The 2020 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and competed as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Clay Helton.
On August 11, the Pac-12 Conference initially canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 24, the conference announced that a six-game conference-only season would begin on November 6, with the conference's championship game to be played on December 18. Teams not selected for the championship game would be seeded to play a seventh game.
USC compiled a 5–0 regular season record, and qualified for the Pac-12 Championship Game, which they lost to Oregon. The following day, USC announced that it would not play in any bowl game, ending the season with an overall 5–1 record.
Offseason
Transfers
The Trojans lost nine players to transfer.
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Transfer to Clayton Bradley #76 OT 6'5 295 Senior Orange, CA UNLV Rebels JT Daniels #10 QB 6'3 210 Sophomore Santa Ana, CA Georgia Bulldogs Thomas Fitts #15 PK 6'1 185 Senior Dallas, TX SMU Mustangs Daniel Imatorbhebhe #88 TE 6’3 240 Senior Suwanee, GA Illinois Fighting Illini Velus Jones Jr. #1 WR 6'0 190 Senior Saraland, AL Tennessee Volunteers C.J. Pollard #28 S 6'1 195 Senior Carson, CA Utah State Aggies Jack Sears #13 QB 6'3 205 Sophomore San Clemente, CA Boise State Broncos Devon Williams #2 WR 6'4 205 Junior Lancaster, CA Oregon Ducks Jack Yary - TE 6’6 255 Freshman Murrieta, CA Washington Huskies
The Trojans added 5 players via transfer.
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Transfer from Joe Bryson – OT 6'8 285 Junior Castle Pines, CO Colorado Mesa Mavericks Micah Croom – DB 6'1 210 Senior Miami, FL Dartmouth Big Green Mo Hasan – QB 6'3 190 Senior Miami, FL Vanderbilt Commodores Samuel Oram-Jones – TB 5'8 200 Graduate Milton Keynes, UK Vanderbilt Commodores Nathan Weneta – LS 6'2 210 Freshman San Diego, CA Purdue Boilermakers
Returning Starters
USC returns 37 starters in 2020 including 15 on offense, 19 on defense, and 3 on special teams.
Key departures include Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – 13 games), Austin Jackson (OT – 13 games), Drew Richmond (OT – 12 games), Christian Rector (DE – 10 games), John Houston Jr. (ILB – 13 games)
Other departures include Jack Sears (QB – 1 game in 2018), Dominic Davis (WR – 9 games), and Jacob Daniel (OG – 6 games).
Offense (15) Player Class Position Games started Kedon Slovis Sophomore Quarterback 11 games Matt Fink Senior Quarterback 1 game Vavae Malepeai Senior Tailback 7 games Stephen Carr Senior Tailback 1 game Kenan Christon Sophomore Tailback 3 games Erik Krommenhoek Senior Tight end 5 games Josh Falo Senior Tight end 2 games Amon-Ra St. Brown Junior Wide receiver 12 games Tyler Vaughns Senior Wide receiver 11 games Drake London Sophomore Wide receiver 9 games Alijah Vera-Tucker Junior Offensive guard 13 games Jalen McKenzie Junior Offensive guard 13 games Liam Jimmons Senior Offensive guard 2 games Brett Neilon Junior Center 11 games Justin Dedich Sophomore Center 2 games
Defense (19) Player Class Position Games started Jay Tufele Junior Defensive tackle 13 games Marlon Tuipulotu Junior Defensive tackle 12 games Drake Jackson Sophomore Defensive end 11 games Caleb Tremblay Senior Defensive end 2 games Connor Murphy Senior Defensive end 1 game Brandon Pili Senior Defensive tackle 1 game Palaie Gaoteote IV Junior Inside linebacker 7 games Kana'i Mauga Junior Inside linebacker 8 games Hunter Echols Junior Outside linebacker 2 games Eli'jah Winston Sophomore Outside linebacker 1 game Olaijah Griffin Junior Cornerback 10 games Isaac Taylor-Stuart Sophomore Cornerback 8 games Greg Johnson Junior Cornerback 9 games Chris Steele Sophomore Cornerback 6 games Max Williams Freshman Cornerback 2 games Chase Williams Sophomore Defensive back 4 games Dorian Hewett Sophomore Defensive back 1 game Talanoa Hufanga Junior Safety 10 games Isaiah Pola-Mao Junior Safety 12 games
Special teams (3) Player Class Position Games started Chase McGrath Junior Kicker 13 games Damon Johnson Senior Long snapper 13 games Ben Griffiths Sophomore Punter 13 games
Recruiting class
2020 NFL draft
NFL Combine
The official list of participants for the 2020 NFL Combine included USC football players Michael Pittman (WR) and Austin Jackson (OT).
