When he arrived as a walk-on middle within the fall of 2022, Kilian O’Connor got here in with each intention of combating for a spot on USC’s offensive line.
For the O’Connor household, there was a sure satisfaction in being a walk-on. His father and grandfather had been walk-ons. It didn’t matter that he was buried on the depth chart, or that the chances had been stacked in opposition to him. It was his obligation to remain prepared.
“I came here to be a player,” O’Connor mentioned. “I didn’t come here just to be a bag holder.”
Now this season, he’ll play a way more important function for the Trojans as their newly minted beginning middle.
O’Connor was formally named the starter Tuesday after a preseason camp by which he unexpectedly outplayed switch middle J’Onre Reed. He’ll be joined up entrance on USC’s beginning offensive line by Elijah Paige at left deal with, Tobias Raymond at left guard, Alani Noa at proper guard and Justin Tauanuu at proper deal with.
Lincoln Riley mentioned that Reed would nonetheless “factor in” on USC’s offensive line this season, however famous that O’Connor had clearly been probably the most constant choice by way of camp.
“That was and has been and continues to be a good battle,” Riley mentioned. “I’m sure it’ll go on all year.”
USC’s offensive line was already dealt a troublesome setback earlier this month when presumptive beginning guard DJ Wingfield was denied an injunction in his eligibility lawsuit in opposition to the NCAA. Shedding Wingfield meant discovering a brand new left guard, with out many confirmed choices to select from.
Redshirt sophomore Micah Banuelos pushed for that open guard spot, however in the end Riley selected to shift Raymond inside to left guard, whereas Taunauu earned the job on the sting.
“I just think, for us, it’s trying to get the best five on the field,” Riley mentioned. “Fortunately, like I’ve said, we have guys that can play multiple positions, and you feel like you can do that.”
How dependable these 5 will show to be is one other query fully. There’s no extra unproven unit on the Trojans’ roster. Whereas Paige and Noa began all of final season up entrance, the Trojans’ different three beginning linemen have solely began a mixed two video games.
O’Connor accounted for a kind of begins, within the Las Vegas Bowl final December. Lower than two months later, Riley shocked O’Connor by asserting to the staff that he’d been placed on scholarship.
It nonetheless appeared unlikely then that he’d unseat Reed, who was introduced in particularly to take the job. However even Reed expressed his respect earlier this month for the way a lot O’Connor was pushing him.
“That’s a guy that I don’t mind competing with because he does everything the right way,” Reed mentioned on the time.
That competitors got here to a detailed Tuesday, with O’Connor atop the depth chart, his lengthy shot plan from three years earlier having lastly come to fruition.
“Just because you start as a walk-on, doesn’t mean you have to finish there,” O’Connor mentioned.. “It’s a seat at the table, at the end of the day. I’m forever grateful for that seat. Now it’s time to eat.”
Fill-in kicker
Caden Chittenden was presupposed to step in as the reply to USC’s points within the kicking sport. However the freshman All-American kicker will miss the Trojans’ opener and doubtlessly extra time as he recovers from an harm that’s stored him on the shelf by way of camp.
Riley mentioned he didn’t count on Chittenden’s absence to final for much longer into the season. Redshirt freshman Ryon Sayeri will deal with area targets, further factors and kickoffs within the meantime.
The place Chittenden kicked 33 area targets final 12 months at Nevada Las Vegas, the second-most within the nation, Sayeri has but to document a kick on the faculty stage. Nonetheless, Riley expressed his full confidence within the Trojans’ fill-in kicker, whom he known as “one of the most improved players we’ve had on the entire team through camp.”
Stewart replace
5-star freshman defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart is “50-50” to play in opposition to Missouri State, Riley mentioned. The harm is “not gonna be long-term,” the coach clarified. Stewart nonetheless had a boot on his proper foot as of Tuesday evening.
