New "Inside the Trojans' Huddle" Tuesday (Jan. 31) edition: National Letter of Intent preview and predictions, Dylan Raiola, the recruiting calendar, state of the program, viewers' Q&A

In Tuesday’s “Inside the Trojans’ Huddle”, panelists Marc Kulkin, Erik McKinney, and Greg Katz preview Wednesday’s National Letter of Intent Day with predictions, discuss class of 2024 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola’s recent USC visit, propose recruiting calendar changes, the current state of the USC football program, and in Overtime, the panel answers viewers’ questions. 

In the first half of the Huddle, the panelists discuss what to expect with the Trojans on Wednesday’s signing day. The trio give their predictions on corner Rodrick Pleasant (Gardena, Calif./Serra HS), safety Warren Roberson (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak HS), wide receiver Ja’Kobe Lane (Mesa, Arizona, Red Mountain), and tight end Duce Robinson (Chandler, Arizona/Pinnacle HS). The panel also gives an overview if there might be some surprises along the away on Wednesday. One thing for sure, overall, there was unanimous agreement on one of the recruits signing with Troy on Wednesday, a split vote on two others, and a unanimous thumbs down on one of the out-of-state possibilities.

One late breaking item, it was learned after the taping of the Huddle that Duce Robinson will likely not sign a LOI on Wednesday. 

The recruiting topic continues with an assessment of last Saturday’s USC visit by class of 2024 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola from Chandler, Arizona. The panel believes the Trojans are strongly right back in the mix for the nation’s No. 1 recruit for the next recruiting cycle. It appears that Raiola and his entire family had a fantastic visit to Troy, and the young quarterback phenom couldn’t stop praising his relationship in the time he spent with Trojans’ head coach Lincoln Riley. All the panelists agreed on the recruiting effects of USC already having former 5-star freshman quarterback Malachi Nelson enrolled, and how this might affect Raiola’s future college choice. Katz gives some interesting perspectives that may help or hurt the Trojans in Raiola’s recruitment.     

The halftime topic for discussion is how best to improve the recruiting calendar. Has the early signing period actually become a detriment to all high school grade levels and what can be done about it if it has? The panel gives its opinions on the pros and cons of the early December signing window and even discuss ways to improve the portal transfer calendar. One panelist even suggests that the early December signing period be moved to after spring practices have concluded. The concept is to have two signing dates with the first one in the traditional month of February.   

In the second half of the Huddle, the panel discusses the current state of the USC football program. Kulkin, McKinney, and Katz talk about the changes in the Lincoln Riley program, as it begins to transition into its second year. The trio of football columnists address what they would like to see in the USC program going forward. One panelist suggests it’s about seeing better attendance in the Coliseum for home games in 2023 while another says it all about getting better linemen on offense and defense. 

The panel does yet another deep dive into why the 2022 USC defense was effective the first part of last season and then slipped into an abyss right through the Pac-12 Championship Game and the Cotton Bowl. What went wrong and how can Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch make sure that the 2023 season doesn’t do a repeat? There are various opinions on the decline of the 2022 defense, and one major factor was simply a case of lack of talent up front while another panelist suggests that all life went out of the defense when Caleb Williams popped his hamstring in the Pac-12 title game in Las Vegas.  

In the Overtime segment, the panel answers viewers’ questions pertaining to what 2023 game on the schedule is the “trap game,” RB Raleek Brown’s place in the offense next season and his competition, a prediction on the 2023 defensive MVP, potential transfer starters and freshmen impact players, and a defensive question regarding which returning players on the D-line, linebackers, and secondary will show the biggest improvement from last season to this upcoming season.