Miller Moss highlights standout play from USC true freshman defender
Head coach Lincoln Riley finished the 2024 recruiting cycle with the nation’s No. 18 overall class and No. 5 group in the Big Ten. That’s a distance away from the top-five classes that typically signify future national championship runs. But there were a number of big-time additions in that class who have the potential to make early impacts in their USC careers. USC quarterback Miller Moss specifically pointed to one following Tuesday’s spring ball practice.
Asked if there were any defensive backs standing out of late, Moss didn’t hesitate in singling out a true freshman with a familiar last name.
“Marcelles Williams has been awesome,” Moss said.
Williams is the younger brother of former USC defensive back Max Williams, who had 27 tackles, a sack and an interception last season to finish his Trojan career with 133 tackles, four forced fumbles, three interceptions and nine pass deflections. He also has another older brother, Macen Williams, who is heading into his fifth year at Arizona State. There is little surprise that Marcelles, a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 160 overall prospect in the 2024 On3 Industry Rankings, showed up to USC as an early enrollee ready to play. But it still says something when a player of Moss’ caliber and stature on the team points it out.
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“Obviously a young kid — he’s high school senior still,” Moss said of Williams. “But he can definitely play corner with the best guys on our team right now. It’s been really cool to see. Excited for that kid. He’s definitely got a bright future.”
If Williams is truly fitting right in alongside USC’s other cornerbacks, that’s a statement from the freshman. The Trojans went out and got two experienced veterans in the transfer portal in John Humphrey from UCLA and DeCarlos Nicholson from Mississippi State. USC also returns veteran Jacobe Covington. That’s a position that caused some depth issues for USC last season due to injury and the Trojans needed to flip wide receiver Makai Lemon over to defense for much of the second half of the season. Adding the pair of veterans and getting elevated play from a true freshman should alleviate concerns about the USC cornerback spot heading into the 2024 season.
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