TULANE GREEN WAVE NOTES:
Historic
The Green Wave has 11 victories on the season, the most since its magical 12-0 season of 1998. The nine-game improvement in wins from last year (2-10) also ties the FBS record. Tulane finished with seven AAC victories, which is the most in the program’s history and the most league wins ever since the Green Wave posted eight in 1934 as members of the Southeastern Conference.
Tulane’s Bowl History
The Green Wave is 6-8 all time in 14 bowl appearances. They are as follows:
1932 Rose Bowl vs. USC – L, 21-12
1935 Sugar Bowl vs. Temple – W, 20-14
1940 Sugar Bowl vs. Texas A&M – L, 14-13
1970 Liberty Bowl vs. Colorado – W, 17-3
1973 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl vs. Houston – L, 47-7
1979 Liberty Bowl vs. Penn State – L, 9-6
1980 Hall of Fame Bowl vs. Arkansas – L, 34-15
1987 Independence Bowl vs. Washington – L, 24-12
1998 Liberty Bowl vs. BYU – W, 41-27
2002 Hawaii Bowl vs. Hawaii – W, 36-28
2013 New Orleans Bowl vs. Louisiana – L, 24-21
2018 Cure Bowl vs. Louisiana – W, 41-24
2020 Armed Forces Bowl vs. Southern Miss – W, 30-13
2020 Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Nevada – L, 38-27
Air Attack/Pratt
If the Green Wave can get through the Cotton Bowl without throwing an interception, it will set the single-season school mark for fewest picks allowed with five. Tulane tossed six twice (1998, 2017) and those totals came in seasons that lasted 12 games or fewer. The 3,078 yards Tulane passing yards this year is the seventh-most on the school’s single season list and 15 yards from tying the 2003 team (3,093) for sixth. The program is 112 from reaching fifth, set by the 2011 team (3,190) and 274 yards from reaching fourth, set by the 1998 team (3,352). The team is 281 yards from tying the 2012 team (3,359) for third and 420 yards from reaching the 2001 team’s mark (3,498) in second. The team’s 28 passing touchdowns are tied for the third-most in a single season along with the 2004 team. Tulane is six touchdown passes from tying the 2003 team (34) for second. Michael Pratt (2,775) is 58 yards from tying the school single-season record for passing yards by a junior along with Patrick
Ramsey (2,833). Pratt (25 TD passses in 2022) also needs one scoring toss to pass Ramsey for second on the school’s single-season list.
Quarterback Michael Pratt tossed four touchdowns against UCF to give him 66 for his career, placing him third place on Tulane’s all-time list.
Next up on the list is Shaun King’s total of 70, which is good for second. Patrick Ramsey (72) has the all-time school record. Pratt has now thrown a touchdown in 33 of his 34 career games with the Green Wave. The only contest when he didn’t find the end zone was November 6, 2021 at UCF.
Ground Game/Spears
Tulane’s 2562 rushing yards is seventh in a single season. The program is 43 yards from sixth and the 2020 squad (2,605), 175 rushing yards from reaching fifth and the 2016 team (2,737), 216 yards from reaching fourth and the 2017 team (2,778) and 274 yards from the 2018 team (2,836) in third place. The team’s 30 rushing touchdowns this year are the fifth-most in a single season. The team is one rushing touchdown from reaching the 2017 team (31) in fourth, two rushing touchdowns from the 2020 team (32) in third and three rushing touchdown from reaching the 2019 team (33) in second place. Tyjae Spears (81.9) is fourth in career rushing yards per game. Spears is the school’s all-time leader in yards per carry (6.6), ahead of Eddie Price (6.0 – 1946-49). Spears has 13 career 100+ rushing games which is tied for the third-most in school history along with Eddie Price. Spears (1,376) is second in single-season rushing behind Matt Forte’s 2,127 yards in 2007. His 15 rushing touchdowns are also second on the single-season list behind Forte’s 23, also in 2007. In scoring, Spears (17) is third in single-season total touchdowns, two from reaching Charles Flournoy’s 1925 mark (19) in second.
The Offense and the History Books
Tulane’s 5,640 total offensive yards are the second-most in school history and 201 from the all-time lead (5,841 – 2019). Tulane’s 287 first downs are the third-most in a single season and seven from reaching second (294 – 1998) and 12 from tying the school record (299 – 2018). Pratt’s 3,170 total yards (395 rush and 2,775 passing) this year is the fourth-most in a single season in school history. He is 19 yards from reaching third and Justin McMillan (3,189 – 2019) and 179 from getting to second along with Patrick Ramsey (3,349 – 1999). Pratt’s 35 touchdowns responsible for this year (10 rush, 25 pass) is tied for the second-most in a single season along with J.P. Losman (35 – 2003).
On the career spectrum, Pratt (89 {23 rush and 66 pass}) is currently tied with King (19 rush and 70 pass) as the school’s all-time leader in touchdown responsibility.
