LOS ANGELES – The USC Trojans spring football game was a good barometer of what is to come for the fall. The Trojans’ offensive and defensive units competed against one another in the team’s annual showcase to fans and supporters.
USC’s’ first game of the season is just over four months away. And what fans and supporters of the program saw was an improvement on the Trojans’ defensive side of the ball. With the game being played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the friendly contest between the Trojans’ offense and the team’s defense ended with a favorable score for the defense, 43-28.
It’s important to mention that the defense started with a 24-0 lead and was able to rack up three points for turnovers, fourth-down stops, missed field goals and seven points for defensive touchdowns.
Last season, the defensive team also won the spring game against the offense but that didn’t translate in the Trojan’s season. USC struggled a lot defensively last season, and although the offense was great, that wasn’t enough to meet the high standards that USC sets for themselves.
That being said, that is why the spring game is important for USC football and their supporters because everyone gets the chance to see where their team is five months prior to the season opener.
There were a lot of eyes aimed toward the middle of the field because many fans were thinking about who was going to occupy the quarterback position that had been left open with Caleb Williams gone.
Although many eyes were looking at the quarterback position, wondering who is going to take up the throne and lead USC’s team next season, there were also many eyes on USC’s defense, especially after the upsetting image they gave fans last season.
Fortunately for them, they have a few reasons to be excited about.
“I think you saw some flashes of what we’ve been seeing on the practice field,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game. “The defense did a great job creating the turnovers. That was probably the story of the day: the defense making the offense pay for their mistakes.”
The defense did make the offense pay for their sloppiness on the field and came up with four interceptions throughout the game. Maliki Crawford, DeCarlos Nicholson, Prophet Brown and Marcelles WIlliams picked off passes for USC’s defense.
Brown’s interception led to a touchdown for the defensive team after Miller Moss lost possession in the third period. Riley chirped that the interceptions were results of the defensive unit putting in the work to get better.
“Good defenses make things tough on offenses. Good defenses prey on offensive mistakes,” Riley said.
Following the game, Prophet Brown talked about how the team bonded during spring football practice.
“This spring we had a lot of people put down their egos,” said Brown. “We really came together as a team, even without the coaches, and really bought into each other. I feel like that’s been displayed on the field, and it’s just gonna continue to grow from the summer to the fall.”
Riley recognizes this change in connection as well and mentioned that he also feels something unique about the squad. He feels a vibe that hasn’t been felt in any of his seasons as a coach.
“I really like the team. I really like coaching the team,” Riley quipped. “I liked the way they interact with each other. I like the way they compete with each other.”
The interpersonal relationships between the players and the staff has improved and so has the display of the defensive team. Things were already looking good for USC but things are only starting to look brighter.
“We know there’s a lot more work that needs to be done,” says defensive end Jamil Muhammed. “I say it for myself, but I’m sure I can speak for everybody else, it’s almost as if today wasn’t good enough because we’re hungry for more. We’re hungry for September 1st, that’s for sure. We’ll definitely be ready for that.”
The USC defensive team is committed to building on this positive impression as they prepare for the upcoming season. They aim to bring their best performance on Sept. 1 and set the tone for a successful season.
I’m Daniel Herrera, a native of Los Angeles. I’ll be graduating from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills in May 2024. I’ve developed a profound interest in storytelling, broadcasting, photography, and sports, particularly soccer and basketball. My aspiration is to get a career that allows me to travel the globe covering soccer matches. With the skills and expertise I’ve cultivated, my ultimate goal is to become an on-the-field sports reporter.