Year Two Offers a Fresh Start for Korey Foreman

Korey Foreman entered USC as the No. 1 defensive player in the 2021 class and it’s likely that everybody from coaches, to fans, to teammates, to Foreman himself expected more than 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11 games played last year. That production, coupled with injury issues and lack of consistent playing time make it easy to call last year’s freshman season for Foreman a disappointing one. But it’s even easier to be excited about the fresh start for everybody at USC thanks to the arrival of head coach Lincoln Riley and this overhauled program and staff.

Foreman said he learned plenty from last season. But being able to turn the page now is key.

“I’m blessed to now see that I can now take everything that happened last year and just put it in the past and I can work forward and just use that every single day,” Foreman said. “I don’t ever want to be in a position to where I’m on the sidelines.”

Foreman isn’t focusing on the big picture of what a breakout season might look like or what his position on the depth chart might be right now. He’s concentrating on the next step, the next play, the next opportunity.

“The best I can do is just making sure I step through these walls with 110% effort every single day,” Foreman said of the walls surrounding Brian Kennedy/Howard Jones Field.

He said he told the new coaches this was like getting a “whole new freshman year again.” Foreman’s position coach, Roy Manning, said he’s seen the positivity from Foreman this spring.

“I think that’s the beauty sometimes in change,” Manning said. “It can be good for guys to hear maybe a new voice. Or just maybe have a new kind of lease on life, so to speak.”

Foreman Returns from Injury

The offseason wasn’t all smooth sailing for Foreman. He said he suffered a “little dislocation” of his knee while participating in an offseason player run practice. It forced Foreman to miss the first handful of spring practices and it would have been easy for Foreman to get down. This spring was going to be an important one for Foreman to fully turn the page from last season and put his best foot forward with the new staff. But Foreman was able to use his biggest lesson learned from last season in this instance.

“Being patient,” he said of what he learned last season. “And knowing that everything’s not against you, and just being able to take a situation, given a negative situation and being able to turn it positive. And just been able to see the good in a lot of bad situations, because regardless, the world’s not gonna stop.”

Foreman said he would be in the rehab room five times a day and not head home until 9:30 or 10 at night as he battled back from the injury.

“It’s all about those extra hours you put in,” he said.

Manning, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and Riley all commented on the fact that Foreman wasn’t out there at various points this spring. But all Foreman could do was hit the field as hard as he could once he was healthy. Thursday was Foreman’s fifth practice of the spring, compared to 11 for a majority of the roster. In a shorter time, he’s made a positive impression.

“Man, he’s got some tools,” Manning said. “The biggest thing I see out of him, he plays football the right way. He plays with this urgency and like a recklessness. Now, I have to temper it and get it in the right direction, which is my job. But it’s exciting to see him move around and fly around. He made some big time plays even today. So that was cool for his progression and confidence.”

Playing Rush

The Rush linebacker spot is a new position brought to USC by Grinch. But it’s similar to the hybrid end/linebacker role filled by Drake Jackson last season. Foreman said the main difference between this year and last year at defensive end is his ability to stand up and not start with his hand on the ground. Foreman added that adjusting to the new scheme has been “tricky,” but he’s confident he’ll grasp it fully.

Manning said the toughest aspect of this position for Foreman might be playing the run.

“I think that’s the hardest thing probably for him because he is such a natural pass rusher,” Manning said. “I think that’s more of the work for me is the run fits and reading tackles and guards and pulls. Do I shuffle? Do I go up the field? All these different things. That’s where the work is for him.”

Foreman is getting a lift from Romello Height, who came over as a transfer from Auburn this offseason and has been leading the way at that position.

“He’s my guy,” Foreman said of Height. “Picking up what he learned at Auburn or just being with him as a person, he’s an amazing guy. He’s an inspiration, too. His motivation, he keeps going and comes to work every single day with the same motor. So just seeing that along with him working by my side, that’s a blessing.”