Road Warriors
Tulane is currently tied for the fifth-longest road winning streak nationally. The list is as follows:
- Georgia 11
- Michigan 6
- North Carolina 6
- TCU 6
- Eastern Michigan 5
- Tulane 5
Turnovers!
Tulane, who picked off Cincinnati via a Dorian Williams interception, has now won its last nine games when forcing a turnover (eight this year and USF last year).
Green Wave Spreads the Wealth
Tulane’s offense has done an elite job of spreading around its passing game in 2022. In fact, the Green Wave is tied with Michigan for the top spot nationally with 20 different players who have registered at least one reception this season.
USC TROJANS NOTES:
TEXAS TIME
• The No. 8 ranked USC football team (11-2) will face No. 14 Tulane (11-2) in the 87th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex., at 12 p.m. CT on Jan. 2, 2023 on ESPN.
• This will be USC’s third-ever appearance in the Cotton Bowl.
• The 1994 Trojans, behind 3 touchdown catches by wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, defeated Texas Tech, 55-14, in the 1995 Cotton Bowl, and No. 8 USC fell to No. 5 Ohio State in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.
• This is USC’s third game in AT&T Stadium. In addition to the 2017 Cotton Bowl, the Trojans first opened the 2016 season there with a 52-6 loss to Alabama.
RANKINGS
• USC is ranked No. 8 in the latest AP Poll and 8th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• Tulane is ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll and 17th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• In the CFP rankings, the Trojans sit at No. 10, while the Green Wave is at No. 16.
SERIES
• This will be the first time in 76 years that the Trojans have faced off against the Green Wave. USC played Tulane in 1931, 1942 and 1946 and holds a 2-1 record.
• In 1931, the Trojans, under head coach Howard Jones, beat the Green Wave in the 1932 Rose Bowl to cap a national championship season.
TULANE SCOUTING REPORT
• By beating No. 22 UCF in the conference championship game, Tulane has now defeated a ranked opponent two games in a row (the Green Wave beat No. 24 Cincinnati in the final week of the regular season).
• These wins broke the longest losing streak against Top-25 teams in college football poll history (Tulane hadn’t defeated a ranked opponent since 1984 for 61 straight loses). • QB Michael Pratt leads the Tulane offense going 207-for-321 (.645) for 2,775 yards with 25 TDs and 5 INTs.
• WR Shae Wyatt leads the Green Wave receiving corps with 35 receptions for 692 yards and 7 TDs. • RB Tyjae Spears leads the ground attack With 1376 rushing yards on 212 carries with 15 TDs. Spears is No. 11 in the nation in rushing TDs (15) and No. 13 in the nation in rushing yards (1,376).
• Defensively, LB Dorian Williams tops the Tulane stat sheet with 115 tackles. His 72 solo tackles are the ninth-most solo tackles in the country. • LB Nick Anderson (108 tackles), S Larry Brooks (83 tackles) and S Macon Clark (63) are among Tulane’s top defenders. • Tulane is the sixth least penalized team in the nation (avg. 4.0 per game).
VERSUS AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
• USC is 9-3-0 against teams from the American Athletic Conference, most recently defeating Houston 26-9 in an away game in 1996.
• Tulane is 5-10 against teams from the Pac-12 Conference, most recently losing to Washington 12-24 in the Independence Bowl in 1987.
SEASON ENDERS
• USC is 69-47-11 (.587) in all season finales (not including 1 win and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 70-48-11, .585.).
10-/11-/12-WIN SESASONS
• With an 11-2 overall mark in 2022, USC is pursuing its fifth-ever 12-win season (not including 2004, when 2 of its 13 wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty, and 2005, when all 12 wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty). USC won 12 games in 1972, 1978, 2003 and 2008.
• USC has had 11-win seasons 14 times (not including 2005, when all 12 wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty). • USC has posted at least 10 wins in a season 28 times (not including 2005, when all 12 wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty). Of those, USC hit the 10-win mark by the end of the regular season on 18 occasions (not including 2005, when all 12 wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty).
14 GAMES
• This is just the fourth time that USC has played 14 games in a season, along with 2013 (10-4), 2015 (8-6) and 2017 (11-3).
MONDAY GAMES
• USC is 18-12 on Mondays, including 14-4 in bowl games. USC’s last Monday game was the legendary 52-49 Rose Bowl victory over Penn State in 2016.
IN JANUARY
• USC has a 33-11 (.750) all-time record while playing in the month of January, including 27-10 in January bowls (not including 1 win and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 34-12, .739 overall and 28-11 in bowls).
