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Looking ahead to the loaded 2024 quarterback draft class: Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams headlines the group after his masterful season at USC. Williams threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns, adding 10 more scores on the ground. He is in line to be the next first-round pick from Lincoln Riley's offense. Joining Williams in the Pac-12 are two excellent senior quarterbacks, Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix (Washington). The former transfers broke out on the scene with their news programs in 2022 and are ready to run it back next season.

Drake Maye shot up draft boards following his fantastic redshirt freshman season. He helped lead UNC to the ACC championship game, throwing 38 touchdowns in the process. Maye looks the part of a future NFL quarterback. Texas' Quinn Ewers is a prime candidate to take a massive jump going forward. He has one of the best arms in the nation and should be more comfortable in the starting role. - USA Today

(DS#1 QB) Jr/2024

QB Caleb Williams, Southern California
News Source: USA Today
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01/13/23 - Kyon Barrs, rSr/2024, Southern California, 6-2, 301 (DS#71 DT) + More +

In USC's' 43-42 Pac-12 Championship loss to Utah in Salt Lake City, T rojan defenders missed 18 tackles, gave up 291 of the Utes' whopping 562 yards in the second half, allowed three first downs by penalty and had just one tackle for loss. Then on Jan. 2 they gave up 16 points in the final 4:07 of the season to succumb to Tulane, 46-45.

But head coach Lincoln Riley is keeping defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. But the Trojans are bulking up their defense. Via the transfer portal they will add Arizona defensive lineman Kyon Barrs, a second team All-Pac-12 honoree in 2021 and Oklahoma State linebacker Mason Cobb, second team All Big 12 in 2022. The Trojans also recruited nine top high school defenders, including three four-star prospects who include highly touted talents such as Braylan Shelby, an edge rusher, and Tackett Curtis, a linebacker. - Orange County Register

(DS#71 DT) rSr/2024

DT Kyon Barrs, Southern California
News Source: Orange County Register
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01/12/23 - Sam Huard, rSr/2026, Southern California, 6-1, 210 (DS#58 QB) + More +

Sam Huard's story is not unique. Granted, there are certainly exclusive elements - how his father (Damon) and uncle (Brock) both starred in Seattle, cultivating a legacy of prolific quarterback play; how his last name became inextricably bound to a program as well as a position; how he set the state's prep passing record (with 13,214 yards) in his final game before enrolling early at Washington; how a ranking, a reputation and an expectation sat on the shoulders attached to his prized left arm. But Huard's transfer fits with the larger trend. Indeed, the redshirt sophomore - who announced Tuesday he'll enter the transfer portal - is one of 13 quarterbacks ranked as a five-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite between the 2018 and 2021 classes. And of those 13 celebrated slingers, eight have since searched for a second home.

That list includes Heisman Trophy winners Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, a top draft pick in Justin Fields … and a graveyard filled with failed marriages. Which doesn't mean Huard - or Uiagalelei - are destined for perpetual disappointment. Fields, Williams, Rattler and Nix have each found a measure of success at their second stops. But it does reveal an unfortunate fact surrounding the ongoing quarterback carousel: whether via the transfer portal or the high school ranks, signal callers are constantly coming to take your job. If you're not good enough, you'll be gone. - Seattle Times

(DS#58 QB) rSr/2026

QB Sam Huard, Southern California
News Source: Seattle Times
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01/12/23 - Caleb Williams, Jr/2024, Southern California, 6-1, 214 (DS#1 QB) + More +

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams delivered USC its first Heisman Trophy winner since Reggie Bush in 2005 this season. But unlike the legendary Trojans running back, Williams is able to capitalize on the win in the NIL space. And even though he was not preparing for the College Football Playoff finals earlier this week, he was able to strike a partnership for the event. He spent part of his weekend at College Football Playoff fan central as part of a partnership with AT&T. Set up at the brand's "Fan Bowl," Williams signed autographs and took pictures with fans. And he appeared at AT&T's 5G Radio Show at the Allstate Championship Tailgate at SoFi Stadium on Monday. Since making the move to the West Coast last February, he has pieced together one of the strongest NIL resumes of any player in the country. The USC quarterback currently holds a $3.2 million On3 NIL Valuation. - On3.com

