Already poised to show over most of its offensive line, USC now must substitute its offensive coach as properly.
Josh Henson, who spent the final three seasons main USC’s offensive line, is leaving to grow to be the offensive coordinator at Purdue, an individual aware of the choice informed The Occasions. Whereas he technically carried the identical title at USC, at Purdue, he’ll step into a bigger play-calling position for brand spanking new Boilermakers coach Barry Odom, who beforehand coached alongside Henson at Missouri.
Henson’s three seasons make him the longest tenured offensive line coach at USC in a decade. However his tenure main the Trojans entrance might be remembered as a largely uneven one. After a powerful displaying in 2022, behind a veteran line, USC’s entrance took a step again in 2023, then struggled to begin the 2024 season, earlier than steadying within the second half of the season.
His departure leaves USC’s offensive line in an much more unsure state, with three starters to switch and never plenty of depth from which to decide on their replacements. Left guard Emmanuel Pregnon and middle Jonah Monheim are off to the NFL, whereas proper deal with Mason Murphy has already signed with Auburn as a switch. Two key reserves on the inside, Gino Quinones and Amos Talalele, have additionally already entered the switch portal, together with freshman Kalolo Ta’aga.
Extra might probably observe in mild of Henson’s departure, placing USC in a precarious place forward of its bowl recreation on Dec. 27, with just some out there backups behind a patchwork line. Apart from its two returning starters, Elijah Paige and Alani Noa, the whole lot of its returning offensive line corps has simply 161 snaps between them, greater than half of which belong to offensive deal with Tobias Raymond (86).
Paige, whose presence is now vitally necessary, assured final week that he deliberate to remain at USC. However that was previous to Henson’s exit on Tuesday.
“I committed here because I see coach Riley’s vision,” Paige stated. “I believe in it. I trust it. I’m a part of it.”
These plans have already been examined over the past week, as 18 gamers, 4 of them linemen, hit the switch portal. USC will get some reinforcements quickly sufficient, after signing 4 offensive linemen in the course of the early signing window, together with two top-150 tackles. However the Trojans are additionally anticipated to focus on a number of linemen within the switch portal.
That wasn’t the trail that Riley and Henson had hoped to observe, after they outlined their plans for the offensive line final fall. Then, each made clear they hoped to depend on highschool recruiting as their main focus up entrance.
However plans have since modified. Henson is now on his option to Purdue. And Riley is left to rent an offensive line coach, with a complete offensive line nonetheless left to rebuild after that.
