JD PicKell: Transfers gelling is key to USC offense in 2022

The USC Trojans are a trendy pick to win the Pac 12 and possibly make it into the 2022 College Football Playoff, and for a good reason. USC was a major player in the transfer portal this offseason pulling in the nation’s top transfer quarterback, Caleb Williams, and top receiver, Jordan Addison. And while this stockpile of talent may be great, On3’s JD PicKell believes that the road to the Pac 12 title lies with the Trojans transfers gelling early in the season.

“Finally, it’s been no secret that USC was a big-time player when it came to the transfer portal. Like you name it, they probably got them in LA,” said PicKell. “Jordan Addison: Biletnikoff Award winner, Travis Dye: over 1,000-yard rusher, Mario Williams followed him from Oklahoma. There’s so many guys they got via the portal, and that’s great. Talent is never a bad thing, but to be able to put these pieces together that’s what I’m watching. They have a lot of key guys at key positions. Guys they can’t just throw out there and have it work day one.”

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While the Trojans can’t go out there and expect a flawless performance with little to no effort, they are still a formidable team on paper. And during USC spring practices and game, the team worked together seamlessly as if they had years of experience working together. But for PicKell and many others, gelling on the practice field is a good start, but the team will have to do it come September when they face live fire.

“Can all these transfers gel, especially at the quarterback and receiver position? Can Brendan Rice and Caleb Williams get on the same page? Can Travis Dye get on the same page? Because a lot of people are watching this hoping for this to fail. Because the assumption for a lot of these guys is they’re just in LA (USC) because of the NIL money. That’s it. So how awesome would it be for this group of transfers to say: nope, we’re still here to win games. For them to gel to get on the same page and to figure it out early.”

This season we have experienced a transfer portal boom like none other. And that has made way for teams like USC to reap the benefits and acquire top-tier talent from around the country. But now, the Trojans must put it all together when it counts the most. Otherwise, they will find themselves struggling to make the conference championship game let alone the College Football Playoff.