ON JANUARY 2
• USC owns a 6-2 record in games played on Jan. 2, including 3-2 in the Rose Bowl. The games were in 1898 (5-0 win over Santa Barbara AC in the rain), 1932 (35-0 win over Pittsburgh in the 1933 Rose Bowl as USC won a national championship), 1938 (7-3 win over previously unbeaten, unscored upon Duke in the 1939 Rose Bowl), 1966 (14-13 loss to Purdue as USC’s late 2-point conversion try failed in the 1967 Rose Bowl), 1988 (22-14 loss to Michigan in the 1989 Rose Bowl), 1994 (55-14 win over Texas Tech in the 1995 Cotton Bowl), 2002 (38-17 win over Iowa in the 2003 Orange Bowl) and 2016 (52-49 win over Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl).
ARTIFICIAL TURF
• USC is 49-34-1 in its last 84 games on artificial turf (not including 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 52-34-1).
INSIDE (DOME)
• USC is 3-3 in domed (or closed roof) stadiums, beating Washington State in the Kingdome in 1976, Texas A&M in the 1977 Bluebonnet Bowl in the Astrodome and Houston in the Astrodome in 1996, but losing in AT&T Stadium to Alabama in 2016 and to Ohio State in the 2017 Cotton Bowl and to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship in Allegiant Stadium in 2022.
NFL STADIUMS
• Since 2014, USC has played 7 games in a current NFL stadium. It beat Nebraska, 45-42, in the 2014 Holiday Bowl in Qualcomm Stadium, lost to Stanford, 41-22, in the 2015 Pac-12 Championship Game in Levi’s Stadium and to Wisconsin, 23-21, in the 2015 Holiday Bowl in Qualcomm Stadium, lost to Alabama, 52-6, in AT&T Stadium in the 2016 season opener and beat Stanford, 31-28, in the 2017 Championship Game in Levi’s Stadium, lost to Ohio State, 24-7, in the 2017 Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium and lost to Utah 47-24 in Allegiant Stadium in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship.
IN TEXAS
• This will be USC’s third time visiting AT&T Stadium. The 2016 Alabama game was USC’s first time in AT&T Stadium, and its first trip to the Metroplex area since playing in the 1995 Cotton Bowl versus Texas Tech and its first visit to the state of Texas since the 2012 Sun Bowl in El Paso versus Georgia Tech. USC then returned in 2017 to play in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State.
• USC is 9-7 in games played in Texas: 2-1 at Texas, 2-0 against Texas Tech (1 game in Lubbock and 1 in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas), 1-1 at Baylor, 1-0 each versus Texas A&M (in the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston), Rice, SMU and Houston, 0-1 each versus Michigan State in the John Hancock Bowl, TCU in the Sun Bowl, Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl and 0-2 in AT&T Stadium against Alabama and Ohio State.
TRAVELER IN DALLAS
• Traveler, USC’s white horse mascot that appears at all home football games with a Trojan warrior astride, will make an appearance in Dallas at the 2022 Cotton Bowl. Traveler rarely attends road games, but also was at the 1995 and 2017 Cotton Bowl. The farthest Traveler has traveled was the 2005 Orange Bowl in Miami.
ONE-SEASON TURNAROUND
• The 2022 Trojans have equaled the biggest one-season victory turnaround (+7 victories) in USC history. USC’s 1962 national champs won 11 games after winning just 4 in 1961. Last season, Troy won 4 games and this year it has 11 victories.
LAST GAME
• Go to page 38 for a recap of USC’s 24-47 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Dec. 2.
• The team that has lost the Pac-12 Championship Game has never won their bowl game.
BOWL HISTORY
• USC has a remarkable record in bowl games. The Trojans have the nation’s sixth highest bowl winning percentage (.642) among the 98 schools that have made at least 10 bowl appearances (behind Utah’s .708, Marshall’s .706, Army’s .700, Oklahoma State’s .656 and Louisiana Tech’s .653) (not including 1 USC win and 1 USC loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: .636). USC’s 34 bowl victories is third behind Alabama’s 44 and Georgia’s 35 for the most in the nation (not including 1 win for both teams vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 35 for USC, 45 for Alabama). Troy’s 53 bowl appearances are tied for sixth most with Ohio State and Nebraska, behind Alabama (74), Texas (58), Georgia (59), Oklahoma (55) and Tennessee (54) (not including 2 USC appearances, 1 Ohio State appearance and 1 Alabama appearance vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 55 for USC, 54 for Ohio State, 75 for Alabama). USC once won 9 consecutive bowl games (the 1923-30-32-33-39-40-44-45 Rose Bowls and 1924 Christmas Festival); only Florida State has won more in a row (11). • USC’s overall post-season record is 34-19 (not including 1 win and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 35-20). The Trojans were a bowl participant each year they were eligible from 1972 to 1990. • USC has appeared in an unprecedented 33 Rose Bowls, where it has a 25-8 mark (.758) (not including 1 appearance and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 34 Rose Bowls, 25-9, .735). In addition, that is also the most wins by a school in a single bowl. USC has won 12 of its last 14 Rose Bowls (not including 1 appearance and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 12 of its last 15). USC is the only team to win 3 consecutive Rose Bowls (2007-08-09). USC twice played in 4 consecutive Rose Bowl games (1967 to 1970 and 2006 to 2009); Ohio State (1973 to 1976) is the only other team to have done so.
