The 2022 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California as a member of the Pac-12 Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. They finished the season 11–3, 8–1 in Pac-12 play to earn a trip to the Pac-12 championship game. Ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff, they lost to Utah in the conference championship game eliminating them from national championship consideration. They received a bid to the Cotton Bowl Classic where they lost to No. 16-ranked Tulane. Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams was awarded the Heisman Trophy for his performances during the season.

Offseason

Coaching staff departures

Clay Helton Head coach Georgia Southern Head coach Graham Harrell Offensive coordinator West Virginia Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Todd Orlando Defensive coordinator Florida Atlantic Defensive coordinator / safeties Sean Snyder Special teams coordinator Illinois Special teams coordinator Mike Jinks Tailbacks coach Houston Tailbacks coach Keary Colbert Wide receiver coach Florida Assistant coach / wide receivers Seth Doege Tight end coach Ole Miss Offensive analyst Clay McGuire Offensive line coach Washington State Offensive line coach Vic So'oto Defensive line coach California Outside linebackers coach Michael Hutchings Linebackers coordinator Western Kentucky Outside linebackers coach Craig Naivar Safeties coach SMU Special teams coordinator / safeties coach Robert Stiner Jr. Director of football sports performance Georgia Southern Head strength & conditioning coach C. J. Ah You Defensive Quality Control Analyst Texas Tech Outside linebackers

Transfers Transfers out The Trojans lost 27 players via transfer.

Jaxson Dart QB 6’3 215 Freshman Kaysville, UT Ole Miss Bru McCoy WR 6’3 220 Sophomore Palos Verdes Estates, CA Tennessee Chase Williams DB 6’2 200 Junior Corona, CA San José State Michael Trigg TE 6’4 245 Freshman Tampa, FL Ole Miss Kedon Slovis QB 6’3 205 Junior Scottsdale, AZ Pittsburgh Joseph Manjack IV WR 6'3 205 Freshman Tomball, TX Houston Zach Wilson WR 6'1 210 Junior Scottsdale, AZ – Raymond Scott LB 6’2 235 Junior Los Angeles, CA Fresno State Dorian Hewett CB 6’0 180 Junior Houston, TX – Kenan Christon TB 5’10 185 Junior San Diego, CA San Diego State Brandon Campbell TB 5’11 210 Freshman Houston, TX Houston Hunter Echols OLB 6'5 245 Senior Los Angeles, CA Arizona Eli'jah Winston LB 6'3 230 Senior Portland, OR Nevada Kaulana Makaula LB/S 6'3 220 Sophomore Kailua, HI Hawaii Juliano Falaniko OLB 6'4 230 Senior Pago Pago, AS Idaho Ishmael Sopsher DL 6’4 330 Junior Amite, LA Southwest Mississippi C.C. Parker Lewis K 6'3 205 Sophomore Phoenix, AZ Ohio State Casey Collier OT 6’7 300 Freshman Baytown, TX Oklahoma State Spencer Gilbert LB 6'0 220 Junior Madison, AL – Danny Lockhart Jr. LB 6’0 225 Freshman Redlands, CA Ole Miss Maximus Gibbs OL 6’7 390 Freshman Norwalk, CA Jackson State Damian Lopez OL 6’5 315 Junior San Pedro, CA Liam Douglass OL 6’5 305 Senior Topanga, CA UCLA Ty Buchanan OL 6’6 285 Freshman Corpus Christi, TX Texas Tech Chase Locke WR 6'3 195 Sophomore San Antonio, TX Wyoming Maninoa Tufono DL/LB 6'3 290 Sophomore Halawa, HI Jacob Lichtenstein DL 6'6 270 Junior Weston, FL Miami

Transfers in The Trojans added 23 players via transfer.

Jordan Addison WR 6’0 175 Junior Frederick, MD Pittsburgh Sinjun Astani DL 6’4 261 Junior Malibu, CA San José State Earl Barquet Jr. DL 6’3 277 Sophomore Marrero, LA TCU Mekhi Blackmon CB 6’0 175 Senior East Palo Alto, CA Colorado Terrell Bynum WR 6’1 190 Senior Long Beach, CA Washington Solomon Byrd DL 6’4 249 Junior Palmdale, CA Wyoming Jacobe Covington DB 6’2 195 Freshman Chandler, AZ Washington Travis Dye TB 5’10 190 Senior Norco, CA Oregon Eric Gentry LB 6’6 205 Freshman Philadelphia, PA Arizona State Bobby Haskins OT 6’7 295 Senior Princeton, NJ Virginia Romello Height OLB 6’5 220 Sophomore Dublin, GA Auburn Jake Jensen QB 6’2 210 Sophomore Pleasant Grove, UT Contra Costa College Austin Jones TB 5’10 190 Junior Antioch, CA Stanford Shane Lee LB 6’0 240 Senior Burtonsville, MD Alabama Cooper Lovelace OL 6’5 320 Sophomore Kansas City, KS Butler C.C. Latrell McCutchin CB 6’1 185 Freshman Austin, TX Oklahoma Brenden Rice WR 6’3 205 Freshman Chandler, AZ Colorado Bryson Shaw S 6’0 195 Junior Eldersburg, MD Ohio State Carson Tabaracci LB 6’2 225 Freshman Park City, UT Utah Tyrone Taleni DL 6’2 275 Junior Savaiʻi, Samoa Kansas State Garth White K/P 6’4 200 Freshman Westlake, CA Ventura C.C. Caleb Williams QB 6’1 218 Freshman Washington, D.C. Oklahoma Mario Williams WR 5’9 186 Freshman Tampa, FL Oklahoma

