The 2012 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Trojans were led by third-year head coach Lane Kiffin, played their home games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and were members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. USC returned 18 starters and 13 All-Conference performers from a team that finished the 2011 season ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll with a 10–2 record overall, and finished first in the South Division with a 7–2 record in Pac-12 play. However, as part of a two-year-post-season ban mandated by the NCAA, the Trojans could not claim the 2011 Pac-12 South Division title, participate in the conference championship game or play in a bowl game. The 2012 season was the first year under Kiffin that the Trojans were eligible for post-season play. They started the season ranked #1 in the AP Poll, but finished unranked—the first team to do so since the 1964 Ole Miss Rebels and the first to do so in the BCS-era. The Trojans finished the season 7–6, 5–4 in Pac-12 play, tied for second in the Pac-12 South Division. They were invited to the Sun Bowl where they were defeated 21–7 by Georgia Tech.
Before the season
On December 22, 2011, All-American quarterback Matt Barkley announced that he would be returning to USC for his senior season to complete some "unfinished business" for the Trojans.
Along with Barkley, who was a leading Heisman candidate, the Trojan offense returns nine starters, including 2011 All-Conference center Khaled Holmes, a thousand-yard rusher from 2011 in senior running back Curtis McNeal, and two thousand-yard receivers in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. In addition, former Penn State running back Silas Redd transferred to USC and will be immediately eligible to play during the 2012 season. The addition of Redd means the USC offense now boasts two thousand-yard rushers, two thousand-year receivers, and a 3,500-yard passer from the 2011 season.
On defense, the Trojans return seven starters and four All-Conference players, including first-team All-Conference performers in safety T. J. McDonald and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, senior defensive end Wes Horton, and the team's co-leading tacklers in sophomore linebackers Hayes Pullard and Dion Bailey, who was named the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.
USC returns 18 starters and thirteen All-Conference performers in 2012. The most significant loss on offense came with the early departure of left offensive tackle Matt Kalil, who was drafted No. 4 overall in the First Round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Kalil is expected to be succeeded at left offensive tackle by true sophomore Aundrey Walker. USC also graduated fullback Rhett Ellison, who was also drafted by the Vikings at No. 128 overall in the Fourth Round. Redshirt freshman Soma Vainuku is the leading contender to start at the fullback position. The most significant loss on defense came with the early departure of defensive end Nick Perry, who was drafted No. 28 overall in the First Round by the Green Bay Packers. Perry is expected to be replaced at Right Defensive End by senior Wes Horton. The Trojans also graduated defensive tackles DaJohn Harris and Christian Tupou, who are expected to be replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore George Uko and redshirt freshman Antwaun Woods.
On July 30, starting Left Defensive End Devon Kennard underwent surgery for a torn pectoralis major muscle. Team doctors told him that it would take approximately four months to fully recover from the surgery, which would make him a redshirt candidate and allow him to return to USC for a fifth year in 2013. Sophomore J.R. Tavai was moved to defensive end from nose tackle in fall camp, and will compete with redshirt freshman Greg Townsend to start at Left Defensive End.
On July 31, former Penn State running back Silas Redd announced his intent to transfer to USC in the wake of the NCAA sanctions given to the Nittany Lions relating to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. Redd will be immediately eligible to play at USC during the 2012 season due to those sanctions. On August 5, Redd officially enrolled at USC.
On August 24, starting cornerback Isiah Wiley was declared academically ineligible by the NCAA. Sophomore Anthony Brown replaced Wiley in the starting lineup.
USC was ranked number one in The Associated Press’ preseason college football poll for the seventh time in school history and the first time in five seasons, edging out No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 LSU.