• USC has also appeared in 13 other bowls–the Christmas Festival, Liberty Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl, Sun (John Hancock) Bowl (3 times), Freedom Bowl (twice), Cotton Bowl (twice), Las Vegas Bowl (twice), Orange Bowl (twice), Emerald Bowl and Holiday Bowl (3 times). • USC made 5 BCS bowl appearances (2003 Orange, 2004 Rose, 2007 Rose, 2008 Rose, 2009 Rose) (not including 2 appearances–2005 Orange and 2006 Rose–vacated by NCAA penalty; original record: an unprecedented 7 consecutive BCS bowl appearances). USC’s 5 overall BCS bowl trips tied for seventh most, behind Ohio State’s 9, Oklahoma’s 9, Florida State’s 8, Florida’s 7, Virginia Tech’s 6 and Alabama’s 6 (not including 2 appearances vacated by NCAA penalty; original record: 7 appearances, tied for fourth most; also, 1 Ohio State appearance vacated by NCAA penalty). USC’s 5 BCS bowl victories tied with Ohio State for the most of any school (not including 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 6 victories, tied with Ohio State for most; also, 1 Ohio State win vacated by NCAA penalty).
USC’S COTTON BOWL RECORD
• 1995–USC 55, Texas Tech 14 (Cotton Bowl)
• 2017–Ohio State 24, USC 7 (Cotton Bowl Classic)
LAST BOWL GAME
• WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette scored touchdowns 3 different ways in the second quarter and No. 19 Iowa tallied the game’s final 21 points as the Hawkeyes defeated No. 22 USC in the 2019 SDCCU Holiday Bowl, 49-24, before 50,123 fans under the lights in San Diego and an FS1 national
audience. It was USC’s most decisive bowl loss since the 1948 Rose Bowl (a 49-0 Michigan win). It snapped USC’s 6-game winning streak over Iowa. Troy’s 24 points equaled the most allowed by Iowa in 2019. It was the teams’ first meeting since the 2003 Orange Bowl (following the 2002 season). The teams traded touchdowns on the game’s first 4 possessions. After WR Tyrone Tracy Jr. took an end-around for a 23-yard score on the opening drive, USC responded with QB Kedon Slovis’ 4-yard TD toss to WR Drake London late in the first quarter. Smith-Marsette then had a 6-yard scoring run early in the second quarter, but USC countered with Slovis’ 16-yard scoring pass to TB Vavae Malepeai. Smith-Marsette then took the ensuing kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown and he then caught a 12-yard TD pass from QB Nate Stanley late in the half. USC got a 32-yard field goal from PK Chase McGrath at the halftime gun to trail 28-17 (the Trojans’ 17 points were the most allowed in any half by Iowa in 2019). On the opening drive of the second half, USC closed to 4 points on TB Stephen Carr’s 2-yard run. USC PK Michael Brown then recovered his own onside kick at midfield, but Slovis was knocked out of the game with an elbow strain on a sack 2 plays later and USC’s momentum stalled. The Trojans managed just 81 total yards on 8 possessions the rest of the game and got into the red zone just once (but missed a field goal). Iowa scored on its next drive, with RB Tyler Goodson getting a 1-yard TD run. Then, after the Hawkeyes recovered a bad center snap over QB Matt Fink’s head deep in USC territory early in the fourth quarter, Stanley found WR Brandon Smith for a 6-yard score. LB Nick Niemann returned a Fink interception 25 yards late in the game to close the scoring. Slovis completed 22-of-30 passes for 260 yards before the injury. He ended his freshman year hitting 71.9% of his passes, breaking the Pac-12 completion percentage season records for freshmen (minimum 100 attempts, held by Oregon’s Marcus Mariota) and any player (minimum 300 attempts, held by Stanford’s Andrew Luck), as well as the USC season mark (held by Cody Kessler). Fink went 12-of-18 for 74 yards subbing for Slovis. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had 9 catches for 163 yards (both game highs), while WRs Tyler Vaughns (54 yards) and Michael Pittman Jr. (53 yards) each added 6 receptions. S Talanoa Hufanga had a game-high 14 tackles (2 for losses) and a forced fumble, while ILB Palaie Gaoteote added 8 tackles. For Iowa, Stanley completed 18-of-27 passes for 213 yards (he was 11-of-12 for 130 yards in the first half), TE Sam LaPorta had 6 catches for 44 yards, Smith-Marsette (the game’s Offensive MVP) had 203 all-purpose yards (142 on 3 kick returns, 46 on 2 catches and 15 on 2 rushes) and Goodson ran for 48 yards on 18 carries. DE A.J. Epenesa, who had 2.5 sacks, was the game’s Defensive MVP. USC had 356 total yards (just 22 rushing), while Iowa had 328 total yards. The Hawkeyes converted 8-of-13 third downs, didn’t have a turnover (USC had 3) , got 4 sacks and held the ball for 33:24.