Returning starters

Key departures include : Vavae Malepeai (TB – 12 games, 5 started). Keaontay Ingram (TB – 10 games, 7 started). Drake London (WR – 8 games, 8 started). Erik Krommenhoek (TE – 12 games, 10 started). Jalen McKenzie (OT – 12 games, 6 started). Liam Jimmons (OG – 12 games, 12 started). Kana'i Mauga (LB – 12 games, 12 started). Drake Jackson (OLB – 11 games, 9 started). Chris Steele (CB – 11 games, 11 started). Isaac Taylor-Stuart (CB – 11 games, 10 started). Isaiah Pola-Mao (S – 11 games, 9 started). Greg Johnson (S – 10 games, 9 started). Ben Griffiths (P – 12 games, 12 started). Parker Lewis (K – 10 games, 10 started). Damon Johnson (LS – 12 games, 12 started).

Other departures include : Kedon Slovis (QB – 9 games, 9 started). Jaxson Dart (QB – 6 games, 3 started). KD Nixon (WR – 10 games). Michael Trigg (TE – 6 games, 4 started). Jacob Lichtenstein (DL – 12 games, 8 started). Hunter Echols (OLB – 11 games, 3 started). Raymond Scott (LB – 11 games, 3 started). Chase Williams (S – 12 games, 9 started).

Offense Darwin Barlow Tailback 1 game Tahj Washington Wide receiver 11 games Gary Bryant Jr. Wide receiver 7 games Michael Jackson III Wide receiver 1 game Michael Epps Tight end 5 games Jude Wolfe Tight end 1 game Lake McRee Tight end 1 game Brett Neilon Center 12 games Andrew Vorhees Offensive guard 12 games Courtland Ford Offensive tackle 8 games Jonah Monheim Offensive tackle 6 games Justin Dedich Offensive guard 4 gamesReference:

Defense Tuli Tuipulotu Defensive line 12 games Stanley Ta’ufo’ou Defensive line 9 games Nick Figueroa Defensive line 8 games Jamar Sekona Defensive line 1 game De’jon Benton Defensive line 1 game Ralen Goforth Linebacker 8 games Joshua Jackson Jr. Cornerback 2 games Prophet Brown Cornerback 1 game Calen Bullock Safety 6 games Xavion Alford Safety 2 games Chris Thompson Jr. Safety 2 games Jaylin Smith Safety 1 gameReference:

Special teams Alex Stadthaus Kicker 2 gamesReference:

† Indicates player was a starter in 2021 but missed all of 2022 due to injury.

Recruiting class The Trojans signed a total of yet scholarship recruits and walk-ons during national signing period.

Overall class rankings ESPN – – 1 4 1 0 On3 Recruits 30 3 1 4 3 0 Rivals 63 9 2 3 2 0 247 Sports 59 8 2 3 2 1

Recruits

Preseason

Spring Game

Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released

Lott Trophy Nick FigueroaDL SrShane LeeILBSr Maxwell AwardJordan AddisonWRJrCaleb WilliamsQBSoDavey O'Brien Award Caleb WilliamsQBSoDoak Walker AwardTravis DyeRB SrAustin JonesRBSrBiletnikoff AwardJordan AddisonWRJrRimington TrophyBrett NeilonC SrJohn Mackey Award Michael EppsTE SrOutland TrophyTuli TuipulotuDLJrAndrew VorheesOL SrBronko Nagurski Trophy Tuli TuipulotuDLJrPaul Hornung AwardBrenden RiceWRJrWuerffel TrophyCaleb Williams QBSo Walter Camp AwardJordan AddisonWRJrCaleb WilliamsQBSoBednarik AwardTuli Tuipulotu DLJrRotary Lombardi AwardTuli Tuipulotu DLJrAndrew VorheesOL SrEarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardMalcolm EppsTE SrCourtland FordOL SoPolynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardBrandon PiliDL SrStanley Ta’ufo’ouOL JrTuli Tuipulotu DLJrTed Hendricks Award

Pac-12 Media Day The Pac-12 Media Day was held on July 29, 2022 in Hollywood, California with Lincoln Riley (HC), Caleb Williams (QB) and Shane Lee (LB) representing USC.