Team players drafted into the NFL
Austin Jackson Offensive tackle 1 18 Miami Dolphins Michael Pittman Jr. Wide receiver 2 34 Indianapolis Colts Christian Rector Defensive end UDFA – – John Houston Jr. Inside linebacker UDFA – Pittsburgh Steelers Drew Richmond Offensive tackle UDFA – –
Preseason
Pac-12 media days
Pac-12 media polls In the 2020 Pac-12 preseason media poll.
Preseason All-Pac-12 teams
Personnel
Coaching staff
Name Position Seasons atUSC Alma mater Before USC Clay Helton Head coach 10 Houston (1994) Memphis – Offensive coordinator (2009) Graham Harrell Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach 2 Texas Tech (2009) North Texas – Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach (2018) Todd Orlando Defensive coordinator / linebackers coach 1 Wisconsin (1993) Texas – Defensive coordinator / linebackers coach (2019) Sean Snyder Special teams coordinator 1 Kansas State (1993) Kansas State – Assistant head coach / special teams coordinator / senior special teams analyst (2019) Mike Jinks Tailbacks coach 2 Angelo State (1993) Bowling Green – Head coach (2018) Keary Colbert Wide receivers coach 6 USC (2006) Alabama – Offensive analyst (2015) John David Baker Inside wide receivers / tight ends coach 2 Abilene Christian (2013) North Texas – Offensive quality control coach (2018) Tim Drevno Offensive line coach / running game coordinator / pass protection coordinator 4 Cal State Fullerton (1992) Michigan – Offensive coordinator / offensive line coach (2015) Vic So'oto Defensive line coach 1 BYU (2011) Virginia – Defensive line coach (2019) Donte Williams Cornerbacks coach / Defensive Pass game coordinator 1 Idaho State (2006) Oregon – Cornerbacks coach (2019) Craig Naivar Safeties coach 1 Hardin-Simmons (1993) Texas – Co-Defensive coordinator / Safeties coach (2019) Aaron Ausmus Head strength and conditioning coach 4 Tennessee (1998) Tennessee – Director of strength and conditioning (2009)
Roster 2020 USC Trojans Football rosterQuarterback 9 Kedon Slovis – Sophomore (6'3, 215) 10 Mo Hasan – Senior (6'3, 205) 13 Isaac Ward – Freshman (6'0, 175) 19 Matt Fink – Senior (6'3, 210) 38 Brad Aoki – Sophomore (5'9, 170)
Tailback 7 Stephen Carr – Senior (6'0, 215) 23 Kenan Christon – Sophomore (5'10, 185) 26 Samuel Oram-Jones – Senior (5'8, 200) 27 Quincy Jountti – Senior (5'10, 215) 29 Vavae Malepeai – Senior (6'0, 200) 30 Markese Stepp – Sophomore (6'0, 235) 34 Matthew Colombo – Freshman (5'11, 185) 37 Ben Easington – Junior (5'10, 215) 46 Grant Jones – Senior (6'2, 225)
Wide receiver 1 Gary Bryant Jr. – Freshman (5'11, 170) 4 Bru McCoy – Freshman (6'3, 220) 6 Joshua Jackson Jr. – Freshman (6'1, 185) 8 Amon-Ra St. Brown – Junior (6'1, 195) 15 Drake London – Sophomore (6'5, 210) 17 Zach Wilson – Sophomore (6'1, 205) 21 Tyler Vaughns – Senior (6'2, 190) 22 Jack Webster – Junior (6'0, 190) 40 Ty Shamblin – Freshman (6'0, 185) 42 Danny Ryan – Freshman (6'2, 175) 80 John Jackson III – Sophomore (6'2, 205) 81 Kyle Ford – Freshman (6'2, 210) 86 Chase Locke – Freshman (6'4, 200)
Tight end 18 Jude Wolfe – Freshman (6'5, 250) 46 Scott Voigt – Senior (6'3, 215) 83 Josh Falo – Senior (6'6, 235) 84 Erik Krommenhoek – Senior (6'5, 260) 85 Ethan Rae – Freshman (6'5, 245) 89 Sean Mahoney – Freshman (6'5, 230)
Placekicker 38 Alex Stadthaus – Junior (6'2, 205) 40 Chase McGrath – Junior (6'0, 190) 48 Parker Lewis – Freshman (6'3, 205) 49 Michael Brown – Senior (6'1, 205)
