I always imagined being an offensive player at SC would be similar to attending Top Gun. Maybe it’s because much like Top Gun, each fall a stable of talented high-flying athletes come on to campus in Los Angeles. This year’s Trojan offense is no exception and with the depth chart being released recently, let’s take a closer look at some of the standout players and newer faces who will be taking the field this season.
Quarterback
Starting QB: Max Browne
Max has won the starting job after patiently training behind Cody Kessler. Max had to endure a summer-long battle against younger Sam Darnold but ultimately Coach Helton will lean on experience and ability and look to Browne to command the Trojan offense.
Wide Receivers
Starting WR’s: Darreus Rogers, Steven Mitchell Jr., and JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Heisman watch sirens should be sounding as JuJu Smith-Schuster enters his junior season and is poised to build on the success he found last year. Juju can be a team’s worst nightmare if he finds space in the open field and at 6’2” 220lbs he can get up and over, and sometimes push around, many safeties tasked with keeping him at bay. Undoubtedly lots of teams will double cover #9 and in doing so will free up the rest of the receivers to have one on one matchups. I expect a banner year from #1 Darreus Rogers who is an instinctive receiver and while he had a couple injuries last year, he will be a favorite target this fall assuming he stays healthy.
Running Backs
Starting RB: Justin Davis
Often referred to as Tailback U, the USC backfield promises to perform throughout the season. Justin Davis enters his senior season looking to lead the team by example and is a trustworthy producer who hustled to just shy of 1000 yards last year. The real story though is Ronald Jones, an explosive runner from Texas who showed his potential as a freshman last year. Can you guess that he may want to break loose for a big TD in front of his family on Labor Day weekend? Yeah I think so.
Offensive Line
Starting OL: LT Chad Wheeler, LG Chris Brown, C Toa Lobendahn, RG Viane Talamaivo, RT Zach Banner, TE Taylor McNamara
One of the BIGGEST lines in college football anchored by junior center Toa Lobendahn and complemented by the biggest man in the game, Zach Banner. The Trojan line has great talent, but health will be a big concern and last year injuries forced substitutions and a weaker line. Just how big is #73 Zach Banner? 6’9” 360lb….go ahead and try to get through him.
So to summarize the offensive side of things….USC has all the weapons, it will just be a matter of playing as a cohesive unit and stretching the field through an unproven arm. The ceiling is extremely high for the offense and we will need to rely on them throughout the schedule.
Fight On
The Late Game 
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