Media poll 1 Utah 26 2 Oregon 2 3 USC 5 4 UCLA – 5 Oregon State – 6 Washington – 7 Washington State – 8 Stanford – 9 California – 10 Arizona State – 11 Arizona – 12 Colorado —

Preseason All-Pac-12 teams First team Position Player Class Team First Team OffenseQBCaleb WilliamsSO USCWRJordan AddisonJR USCWRMario WilliamsSO USCOLAndrew Vorhees SR USC First Team DefenseDLTuli TuipulotuJR USC First Team Special teamsAP/STTravis Dye SR USC

Second team Position Player Class Team Second Team OffenseRBTravis Dye SR USCOLBrett Neilon SR USC Second Team DefenseDBMekhi Blackmon SR USC Second Team Special teamsRSGary Bryant Jr.JR USC

All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention Position Player Class Team OffenseWRGary Bryant Jr.WR USC DefenseDLNick Figueroa SR USCDLSolomon ByrdSR USCLBKorey ForemanSO USCDBXavion Alford Jr. SO USC Special teamsRSBrenden RiceJR USC

Schedule

Personnel

Roster

Depth chart

True Freshman

official Depth Chart Week 1 vs Rice (09/01/22)

Injury report Name Position Injury DurationMo HasanQBTorn AchillesSeasonZion BranchSTorn ACLSeasonJude WolfeTEFootMid-SeasonTravis DyeRBLegSeason

Scholarship distribution chart

Position/Year Freshman (18) Sophomore (21) Junior (22) Senior (20) QB 3 (1) Jake Jensen Caleb Williams – – RB 4 (1) Raleek Brown – Austin Jones WR 11 (4) CJ Williams Michael Jackson III Mario Williams Jordan Addison Gary Bryant Jr. Brenden Rice John Jackson III TE 5 (2) – OL 13 (5) DL 11 (3) Tuli Tuipulotu Tyrone Taleni RUSH 4 (2) Devan Thompkins Korey Foreman – ILB 10 (1) Garrison Madden Carson Tabaracci Raesjon Davis Eric Gentry Chris Thompson Jr. Ralen Goforth Shane Lee DB 18 (2) Zion Branch Domani Jackson Fabian Ross Calen Bullock Latrell McCutchin Jaylin Smith SP 2 (-) – – Aadyn Sleep-Dalton * x x x x

Scholarship Distribution 2022

/ / * Former Walk-on

– 80 players on scholarship / 85 scholarships permitted

Game summaries

vs Rice

Statistics RICE USC First downs 14 27 Total yards 280 538 Rushes/yards 34–146 28–208 Passing yards 134 330 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–28–4 25–30–0 Time of possession 32:52 27:08 Team Category Player StatisticsRice Passing Wiley Green 8/13, 169 yards, INT Rushing Cameron Montgomery 6 carries, 99 yards Receiving Luke McCaffrey 5 receptions, 51 yardsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 19/22, 249 yards, 2 TD Rushing Caleb Williams 6 carries, 68 yards Receiving Tahj Washington 4 receptions, 65 yards

at Stanford

Statistics USC STAN First downs 24 33 Total yards 505 441 Rushes/yards 36–164 45–221 Passing yards 341 220 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–27–0 20–35–2 Time of possession 30:33 29:27 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Caleb Williams 20/27, 341 yards, 4 TD Rushing Travis Dye 14 carries, 105 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Addison 7 receptions, 172 yards, 2 TDStanford Passing Tanner McKee 20/35, 220 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing E. J. Smith 19 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Higgins 3 receptions, 50 yards

vs Fresno State

Statistics FRES USC First downs 23 29 Total yards 421 517 Rushes/yards 32–164 28–233 Passing yards 257 284 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–1 25–37–0 Time of possession 25:52 34:08 Team Category Player StatisticsFresno State Passing Logan Fife 1/12, 140 yards Rushing Jordan Mims 15 carries, 114 yards Receiving Erik Brooks 6 receptions, 89 yards, TDUSC Passing Caleb Williams 25/37, 284 yards, 2 TD Rushing Austin Jones 12 carries, 110 yards, TD Receiving Mario Williams 6 receptions, 77 yards

at Oregon State

Statistics USC OSU First downs 21 18 Total yards 357 320 Rushes/yards 37–177 31–153 Passing yards 180 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–36–0 17–29–4 Time of possession 30:15 29:45