TULANE’S BOWL HISTORY
• Tulane has a 6-8 all-time bowl record.
• 1931—USC 21, Tulane 12 (Rose Bowl)
• 1934—Tulane 20, Temple 14 (Sugar Bowl)
• 1939—Texas A&M 14, Tulane 13 (Sugar Bowl)
• 1970—Tulane 17, Colorado 3 (Liberty Bowl)
• 1973—Houston 47, Tulane 7 (Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl)
• 1979—Penn State 9, Tulane 6 (Liberty Bowl)
• 1980—Arkansas 34, Tulane 15 (Hall of Fame Bowl)
• 1987—Washington 24, Tulane 12 (Independence Bowl)
• 1998—Tulane 41, BYU 27 (Liberty Bowl)
• 2002—Tulane 36, Hawaii 28 (Hawaii Bowl)
• 2013—Louisiana Lafayette 24, Tulane 21 (New Orleans Bowl)
• 2018—Tulane 41, Louisiana Lafayette 24 (Cure Bowl)
• 2019—Tulane 30, Southern Miss 13 (Armed Forces Bowl)
• 2020—Nevada 38, Tulane 27 (Potato Bowl)
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
• Troy’s offense returns just 5 starters from 2021: wide receivers Gary Bryant Jr. and Tahj Washington and offensive linemen Brett Neilon, Andrew Vorhees and Courtland Ford. Others returning with starting experience are offensive linemen Jonah Monheim and Justin Dedich, tight ends Jude Wolf, Malcolm Epps and Lake McRee, running back Darwin Barlow and wide receiver Michael Jackson III.
• USC’s offense averaged 443.9 total yards in 2021 (23rd in the nation), including 298.3 passing to rank 17th nationally. The Trojans scored 28.7 points per outing and ranked in the national Top 20 in third down conversions (.453) and red zone offense (.902). Ten players who caught a pass are back from last season.
QUARTERBACKS
• Both of 2021’s starting Trojan quarterbacks—Kedon Slovis and Jaxson Dart–have transferred. Slovis completed a school record 68.4% of his passes in his career for 7,576 yards and 58 TDs. He had a school record 5 career 400-yard passing games. He ranks sixth on USC’s all-time passing list (652 completions) and is eighth on the career total offense chart (7,426 yards). He started USC’s first 9 games last fall before getting hurt (2,153 yards with 11 TDs in 2021). He was replaced by Dart, who hit 61.9% of his throws for 1,353 yards with 9 TDs as a first-year freshman.
• The addition of sophomore transfer quarterback Caleb Williams from Oklahoma in the spring of 2022 rocked the college football landscape. Williams emerged as the Sooners’ starting quarterback by mid-season in 2021 and proved to be one of the nation’s premier freshmen. Named a 2021 True Freshman All-American, he appeared in 11 games and started the last 7 contests. He completed 136- of-211 passes (64.5%) for 1,912 yards and 21 TDs with 4 interceptions and he ran for 442 yards on 79 carries (5.6 avg) with 6 TDs. His passing yards and touchdowns were the most ever by an OU true freshman. He had 200-plus passing yards 5 times, 3-plus passing TDs 4 times and 2-plus passing TDs 6 times. He also was a 2021 semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback and FWAA’s Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year awards. He made 2021 AP All-Big 12 second team. In his career, he has completed 432-of-649 (66.6%) for 5,987 yards and 58 TDs with 8 interceptions and he’s run for 814 yards on 188 carries (4.3 avg) with 16 TDs. Williams was named a member of the 22-player 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his commitment to community service. • The only quarterback on the 2022 USC roster to have seen action in 2021 in a Trojan uniform is redshirt freshman Miller Moss. He played briefly in 2 games last fall, going 8-for-13 (61.5%) for 74 yards and 1 TD.
• In addition to Moss, there are two returning quarterbacks back who have yet to see the field at USC. After missing the 2021 season due to torn knee ligaments, redshirt senior Mo Hasan was ready to compete again but tore his Achilles tendon during winter workouts and was sidelined for 2022 spring practices. He did not see action in 2020 at USC, sidelined most of that season with a leg injury. Hasan was named a member of the 21-player 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his commitment to community service and was a semifinalist for the Wuerrfel Trophy. Walk-on redshirt sophomore Isaac Ward has yet to play at USC.
