USC true freshman guard Alani Noa goes from three-star to potential starter
There were several true freshmen who dotted USC’s initial depth chart heading into the 2023 season. Big-time recruits such as linebacker Tackett Curtis and wide receiver Zachariah Branch were expected to make quick impacts. One name who might have been a surprise to many was three-star offensive lineman Alani Noa earning an “OR” designation as a co-starter at left guard.
How did the 6-foot-4, 325-pound freshman who wasn’t an early enrollee accomplish that? It was pretty simple, according to head coach Lincoln Riley.
“He’s been one of our best o-linemen,” Riley said.
Noa finished the 2023 recruiting cycle as the No. 525 overall prospect and No. 50 interior lineman in the On3 Industry Rankings. But he was absolutely coveted by West Coast powers USC and Oregon. Despite not being at USC for spring ball, Noa simply showed up this summer and got to work.
“He’s incredibly gifted, really, for a young guy,” Riley said. “Plays hard, plays really physical, and he’s done a good job picking our stuff up. He’s a smart kid. He gets the game. He’s still learning, certainly, but he’s playing with some guys in there that have played a lot of ball and that’s certainly helpful. He’s he’s been very good mentally.”
Noa began fall camp working with the No. 3 offensive line but quickly pushed his way into the second group. Just ahead of the season-opener, he’s listed as a co-starter along with Wyoming transfer Emmanuel Pregnon.
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“Just impressed with his consistency, his physicality, effort and kind of mentality that he plays with,” Riley said. “And for any offensive lineman, that’s where it starts. You have to have that. And he does that consistently, like a veteran. You love seeing that.”
Riley didn’t get into whether Noa will start for the Trojans on Saturday. The head coach said there are some competitions still ongoing at several spots and they’ll need to sort out what the rotation will look like. But No. 77 will absolutely be on the field when USC hosts San Jose State to open the season.
Teammates Have Been Impressed from the Beginning
Noa is someone who jumped out early in fall camp to his teammates. Fellow offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace predicted a little more than a week into fall camp that Noa would become an “extremely elite player.”
“Alani in the O-line room, specifically,” Lovelace said when talking about young standouts. “We could go down the board at each position, but Alani really, oh my God, there are some flashes. I’m telling you. I know we can’t show you guys film or anything like that, but if there was a moment where you guys could see some of the things he’s doing, he’s going to be an extremely elite player.”