(DS#1 QB) Jr/2024

QB Caleb Williams, Southern California
News Source: On3.com
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01/12/23 - Anthony Lucas, Sr/2026, Southern California, 6-4, 285 (DS#20 DE) + More +

Former Texas A&M defensive lineman Anthony Lucas has committed to USC. Lucas, a former five-star recruit in the Top247 rankings for the Class of 2022, will have three years of eligibility and joins the Trojans as a true sophomore. The 6-6, 270-pound Chapparal High School product and Scottsdale (Ariz.) native had 10 tackles and one tackle for a loss this past season.

Lucas is an NFL prototype player who will have immediate impact on the USC defense and should start for the next two seasons. In 2023 he will play alongside another former five-star recruit, Korey Foreman. Lucas was a member of Texas A&M's historic 2022 recruiting class that ranked No. 10 all time, but the Aggies and Jimbo Fisher have now lost Chris Marshall at wide receiver to Ole Miss and Denver Harris at cornerback to LSU. Both were five stars along with Lucas. - Trojanswire.com

(DS#20 DE) Sr/2026

DE Anthony Lucas, Southern California
News Source: Trojanswire.com
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01/11/23 - Keeshawn Silver, rSr/2026, Southern California, 6-3, 330 (DS#41 DT) + More +

Less than a week after losing one former five-star recruit from its defensive line, Kentucky football has found a new former five-star prospect for the position. North Carolina transfer defensive tackle Keeshawn Silver, who was ranked as the No. 31 prospect in the high school class of 2021 by the 247Sports Composite, committed to Kentucky on Sunday after an official visit to campus. While Silver was considered one of the best prospects in his high school class as a five-star recruit, he totaled just four tackles in two years at North Carolina.

At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, Silver looks the part of an SEC defensive lineman, but he has work to do to cash in on his immense recruiting hype. Kentucky will hope he can develop into a rotation piece a line that is on track to return five of its top six players, led by freshman All-American defensive tackle Deone Walker. Silver is not a like-for-like replacement for nose guard Justin Rogers, a former five-star recruit who started every game in 2022 for UK before entering the transfer portal next season, but if he develops into a contributor at tackle, it would allow Kentucky to play Walker more at nose guard. Or Silver could move positions to play nose himself. - Herald Leader

(DS#41 DT) rSr/2026

DT Keeshawn Silver, Southern California
News Source: Herald Leader
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01/08/23 - Austin Jones, rSr/2024, Southern California, 5-10, 200 (DS#34 RB) + More +

USC's backfield was bound to be more crowded next season before the top available rusher in the transfer portal announced Friday that he would be a Trojan. The arrival of South Carolina running back MarShawn Lloyd, who led the Gamecocks in rushing last season with 573 yards, seemed to suggest USC had found its new lead back for 2023. Less than three hours later, Austin Jones announced he would return for a second go-round at USC, ensuring serious competition for carries next season.

Jones, also a former transfer, played a secondary role to Travis Dye in 2022, tallying 705 yards and five touchdowns to go with 267 yards receiving and another touchdown. He took over the reins when Dye suffered a season-ending injury in November and averaged 92.5 yards per game over the season's final month. In the run-up to the Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane, Jones said he wasn't sure whether he'd return to USC for a fifth season. That decision had crystallized by Friday, leaving USC with a litany of backs to choose from in what could be a wide-open competition come spring. - Los Angeles Times

(DS#34 RB) rSr/2024

RB Austin Jones, Southern California
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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01/03/23 - *Tuli Tuipulotu, Jr/2023, Southern California, 6-3, 266 (DS#9 DE) + More +

Southern California All-America defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu will enter the NFL draft. Tuipulotu, who led the FBS with 13 1/2 sacks as a junior, announced his decision on social media Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 290 pound edge rusher had two tackles and one sack in the eighth-ranked Trojans' 46-45 loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl on Monday. He finished his college career with 21 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 32 games. The younger brother of USC and Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu, Tuli impressed as a freshman during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season by getting two sacks and 2 1/2 tackles for loss in six games.