• Three new quarterbacks joined Riley’s room this fall. Jake Jensen, a sophomore who transferred to USC in the fall of 2022, arrives from Contra Costa Junior College in San Pablo (Calif.) where he completed 155-of-268 passes (57.9%) for 1,970 yards with 22 touchdowns and 9 interceptions and rushed for 105 yards on 64 carries (1.6 avg) with 4 TDs while starting 10 games as a 2021 freshman. He transferred to Contra Costa after a brief stint at BYU in the spring of 2021. He originally committed to BYU out of high school, but never enrolled in 2019 before heading on a 2-year Mormon mission to Argentina that was cut short a year because of the COVID pandemic. •Walk-ons Keegan Patterson (Longmont High, Longmont Colo.), a 2021 MaxPreps All-State first team selection, and Gage Roy (Jesuit Dallas, Dallas, Texas), a 2021 All-District 7-6A first team honoree, also join the team as freshmen quarterbacks.
RUNNING BACKS
• The Trojans lost their two most experienced running backs in Keaontay Ingram, the 2021 Trojan rushing leader (911 yards), and USC captain Vavae Malepeai, who finished his Trojan career 21st on USC’s all-time rushing ladder (2,005 yards).
• Redshirt junior Darwin Barlow returns as the lone back to have contributed for the Trojans last year. After transferring from TCU in the summer of 2021, Barlow recorded 289 yards on 62 carries (4.7 avg) with 2 TDs in 2021, plus 4 receptions for 22 yards (5.5 avg).
• Walk-on redshirt sophomore Matt Colombo and redshirt senior Brandon Outlaw (who previously played wide receiver) also return to the Trojan squad.
• Riley pulled two experienced Pac-12 running backs from the transfer portal in the spring: redshirt senior Travis Dye and senior Austin Jones.
• In his 4-year (2018-21) career at Oregon while appearing in 48 games (with 19 starts), Dye ran for 3,111 yards (fifth most in school history) on 521 carries (6.0 avg) with 21 TDs, caught 83 passes for 869 yards (10.5 avg) with 8 TDs, returned 15 kickoffs for 305 yards (20.3 avg) and had 5 punt returns for 52 yards (10.4 avg). He had 7 100-yard rushing games and 4,337 all-purpose yards in his career. He was a 2021 All-Pac-12 honorable mention and AP All-Pac-12 second team pick. In his career, Dye has run for 3,995 yards on 666 carries (6.0 avg) with 30 TDs, caught 104 passes for 1,063 yards (10.2 avg) with 8 TDs. Dye was injuried in the Colorado game and will be out for the remainder of the season.
• Jones arrives at Troy from Stanford, where he ran for 1,155 yards on 278 carries (4.2 avg) with 12 TDs, caught 67 passes for 531 yards (7.9 avg) with 1 TD and returned 4 kickoffs for 60 yards (15.0 avg) during his 3-year career. In his career, Jones has run for 1,799 yards on 395 carries (4.6 avg) with 17 TDs, caught 88 passes for 778 yards (8.7 avg) with 2 TDs.
WIDE RECEIVERS
• The wide receiver room will be feeling the effects of losing one of the finest receivers in Trojan history, All-American first teamer Drake
London. Before suffering a broken ankle on a tackle while catching a touchdown late in the first half of Game 8 last season, London had 88
receptions for 1,084 yards with 7 TDs in just 7.5 games.
• The Trojans will attempt to replace London by committee as they return 2 other starters in juniors Gary Bryant Jr. and Tahj Washington. •Bryant was a key starting wide receiver and led USC in kickoff and punt returns as a sophomore in 2021. Overall in 2021 while appearing in 10 games and starting 7 times, he had 44 receptions (third on USC) for 579 yards (13.2 avg) with 7 TDs, plus a team-best 11 punt returns for 50 yards (4.5 avg), a team-high 16 kickoff returns for 413 yards (25.8 avg) and a 3-yard rush for a TD. He ranked 21st nationally in kickoff returns (25.8). Bryant Jr. is now redshirting this season.
• After transferring from Memphis as a 2020 Football Writers Freshman All-American first team member, Washington started 11 games at wide out in the 2021 season as a redshirt sophomore for USC. He had 54 receptions (second on USC) for 602 yards (11.1 avg) with 1 TD, as well as 7 kickoff returns for 121 yards (17.3 avg) and 1 tackle. In his career, Washington has 145 receptions for 2,053 yards (14.2 avg) with 13 TDs.
• A number of tested returnees will battle for starting roles, including redshirt junior Kyle Ford, junior John Jackson III and sophomore Michael Jackson III. •Ford returned healthy as a redshirt sophomore in 2021 and saw action at wide receiver in 8 games. Overall in 2021, he Had 19 receptions for 252 yards (13.3 avg) with 2 TDs, with a catch in every game he played. He was a 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year semifinalist. John Jackson III, who has strong USC bloodlines, was a contributor at wide receiver as a junior in 2021. Overall in 2021 while appearing in 10 games, he had 3 catches for 16 yards (5.3 avg). In his debut season as a Trojan, Michael Jackson III appeared in 8 games and started once. He had 12 receptions for 116 yards (9.7 avg) and 2 punt returns for 5 yards (2.5 avg).
