USC lands Sixteen Selections on Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference Teams

USC Trojans were selected to sixteen spots on the Athlon Sports four All-Conference teams on Thursday. That’s four more than any other Pac-12 program.

Eight of the 15 Trojans (one players was selected twice) are incoming transfers. It’s yet another reminder of the work head coach Lincoln Riley and the USC staff did in the transfer portal this offseason. Riley said many times since taking over the Trojans that he does not see this as a long-term rebuild. He and his staff are here to win and win now.

Trojans on the First Team

Four Trojans were selected to the First-Team Offense and one was named First-Team Defense.

Quarterback Caleb Williams, running back/all-purpose player Travis Dye, wide receiver Jordan Addison and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees are first-teamers. Defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu is as well. Both Vorhees and Tuipulotu were third-team selections last preseason. Dye was a fourth-team pick.

Expectations are sky-high for the USC offense and much of that revolves around that skill position trio. Williams was tremendous as a true freshman at Oklahoma. Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. And Dye brings nearly 4,000 yards from scrimmage and 29 touchdowns with him from Oregon to USC.

Tuipulotu led the Trojans in sacks last season and could use a big year in 2022 to springboard himself into the discussion as a top NFL draft pick.

Trojans on the Second Team

Wide receiver Mario Williams and center Brett Neilon are second-team offensive picks. No USC player made the second team defense or specialists.

Utah’s Cameron Rising was named the second-team quarterback. He and Williams will take part in a must-watch Pac-12 showdown in Salt Lake City on October 15.

Mario Williams had a nice showing as a true freshman for Oklahoma last season. He caught 35 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns. He should be a significant contributor to the USC offense this season. Williams was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes during the Trojans’ spring game.

Neilon is a longtime starter in the middle of the USC offensive line. All eyes will be up front this season as the skill positions look to be fairly easily the best in the conference. The USC offensive line took a step forward last season and looks like a good bet to surprise a lot of national analysts who believe that spot is a weakness for the Trojans. Neilon will be right in the middle of things if the USC line finds success this year.

Trojans on the Third Team

Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. was the lone USC player selected to the Third-Team offense. On defense, four Trojans were named here. Defensive lineman Nick Figueroa, linebacker Eric Gentry, cornerback Mekhi Blackmon and safety Calen Bullock are all third-teamers.

It will be interesting to see how things shake out for Bryant this season. He has the ability to play significant snaps. But the additions of Williams and Addison could hurt the production numbers of the returning receivers.

Of those four defensive players, all seem to have the ability to outplay that ranking. Figueroa battled injuries all last season. Gentry was a standout as a true freshman at Arizona State. Blackmon looks to have a starting cornerback spot all but locked up. And Bullock flashed some spectacular ability during his first year at USC.

Trojans on the Fourth Team

Four Trojans were named to the fourth team, two on defense and two specialists.

Defensive lineman Korey Foreman and linebacker Shane Lee are the defenders. Kick returner Brenden Rice and punt returner Gary Bryant are the specialists.

Foreman could be a key for the USC defense this season. Expectations were so high for him as a true freshman last season that it would have been extremely difficult to meet them. Now with a year under his belt, the hope is that he’s settled in and ready to make a serious impact. The USC defense has to create negative plays and harass opposing quarterbacks this season. If Foreman is a big part of that, it would be a huge boost to the defense.

Trojan Omissions

This preseason list won’t mean much when the games start. But it’s a good look at the immediate expectations surrounding the Trojans. This isn’t a typical program looking to bounce back from a 4-8 season. It’s clear that many believe the pieces are in place for a run at the conference title. Sixteen Trojans listed here is more than fair, but a few other USC players probably could have been included.

Kicker Alex Stadthaus will likely be one of the four best kickers in the conference this season. He can force touchbacks and he drilled a 55-yard attempt with ease during the spring game.

Ruch end Romello Height didn’t put up eye-popping stats at Auburn, but the thought is that he’ll make an immediate impact at USC. He’s definitely someone to watch with his pass-rushing ability.

2022 vs 2021

USC had 13 players selected to the preaseason teams last year. USC tied with Washington for second-most, one behind Oregon’s 14. Quarterback Kedon Slovis, wide receiver Drake London, linebacker Drake Jackson and defensive back Chris Steele were USC’s four first-team selections.