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Gino Quinones injury: Lincoln Riley reveals USC OL planning return for seventh year

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•10/31/24•

andybackstrom

Gino Quinones
USC offensive lineman Gino Quinones looks around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before a game against the Nevada Wolf Pack (acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

USC head coach Lincoln Riley revealed Thursday that sixth-year offensive lineman Gino Quinones, who is sidelined the rest of the season, plans to return for 2025.

Riley was asked if Quinones will apply for a seventh season of eligibility.

“My understanding is he’s going to try to,” Riley said. “I mean, he’s got a year left either way, but I do know that he’s working to try to determine if that’s one or two. So we’ll see obviously how that unfolds.”

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Quinones played just 21 offensive snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, all in a blowout win over Utah State in Week 2. He was listed as out for the season in the team’s Big Ten availability report leading up to last week’s game against Rutgers, which the Trojans won handily, 42-20.

Quinones notably suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game of USC’s 2023 season after starting the opener against San Jose State, during which he played 42 offensive snaps, per PFF, rotated at the guard spots and even played center.

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The Ewa Beach, Hawaii, native played a career-high 208 offensive snaps in 2022, according to PFF. That season, he started a pair of games, first at right guard against Arizona State in Week 5 and then at left guard versus Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

Quinones emerged as a three-star prospect at Saint Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he became the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 77 interior offensive lineman in the 2019 class.

While USC no longer has Quinones as a depth piece this season, Riley said the Trojans are in a good spot health-wise on the offensive line.

Riley went as far as to say Thursday that this is as healthy as USC has been up front since even befroe training camp. He explained that the second-team O-Line got a boost with the return of junior Kilian O’Connor. Riley said O’Connor has taken a lot of reps, as has true freshman Justin Tauanuu. Riley said he and his staff are pleased with the progress both Tauanuu and redshirt freshman Tobias Raymond are making — Raymond, especially, has stood out.

“He’s, I think, one of the more improved players on our entire roster,” Riley said of Raymond.

Redshirt freshman Amos Talalele has also been in the mix taking a lot of reps, Riley said.

“Then one of the guys that’s really stepped up has been Kaylon Miller,” Riley said. “We’ve been really proud of his development. He’s got a real chance here as time goes on, does some really good things.”

Additionally, Riley mentioned that redshirt freshman Micah Banuelos and true freshman Makai Saina have been back on the practice field in the last 10 or so days, not to mention the return of another true freshman, Kalolo Ta’aga.