• Kyron Hudson returns to the Trojan squad as a redshirt freshman after appearing in 1 game last year and catching 2 passes for 4 yards.
• Four walk-ons who have yet to play at USC—redshirt sophomores Danny Ryan and Ty Shamblin and redshirt freshmen Josiah Zamora and Grant Zane—will also be available for the Trojans.
• Joining the Trojans as spring transfers were redshirt senior Terrell Bynum, junior Brenden Rice and sophomore Mario Williams.
• Bynum, who spent the past 4 years at Pac-12 foe Washington, had 65 receptions for 934 yards (14.4 avg) with 6 TDs and ran for 87 yards on 7 carries (12.4 avg) while appearing in 34 games (with 19 starts) in his Husky career. Rice also arrived at Troy from a fellow Pac-12 team, Colorado. In his 2 years (2020-21) at Colorado, he had 27 receptions for 419 yards (15.5 avg) with 5 TDs, plus 19 kickoff returns for 506 yards (26.6 avg), an 81-yard scoring punt return and 6 carries for 54 yards (9.0 avg) while appearing in 17 games (with 12 starts). He had a pair of 100-yard receiving games in his career.
• Williams, a 2021 ESPN True Freshman All-American, joins his former Sooner quarterback Caleb Williams at USC. He was one of the nation’s top true freshmen wide receivers in 2021 at Oklahoma. While appearing in 12 games and starting once, he had 35 receptions (second on OU) for 380 yards (10.9 avg) with 4 TDs and he also returned 5 kickoffs for 108 yards (21.6 avg). He had 3-plus receptions in 7 contests.
• Highly-regarded true freshman CJ Williams (Mater Dei High, Santa Ana, Calif.), enrolled at USC in the spring after graduating high school a
semester early. He caught 12 TD passes last year as Mater Dei won the prep national championship.
• The summer transfer of Jordan Addison to USC from Pittsburgh was one that made national news. The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner (the nation’s top receiver) will make an immediate impact in the Trojan receiving corps as a junior. He was a 2021 consensus All-American first teamer (named to the AP, Football Writers, Walter Camp and Sporting News first teams), as well as All-ACC first team (and third team as an all-purpose player). Overall in 2021 while starting 13 of the 14 games he played, he had 100 receptions (a school record) for 1,593 yards (15.9 avg) with 17 touchdowns (tied for most in the nation), as well as 7 carries for 56 yards (8.0 avg) with a TD and 12 punt returns for 185 yards (15.4 avg). His 1,593 receiving yards were fourth most in the nation, while having 8 games with 100 receiving yards and a team-best 1,834 all-purpose yards. Addison has a career 216 receptions for 2,989 yards (13.8 avg) with 29 TDs.
TIGHT ENDS
• One of USC’s most experienced rooms is comprised of the tight ends. Malcolm Epps, Josh Falo, Sean Mahoney, Lake McRee and Jude Wolfe have all seen action for the Trojans. Only veteran Erik Krommenhoek, who had 39 career catches with 3 TDs while starting 22 games, and Michael Trigg (7 catches with a TD as a 2021 freshman), who has transferred, are gone.
• After transferring from Texas after a 3-year career, redshirt senior Epps saw action in all 12 games in 2021. He had 10 receptions for 173 yards (17.3 avg) with 1 TD. Redshirt senior Falo, previously a major contributor at tight end, looks to break back into the rotation in 2022. He has 18 catches for 246 yards (13.7 avg) with 3 TDs in 36 career games, starting 5 times. Redshirt junior Mahoney has appeared in 14 games in his career, but has not caught a pass. He has predominately been used on special teams. Redshirt freshman McRee saw key playing time at tight end and on special teams while appearing in 4 late-season games (with one start) as a first-year freshman in 2021. Overall, he had 7 receptions for 91 yards (13.0 avg). Redshirt junior Wolfe has tallied 10 catches for 61 yards (6.1 avg) in his career while appearing in 19 games (with 1 start).
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
• The Trojan offensive line returns a group of long-time veterans as well as some experienced younger linemen. The only key losses are right guard Liam Jimmons and right tackle Jalen McKenzie.
• Redshirt seniors Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees are no strangers to the gridiron trenches. A three-year starter at center, Neilon returns for his final year. He made 2021 All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 first team. He has appeared in 34 games in his career while starting 29. Vorhees, utilizing his extra COVID-year granted by the NCAA, is returning for a sixth season as USC’s most experienced lineman. While playing left guard and then left tackle, he was named 2021 AP All-American third team as well as All-Pac-12 honorable mention, AP All-Pac-12 first team and Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 first team. He has appeared in 44 games on the offensive line in his career, with 25 starts at right guard, 8 starts at left guard and 4 starts at left tackle.
