Starting offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon to return to USC in 2025
USC is set to get a big piece of its offensive line back for the 2025 season as starting left guard Emmanuel Pregnon will be back for one final season with the Trojans. New offensive line coach Zach Hanson announced the news following Wednesday’s practice.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Pregnon was selected to the All-Big Ten second team following a very strong 2024 regular season. He previously accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl following the season but will instead return to the Trojans next season.
“Excited to have him back,” Hanson said of Pregnon. “Made tremendous strides this last year. Looking for him to do the same this upcoming year and get that NFL Draft grade up, and hopefully go get drafted high in the draft next year.”
Former offensive line coach Josh Henson recently took the offensive coordinator position at Purdue and Hanson slid over from the tight end position to take over this group. With Pregnon’s return, he gets his first big win on his first official day on the job.
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Pregnon finished with USC’s highest PFF overall grade on offense and as a pass blocker. He took a huge step forward this season after an okay first season with the Trojans in 2023. Pregnon arrived via the transfer portal from Wyoming ahead of the 2023 season as a big pickup.
USC is set to lose starting center Jonah Monheim to the NFL draft and starting right tackle Mason Murphy is in the transfer portal. Getting Pregnon back and locking him in with left tackle Elijah Paige and right guard Alani Noa suddenly puts something of a positive spin on how this USC offensive line could look next season even with the two big holes still to fill.
The USC offensive line struggled at times early in the season, including a bad performance at Michigan. But that group improved game after game over the second half of the season and Pregnon was big reason why. The Trojans finished No. 18 in the country in average yards per rushing attempt at 5.33, just behind Penn State. The Trojans also finished No. 22 in the country in sacks allowed per game.
