Lincoln Riley details the impact Mason Cobb can have on USC's defense

If there was a major issue that held USC back in 2022, it was the team’s defense. This offseason, Lincoln Riley looked to address that defense by adding several talented transfers. One of them was Mason Cobb, who transferred over from Oklahoma State.

Now, with the season just around the corner, Riley explained the impact that Mason Cobb can have on the defense this season.

“A lot,” Lincoln Riley said. “He’s such an instinctive player. I think at that position, as much as offenses throw at you, week in and week out, you have to have that.”

Mason Cobb brings plenty of experience to USC, having played at Oklahoma State since 2020. A three-star recruit in the 2020 cycle, he had an excellent 2022 season. In 12 games, he recorded 96 tackles and 13 tackles for a loss. He also added a couple of sacks and an interception.

“You have to have a guy that understands the game, that feels the game, that doesn’t hesitate, and to have his experience and a guy that’s played a lot of snaps, made a lot of plays, seen a lot of things, you can just — he took to our scheme and our staff very quickly,” Riley said.

“And obviously to the team. Like I said, taking to media days, to be named one of the captains, that right out of the gate speaks a lot to how he’s viewed within the locker room both by the staff and players. So, he’s gonna play a lot. I’m excited to see him turn it loose because he plays very fast and really diagnoses things very, very quickly and that’s obviously a great skill to have.”

Including the 2023 season, Mason Cobb has two years of eligibility remaining.

Lincoln Riley says this USC team has a different feel

According to Lincoln Riley, this season has a different feeling from ones in the past at USC.

“Camp was a lot of fun. It’s been very unique with the Week 0 game, right? That changes a lot in our world. I mean, literally, 75% of camp was done with our guys still in class, which was a little unique. We’ve got our first day of game week here and also our first day of class at the same time. The calendars and body clocks are a little bit different there,” Riley said.

“Listen, the guys have done well. The group has got a different feel to it, right? You’ve got that one group of players that are coming back, that know a little bit about what to expect. You know a little bit about them. There’s, I would say, more knowns, certainly, at this point than 12 months ago.”