• Redshirt sophomores Courtland Ford (10 game appearances in his career, with 9 starts) and Jonah Monheim (13 game appearances in his career, with 7 starts) both started the first half of 2021, with Ford at left tackle and Monheim at right tackle. When they both started the 2021 opener against San Jose State, it marked the first time since at least 1984 when complete records are available that USC started freshmen at
both tackle spots. Redshirt senior Justin Dedich (22 game appearances in his career, with 7 starts) started 4 times in 2021 at left guard.
• Other experienced linemen returning are redshirt junior Jason Rodriquez (5 game appearances) and redshirt sophomore Andrew Milek (13 game appearances).
• Six more players add to the crop of Trojan linemen: redshirt seniors Joe Bryson and AJ Mageo, redshirt junior Gino Quinones, redshirt sophomores Andres Dewerk and Caadyn Stephen and redshirt freshman Mason Murphy.
• Transfer Bobby Haskins joined the Trojans this past spring from Virginia. The redshirt senior had a 4-year career as an offensive tackle
for the Cavaliers, where he started 20 of his 45 games played. He looks to make an immediate impact on the USC offensive line. •Cooper Lovelace, who transferred to USC in the fall of 2022 from Butler Community College, joins the Trojan offensive line as a redshirt junior. Also joining the fray is Kilian O’Connor (Santa Margarita Catholic High, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) as a walk-on freshman
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
• USC’s defense returns only 3 starters from 2021: inside linebacker Ralen Goforth and defensive linemen Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and Tuli Tuipulotu. Other defensive players back with career starts at USC are defensive linemen Nick Figueroa, De’jon Benton and Jamar Sekona, inside linebacker Chris Thompson Jr. and defensive backs Calen Bullock, Xavion Alford, Joshua Jackson Jr., Jaylin Smith and Prophet Brown.
• Three of USC’s top 6 tacklers from 2021 are back, as are its leaders in sacks, interceptions, pass deflections and forced fumbles. The Trojans recorded 14 interceptions in 2021, their most since 2017. However, the Trojan defense in 2021 surrendered a school-record 408.9 total yards per game, including 241.8 passing yards, and a school-record 31.8 points. Opponents rushed for more than 150 yards per game against USC for the fifth consecutive year (167.1 in 2021), something before then that had happened only once since 2001.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
• The only key defensive lineman missing from 2021 is Jacob Lichtenstein, who transferred after getting 8 starts and 28 tackles (6 for losses, with 4 sacks) last fall.
• Two high-performing starters return to the defensive line for the Trojans: redshirt junior Stanley Ta’ufo’ou (46 tackles, including 6.0 for
a loss with 1 sack and a fumble recovery in his career while appearing in 28 games) and junior Tuli Tuipulotu (110 tackles, including 30.0 for
losses, with 20.0 sacks, 5 deflections, fumble recovery for a TD and 4 forced fumbles in his career while appearing in 31 games, with 28 starts). Tuipulotu made the 2021 All-Pac-12 first team while leading the Trojans in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (2).
• Redshirt seniors Nick Figueroa (67 tackles, including 16.5 for losses of 69 yards, with 9 sacks for minus 51 yards, plus 2 PBUs , a fumble recovery and a blocked kick in his career) and Brandon Pili (70 tackles, including 10 for losses, with 3.5 sacks, 3 deflections, a forced fumble, a QBH and a blocked field goal in his career) are tested veterans who are coming back from injury, ready to battle for starting positions. Figueroa was a 2021 semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and Senior CLASS Award. He had shoulder and hamstring injuries that limited him to 9 games in 2021 (with 5 starts), while Pili sat out last season after tearing his Achilles.
• Four other defensive linemen have shown promise for the upcoming season: redshirt junior De’jon Benton (19 tackles in career with 0.5 for loss), redshirt sophomores Jamar Sekona (11 tackles with 1 for loss and 1 sack) and Kobe Pepe (3 tackles in career), who missed 2021 with a shoulder injury, and redshirt freshman Colin Mobley (2 game appearances.
• Two transfer linemen joined the squad in the spring to bolster the defensive line unit: senior Tyrone Taleni and redshirt junior Earl Barquet Jr. Transferring from Kansas State, Taleni recorded 5 tackles, including 2 sacks, while appearing in 10 games in his 2-year career there (2020- 21). Barquet arrived at Troy from TCU, where he tallied 21 tackles (3.5 for losses, with 2.5 sacks) while appearing in 16 games in his 2-year career (2020-21).
• Two more transfers came aboard this summer. Redshirt senior walk-on Sinjun Astani joins the Trojans from San Jose State and redshirt senior Solomon Byrd arrives from Wyoming, both with two years of eligibility remaining.
RUSH ENDS
• After losing one of the nation’s most dominant pass rushers in 2021 All-Pac-12 second teamer and Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist Drake Jackson (103 tackles, 25 for loss, 12.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble in his career), the Trojans are looking to fill his shoes. