rekindle the glory brought to the team’s defense by these legends from the past.
Damonic Williams Is the Type of Defensive Lineman the Trojans Will Seek to Acquire in the Portal
After losing Isaiah Raikes and Stanley Ta’ufo’ou to the transfer portal earlier this month (April 2024), it is a priority for USC to add defensive linemen to their roster through the transfer portal.
Former TCU defensive lineman Damonic Williams is now in the portal and could be a perfect fit with the Trojans. He is 6’2″ and weighs 320 pounds. He is just about the same size as Raikes. However, Williams’ productivity has greatly exceeded Raikes’. Per the Los Angeles Football Network (LAFB):
“Last season at TCU, Williams finished with 33 total tackles and 3 sacks. Raikes finished last season at Texas A&M with 17 total tackles and 1 sack. In fact, in his entire collegiate career, Raikes has 42 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Obviously, stats don’t tell the full story, but Damonic Williams seems like he would be a substantial upgrade to play alongside Bear Alexander.
“His other accolades include a 2022 Freshman All-American and a 2023 All-Conference selection. Add in the fact that Williams was born in Torrence, and attended Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills with current USC QB Miller Moss, and this move just makes way too much sense.”
LAFB forecasts Williams landing with the Trojans quite quickly.
Former TCU Standout DL Damonic Williams has heard from these schools since entering the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 320 DL totaled 60 Tackles, 9.5 TFL, and 4.5 Sacks in his time at TCU
One of the Top Available players in the Portalhttps://t.co/Yq4pZNCDu3 pic.twitter.com/0VkLrX0Fu5
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 18, 2024
ESPN reports:
“With his stats and ability to disrupt the middle of a defensive line, combined with two years of eligibility remaining, Williams will likely be a coveted prospect in this spring transfer window once he enters his name in the portal.
“Coaches are not allowed to contact players until they have entered the proper paperwork to put their name in the database, and players have until April 30 to do so.”
Damonic Williams ▶ USC?
-2022 Freshman All-American DL
-2023 All-Conference Selection DL
-Future USC Star?✌@FightOnRusty @SSN_USC @USC_Nico @916Trojan @TrojanFBx @TheTrojanBlade @USCJ32 pic.twitter.com/qAztHZnAkw— Founders Inc. (@FoundersEdits) April 17, 2024
USC will be heavily involved with Damonic Williams. https://t.co/ZHuFbcUfFP
— Ryan Phillips (@RumorsandRants) April 17, 2024
Stay tuned for continuing reporting about the transfer portal and USC’s quest to fill its defensive needs.
For more sports-related news, focused primarily on the USC Trojans, SMU Mustangs, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Rams, please follow me at @vshjah_Victor.
1 Comment
I’m not sure how old Ronnie Lott is now. But even at age 65, he’d probably play stronger defense than USC did last year. He is a bad ass.