2017 USC Trojans football team

Coaching staff Roster Returning starters USC returns 26 starters in 2017, including 12 on offense, 11 on defense, and 3 on special teams. Key departures include Justin Davis (TB – 6 games), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – 13 games), Darreus Rogers (WR – 13 games), De'Quan Hampton (WR), Isaac Whitney (WR), Taylor McNamara (TE – 11 games), Zach Banner (OT – 11 games), Chad Wheeler (OT – 11 games), Damien Mama (OL – 12 games), Jordan Simmons (OL – 2 games), Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (DT – 12 games), Quinton Powell (LB), Michael Hutchings (ILB – 13 games), Adoree' Jackson (CB – 13 games), Leon McQuay III (S – 12 games), Zach Smith (LS – 13 games). Other departures include Joel Foy (LB), Deion Hart (S). Offense (12) Defense (12) Special teams (3) Transfers The Trojans lost 5 players due to transfer. One transfer during the 2017 season. Depth chart Projecting Depth Chart 2017 True Freshman Double Position : * Recruiting class Scholarship distribution chart } Markese Stepp || / / * : Former walk-on - 85 scholarships permitted, 85 currently allotted to players. - USC can sign 15-20 players in the class of 2018 count contingent on 9 graduating SRs (Lockett and Tucker burned redshirt in 2017), NFL early entries and transfers. Projecting Scholarship Distribution 2017 ==2017 NFL draft==

NFL Combine The official list of participants for the 2017 NFL Combine was released on Wednesday (February 15), featuring USC football players OT Zach Banner, TB Justin Davis, CB Adoree’ Jackson, OG Damien Mama, WR Darreus Rogers, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, NT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and OT Chad Wheeler. The eight Trojans were tested at the Combine in Indianapolis beginning on February 28 through March 6. Trojans who didn't nab an invite include S Leon McQuay III, TE Taylor McNamara, LB Michael Hutchings, LB Quinton Powell, OG Jordan Simmons, WR De'Quan Hampton, WR Isaac Whitney & LS Zach Smith. They waited until USC's Pro Day to get in front of NFL scouts Team players drafted into the NFL ==Schedule==

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Western Michigan The game featured the first on-field appearance by USC long snapper Jake Olson, who as a consequence of retinoblastoma had been blind since the age of 12. Olson successfully snapped the ball for extra point following a touchdown. Western Michigan was informed prior to the play being run and did not rush the line. No. 14 Stanford Texas California No. 16 Washington State Oregon State Utah No. 13 Notre Dame Arizona State No. 22 Arizona Colorado USC clinches Pac-12 South Division title with the win. UCLA Pac-12 Championship Game Cotton Bowl ==Rankings==

Team As of 10/21/2017. Non-conference opponents Pac-12 opponents All Opponents Offense Defense Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown Special teams ==Awards and honors==

Coaches Clay Helton - Head coach • Associated Press PAC-I2 Coach of the Year : Winner • Dodd Trophy (Division I head coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community) : Watchlist Tee Martin - Offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach • Broyles Award (Award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football) : Semifinalist Offense Sam Darnold - QB - Sophomore • Maxwell Award (College football player of the year) : Semifinalist • Davey O'Brien Award (best of all NCAA quarterbacks) : Semifinalist • Walter Camp Award (Player of the Year in college football) : Semifinalist Ronald Jones II - TB - Junior • Doak Walker Award (The nation's top college football running back) : Semifinalist Vavae Malepeai - TB - Freshman • Polynesian College Football Player of the Year : Watchlist Deontay Burnett - WR - Junior • Biletnikoff Award (The nation's top college football wide receiver) : Semifinalist Daniel Imatorbhebhe - TE - Sophomore • John Mackey Award (College football's most outstanding tight end) : Watchlist Toa Lobendahn - OT/C - Senior • Polynesian College Football Player of the Year : Watchlist Viane Talamaivao - OG - Senior • Polynesian College Football Player of the Year : Watchlist Nico Falah - C - Senior • Wuerffel Trophy (college football player "who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement") : Watchlist Defense Rasheem Green - DT - Junior • Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in NCAA college football) : Watchlist • Outland Trophy (Best interior lineman in college football) : Watchlist Porter Gustin - LB - Junior • Bednarik Award (College defensive player of the year) : Watchlist • Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football) : Watchlist Cameron Smith - LB - Junior • Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in NCAA college football) : Watchlist • Bednarik Award (College defensive player of the year) : Watchlist • Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football) : Semifinalist Uchenna Nwosu - LB - Senior • Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football) : Watchlist Iman Marshall - CB - Junior • Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in NCAA college football) : Watchlist • Bednarik Award (College defensive player of the year) : Watchlist • Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back in college football) : Watchlist Special Team Chris Tilbey - P - Junior • Ray Guy Award (College football's top punter) : Watchlist Jake Olson - LS - Junior • Jason Witten Collegiate Man Of The Year Award (leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field) : Semifinalist. During the season, Olson became the first blind Division I player. AP Pre-Season All-Americans • First team Sam Darnold - QB - Freshman • Second team Cameron Smith - ILB - Sophomore Iman Marshall - CB - Sophomore College Sports Madness All-American Team All-Pac-12 Individual Awards PAC-12 All-Conference Team • First team Sam Darnold - QB - Sophomore Ronald Jones II - TB - Junior Rasheem Green - DT - Junior Uchenna Nwosu - OLB - Senior Cameron Smith - ILB - Junior Marvell Tell - S - Junior Michael Pittman Jr. - ST - Sophomore • Second team Deontay Burnett - WR - Junior Toa Lobendahn - OT - Senior Christian Rector - DT - Sophomore Matt Lopes - ST - Senior • Honorable mention Stephen Carr - TB - Freshman Steven Mitchell - WR - Senior Tyler Vaughns - WR - Freshman Tyler Petite - TE - Junior Chris Brown - OG - Junior Josh Fatu - DT - Senior Brandon Pili - DT - Freshman Iman Marshall - CB - Junior Chris Hawkins - S - Senior PAC-12 All-Freshman Team PAC-12 All-Academic Team USA Today Sports Freshman All-America Team Sporting News 2017 college football preseason All-Americans • First team Sam Darnold - QB - Sophomore Cameron Smith - LB - Junior ==Notes==