Personnel
Coaching staff
Name Position Seasons atUSC Alma mater Lane Kiffin Head coach 3 Fresno State (1996) Monte Kiffin Assistant head coach 3 Nebraska (1963) John Baxter Associate head coach, special teams 3 Loras (1985) Ed Orgeron Defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, defensive line 3 Northwestern State (1984) Kennedy Polamalu Offensive coordinator, running backs 3 USC (1985) James Cregg Offensive line 3 Colorado State (1995) Scottie Hazelton Linebackers 1 Fort Lewis College (1994) Clay Helton Passing game coordinator/quarterbacks 2 Houston (1994) Tee Martin Wide receivers 1 Tennessee (2000) Marvin Sanders Defensive backs 1 Nebraska (1989) Justin Mesa Tight ends (graduate assistant) 3 USC (2006) Shawn Howe Defensive line (graduate assistant) 2 Rocky Mountain College (2005) Aaron Ausmus Strength and conditioning 3 Tennessee (1998)
Returning starters USC returns 18 starters in 2012, including nine on offense, seven on defense, and both the starting kicker and punter. Key departures included offensive tackle Matt Kalil, fullback Rhett Ellison, running back Marc Tyler, defensive end Nick Perry, linebacker Chris Galippo, defensive tackle DaJohn Harris, and nose tackle Christian Tupou. Before the season, starting cornerback Isiah Wiley was declared academically ineligible, and starting left DE Devon Kennard suffered a pectoral injury that could force him to redshirt this season.
Offense (9) Player Class Position Matt Barkley Senior Quarterback Curtis McNeal Senior Running back Robert Woods Junior Wide receiver Marqise Lee Sophomore Wide receiver Randall Telfer Sophomore Tight end Marcus Martin Sophomore Left guard Khaled Holmes Senior Center John Martinez Junior Right guard Kevin Graf Junior Right tackleReference:
Defense (7) Player Class Position T. J. McDonaldSeniorSafety Jawanza Starling Senior Safety Hayes Pullard Sophomore Linebacker Lamar Dawson Sophomore Linebacker Dion Bailey Sophomore Linebacker Nickell Robey-Coleman Junior Cornerback Wes Horton Senior Defensive endReference:
Special teams (2) Player Class Position Andre Heidari Sophomore Placekicker Kyle Negrete Senior PunterReference:
Roster 2012 USC Trojans FootballQuarterback 6 Cody Kessler – Freshman 7 Matt Barkley – Senior 13 Max Wittek – Freshman 16 Anthony Neyer – Sophomore 17 Emon Saee – Senior 18 John Manoogian – Senior 16 Conner Sullivan – Freshman
Running back 22 Curtis McNeal – Senior 23 Alec Jaffe – Sophomore 27 Kamaron Germany – Sophomore 30 D.J. Morgan – Sophomore 37 Javorius Allen – Freshman 47 Taylor Ross – Freshman 31 Soma Vainuku – Freshman (FB) 13 Tre Madden – Freshman
Offensive lineman 50 Abe Markowitz -C – Senior 65 Erick Jepsen – C – Freshman 78 Khaled Holmes – C – Senior 59 John Martinez – OG – Junior 60 John Katnik – OG-C – Freshman 63 Giovanni Di Poalo – OG – Sophomore 66 Marcus Martin – OG – Sophomore 68 Jordan Simmons – OG – Freshman 69 Cyrus Hobbi – C-OG – Freshman 76 Nathan Guertler – OG – Sophomore 70 Aundrey Walker – OT – Sophomore 72 Chad Wheeler – OT – Freshman 77 Kevin Graf – OT – Junior 73 David Garness – OT-OG – Junior 74 Jeremy Galten – OT-OG – Senior 75 Max Tuerk – OT – Freshman -- Zach Banner – OT – Freshman
Wide receiver 2 Robert Woods – Junior 8 George Farmer – Sophomore 9 Marqise Lee – Sophomore 10 De'Von Flournoy – Junior 14 Devin Forte – Senior 38 Cody Skene – Junior 85 Victor Blackwell – Freshman Tight end 82 Randall Telfer – Sophomore 86 Xavier Grimble – Sophomore 87 Junior Pomee – Freshman 89 Christian Thomas – Sophomore
Defensive tackle 58 J.R. Tavai – Sophomore 64 Cody Temple – Freshman 90 George Uko – Sophomore 92 Zack Kusnir – " Senior" 97 Christian Heyward – Freshman 99 Antwaun Woods – Freshman