His last season was his best, with Tuipulotu finishing second nationally in tackles for loss with 22. The defensive equivalent to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, Tuipulotu's disruptive play helped a flawed defense lacking talent and depth - USC allowed 29.2 points per game and 6.5 yards per play - produce timely negative plays and takeaways. Tuipulotu received the Morris Trophy as the best defensive lineman in the Pac-12, an award voted on by players. He was also a finalist for the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards presented to the top defender in college football and the Lombardi Award for the top offensive or defensive lineman. Led by Williams and Tuipulotu, USC finished 11-3 and played in the Pac-12 title game and a New Year's Six bowl in coach Lincoln Riley's first season. The Trojans were 4-8 in 2021 when Clay Helton was fired as coach after two games. - AP College Football

(DS#9 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Tuli Tuipulotu, Southern California
News Source: AP College Football
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01/01/23 - Caleb Williams, Jr/2024, Southern California, 6-1, 214 (DS#1 QB) + More +

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams said he is ready to play in the Cotton Bowl on Monday, which will be exactly one month after the Southern California quarterback suffered a significant hamstring injury in the Pac-12 championship game. "I feel good," Williams said Friday. "We're obviously all being smart about it because it did just happen a couple of weeks ago. But I've been feeling good." Williams got hurt on a 59-yard run in the first half of USC's loss to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 2. While obviously and admittedly in pain the rest of the game, he still finished with 363 yards passing and three touchdowns. "As soon as it happened, I actually tried to wave off coach (Lincoln) Riley for the next play," Williams said. "So I felt it as soon as it happened." Riley, who wasn't made available to reporters Friday, had said after the injury that Williams would need a lot of rehab to have a chance to play in the game against Tulane.

After practice at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys where the game will be played, Williams it has felt "like normal prep" for him since the Trojans got to North Texas earlier this week. While not elaborating on what he has done, he said he anticipates playing the entire game after the extended time since the Pac-12 title game. "If it was still the same as if I just injured it, i wouldn't go out there because I don't think I'd be as good of a help," Williams said. "During that game, I was already in the game, I was already in the flow of everything. But starting off with an injury like that, it'd be a little different." Asked if he felt he was capable of doing everything he will need to do in the Cotton Bowl, Williams responded, "we'll see when I get out there. But I think I'm capable." Williams, who went with Riley from Oklahoma to Southern California after last season, has thrown for 4,075 yards and 37 touchdowns with four interceptions this year, and has run for 372 yards and 10 more scores. - Southern California/AP College Football

(DS#1 QB) Jr/2024

QB Caleb Williams, Southern California
News Source: Southern California/AP College Football
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12/22/22 - *Jordan Addison, Jr/2023, Southern California, 5-11, 173 (DS#2 WR) + More +

USC will be without both its top receiving target and its top offensive lineman for the Cotton Bowl, as each focuses on putting nagging injuries behind them ahead of the NFL draft process. Wideout Jordan Addison has elected not to play in the bowl game, USC coach Lincoln Riley said Wednesday, in order to rehab the nagging ankle injury that kept him out for a month earlier this season. Addison's decision to sit out the bowl game almost certainly marks the end of a brief, one-year tenure at USC.

The Biletnikoff Award winner with Pitt in 2021, Addison transferred to USC less than a year ago and finished tied for the Pac-12 lead with eight receiving touchdowns this season, despite missing time with the ankle injury. He's expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. If he is, that'll mark two straight seasons in which a USC receiver was selected in the first round, following Drake London this year. - Los Angeles Times

(DS#2 WR) Jr/2023

WR *Jordan Addison, Southern California
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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12/20/22 - Jarrett Kingston, rSr/2024, Southern California, 6-4, 306 (DS#22 OG) + More +

Jarrett Kingston, a three-year starter on Washington State's offensive line and the team's top performer up front this season, entered the NCAA's transfer portal on Monday, according to multiple reports. Kingston provided consistent play for an unsteady position group this year, anchoring the offensive line at left tackle before suffering a season-ending lower-body injury Nov. 5 at Stanford. Even before Monday's news, Kingston was not expected to return to WSU in 2023. He participated in senior night celebrations Nov. 26.

The 6-foot-5, 302-pounder had drawn some attention from NFL scouts this year and Cougs coach Jake Dickert told reporters that Kingston might try his hand at the professional level. "We'd absolutely love to have Jarrett back," Dickert said three days before WSU's regular season finale against Washington. "I think he's looking at taking an opportunity at the next level that we fully support. I don't think any decision has been completely finalized … but I want them walking (on senior night) if they don't know. Jarrett absolutely deserves this opportunity. Whatever happens after the season, he'll make that decision and what's best for him, and we'll be involved and excited for him." - Spokesman-Review

(DS#22 OG) rSr/2024

OG Jarrett Kingston, Southern California
News Source: Spokesman-Review
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12/18/22 - Shane Lee, rSr/2024, Southern California, 6-0, 243 (DS#37 ILB) + More +

When Lincoln Riley first sold Shane Lee on becoming a Trojan, the coach told the former freshman All-American linebacker that he viewed him as a critical piece of the culture he planned to build at USC. Nearly a year later, the foundation is firmly in place. The rebuild, with an 11-2 start in Riley's first season, is well ahead of schedule. And the senior captain, who could have tested the NFL draft waters, says he'll be back next season to see it through. "I'm staying," Lee said Friday. "I just like what we're building here. I'm comfortable here. I'm excited for what's to come, and I want to be a part of that. I want to help build it and be a part of it and continue what we started." - Los Angeles Times

(DS#37 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Shane Lee, Southern California
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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12/18/22 - *Tuli Tuipulotu, Jr/2023, Southern California, 6-3, 266 (DS#9 DE) + More +

Tuli Tuipulotu, the Pac-12's defensive player of the year, said he's still undecided on whether he'll declare for the draft. But the defensive lineman had no doubts about playing at least one more game for USC. "I'm for sure playing in the bowl game," Tuipulotu said. "Can't leave my brothers out there." After leading the nation in sacks (12.5), it's unlikely that Tuipulotu's draft stock would rise much higher with another season at USC. But he said he would weigh a return to USC against his NFL potential after the Trojans play Tulane in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2. "That's something I've got to consider," Tuipulotu said, when asked about the NFL. "But I'm just focusing on the game. When the time comes to make the decision, I'll make the decision." - Los Angeles Times

(DS#9 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Tuli Tuipulotu, Southern California
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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12/16/22 - Caleb Williams, Jr/2024, Southern California, 6-1, 214 (DS#1 QB) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: QB Caleb Williams, So., USC,...Through 13 games, Williams has dazzled the nation with his elusive moves, his powerful arm and his thrilling runs. He has 47 TDs and 4 INTs. He is 296-for-448 (.661) for 4,075 yards. Williams has also rushed for 372 yards on 109 carries with 10 TDs. He has accounted for 47 total touchdowns (both passing and running) in 13 games. He broke the previous school record of 41 by Matt Barkley (2011) and Cody Kessler (2014). - USC Football

(DS#1 QB) Jr/2024

QB Caleb Williams, Southern California
News Source: USC Football
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12/16/22 - *Tuli Tuipulotu, Jr/2023, Southern California, 6-3, 266 (DS#9 DE) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: DL Tuli Tuipulotu, Jr., USC,...Tuipulotu is the nation's third-leading sack man with 12.5 on the season (0.96 per game). He is also the Pac-12 leader and is sixth nationally with 1.6 tackles for loss per game (21.0 total). Tuipulotu's 12.5 sacks are the most in a single season at USC since Kenechi Udeze set the Trojans' record with 16.5 in 2003. Tuipulotu has recorded 44 tackles, 29 of them solo. He has tallied three pass breakups at the line, two quarterback hurries - one of which turned into an intentional grounding penalty for a safety against Colorado - and has collected forced two fumbles. - USC Football

(DS#9 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Tuli Tuipulotu, Southern California
News Source: USC Football
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