Offensive Lineman 51 Bernard Schirmer – OT – Senior (6'6, 285) 56 Andres Dewerk – OT – Freshman (6'7, 295) 57 Justin Dedich – C-OG – Sophomore (6'2, 300) 61 Joe Bryson – OT – Junior (6'8, 295) 62 Brett Neilon – C – Junior (6'2, 305) 63 Damian Lopez – OG-OT – Junior (6'6, 315) 64 AJ Mageo – OG-OT – Sophomore (6'5, 310) 65 Frank Martin II – OG – Senior (6'4, 310) 66 Gino Quinones – C-OG – Freshman (6'3, 290) 67 Mark Zuvich – C – Sophomore (6'3, 250) 68 Liam Douglass – OG-OT – Sophomore (6'5, 315) 69 Casey Collier – OT – Freshman (6'7, 290) 70 Jalen McKenzie – OT – Junior (6'5, 315) 71 Liam Jimmons – OG-OT – Senior (6'4, 315) 72 Andrew Vorhees – OG – Junior (6'6, 320) 73 Caadyn Stephen – OT – Freshman (6'5, 285) 74 Courtland Ford – OT – Freshman (6'5, 305) 75 Alijah Vera-Tucker – OG – Junior (6'4, 315) 77 Jason Rodriguez – OT – Freshman (6'6, 320) 78 Andrew Milek – C-OT – Freshman (6'5, 290) 79 Jonah Monheim – OG – Freshman (6'5, 290)
Defensive line 45 Maninoa Tufono – Freshman (6'3, 245) 47 Stanley Ta'ufo'ou – Freshman (6'3, 280) 49 Tuli Tuipulotu – Freshman (6'3, 265) 50 Nick Figueroa – Junior (6'5, 260) 77 Jamar Sekona – Freshman (6'2, 300) 79 De'jon Benton – Freshman (6'3, 300) 90 Connor Murphy – Senior (6'7, 270) 91 Brandon Pili – Senior (6'4, 325) 93 Marlon Tuipulotu – Junior (6'3, 305) 94 Kobe Pepe – Freshman (6'1, 300) 95 Trevor Trout – Sophomore (6'4, 310) 96 Caleb Tremblay – Senior (6'5, 270) 97 Jacob Lichtenstein – Junior (6'5, 265)
Outside Linebacker 31 Hunter Echols – Junior (6'5, 245) 41 Juliano Falaniko – Junior (6'4, 235) 48 Peter Esparza – Sophomore (6'1, 215) 53 Bryce Matthews – Junior (6'3, 225) 99 Drake Jackson – Sophomore (6'4, 255) Inside Linebacker 1 Palaie Gaoteote IV – Junior (6'2, 250) 10 Ralen Goforth – Sophomore (6'2, 235) 18 Raymond Scott – Sophomore (6'2, 220) 26 Kana'i Mauga – Junior (6'2, 245) 34 Eli'jah Winston – Sophomore (6'3, 240) 36 Clyde Moore – Freshman (6'0, 225) 44 Tuasivi Nomura – Freshman (6'1, 225) 52 Spencer Gilbert – Sophomore (6'0, 220) 54 Tayler Katoa – Sophomore (6'2, 230) 56 Jordan Iosefa – Senior (6'2, 235) 57 Danny Lockhart II – Freshman (6'0, 220) 58 Solomon Tuliaupupu – Sophomore (6'3, 240)
Cornerback 2 Olaijah Griffin – Junior (6'0, 175) 6 Isaac Taylor-Stuart – Sophomore (6'2, 195) 8 Chris Steele – Sophomore (6'1, 190) 13 Adonis Otey – Freshman (6'1, 185) 14 Jayden Williams – Sophomore (6'1, 195) 22 Dorian Hewett – Sophomore (6'0, 185) 44 Jack Drake – Junior (5'10, 190)
Safety 4 Max Williams – Freshman (5'9, 180) 7 Chase Williams – Sophomore (6'2, 195) 9 Greg Johnson – Junior (5'11, 195) 15 Talanoa Hufanga – Junior (6'1, 215) 17 Micah Croom – Senior (6'1, 210) 21 Isaiah Pola-Mao – Junior (6'4, 205) 23 Kaulana Makaula – Freshman (6'3, 210) 25 Briton Allen – Sophomore (6'0, 185) 30 Jordan McMillan – Sophomore (5'11, 195) 37 Tommy Maurice – Freshman (5'9, 190)
Punter 24 Ben Griffiths – Sophomore (6'5, 245) 35 Michael McAllister – Freshman (6'2, 230) 36 Will Rose – Freshman (6'1, 180) 47 Michael Shahidi – Freshman (6'0, 180)
Long snappers 39 Jac Casasante – Sophomore (6'0, 215) 53 Nathan Weneta – Freshman (6'2, 215) 59 Damon Johnson – Senior (6'0, 210)2020 USC Football Roster (10/21/2020)
Depth chart
Official Depth Chart as of 11/6/2020
True Freshman Double Position : *
Scholarship distribution chart