Defensive end 39 Charles Burks – Freshman 42 Devon Kennard – Senior 81 Kevin Greene – Junior 92 Morgan Breslin – Junior 93 Greg Townsend Jr. – Freshman 94 Leonard Williams – Freshman 95 DeVante Wilson – Freshman 96 Wes Horton – Senior
Linebacker 10 Hayes Pullard – Sophomore 18 Dion Bailey – Sophomore 28 Luke Freeman – Junior 39 Simione Vehikite – " Junior" 45 Doug Scott – Senior 47 Scott Starr – Freshman 51 Will Andrew – Junior 52 Dallas Kelley – Senior 53 Marquis Simmons – Junior 55 Lamar Dawson – Sophomore 56 Anthony Sarao – Freshman 59 Kyle Yatabe – Junior Cornerback 4 Torin Harris – Junior 14 Isiah Wiley – Senior 15 Ryan Henderson – Freshman 16 Anthony Brown – Sophomore 21 Nickell Robey-Coleman – Junior 30 Brian Baucham – Senior
Safety 7 T. J. McDonald – Senior 19 Drew McAllister – Senior 24 Demetrius Wright – Junior 26 Josh Shaw – Sophomore 29 Jawanza Starling – Senior 34 Tony Burnett – Senior 37 Luis Nevarez – Junior 39 Troy Cardona – Freshman 41 John Auran – Junior
Long snappers 61 Peter McBride – Freshman
Punter 35 Kyle Negrete – Senior 35 Kris Albarado – Freshman
Placekicker 45 Joshua Alswang – Freshman 46 Craig McMahon – Sophomore 48 Andre Heidari – SophomoreSources: 2012 USC Trojans Football Spring Prospectus
Depth chart
Recruiting class
Prior to National Signing Day on February 1, 2012, one junior college player and two high school players that graduated early enrolled for the spring semester in order to participate in spring practice. These early enrollments included: defensive end Morgan Breslin from Diablo Valley Community College, linebacker Scott Starr from Norco High School, and offensive tackle Chad Wheeler from Santa Monica High School. Safety/cornerback Joshua Shaw, who started three games at free safety for Florida in 2011, transferred to USC in the spring.
USC's recruiting class was highlighted by six players from the "Rivals 100": No. 16 Zach Banner (OT), No. 18 Nelson Agholor (WR), No. 29 Jordan Simmons (G), No. 40 Jabari Ruffin (LB), No. 46 Max Tuerk (OT), No. 53 Leonard Williams (DE), and No. 82 Kevon Seymour (CB). Despite being hampered by a 10-scholarship reduction imposed by the NCAA, USC still signed the No. 8 recruiting class according to Rivals.com, the tenth-consecutive year that USC has had a class ranked in the Top 10.
Schedule
Game summaries
Hawaii
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USC, ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, defeated Hawaii, 49–10. Matt Barkley kicked off his Heisman Trophy campaign with 372 yards passing and four touchdowns. Marqise Lee caught 10 passes for 197 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and returned a kickoff 100 yards for another score. Robert Woods added two touchdown catches.
1st quarter scoring: USC – Marqise Lee 75 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Andre Heidari Kick); USC: Robert Woods 20 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Andre Heidari Kick); USC: Hayes Pullard 27 Yd Interception Return (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
2nd quarter scoring: USC: Silas Redd 31 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed); USC: Robert Woods 2 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Two-Point Run Conversion Failed); USC: Andre Heidari 28 Yd FG
3rd quarter scoring: HAW: Scott Harding 18 Yd Pass From Sean Schroeder (Tyler Hadden Kick); USC: Marqise Lee 100 Yd Kickoff Return (Andre Heidari Kick); HAW: Tyler Hadden 36 Yd FG
4th quarter scoring: USC: Randall Telfer 11 Yd Pass From Matt Barkley (Andre Heidari Kick)
Syracuse
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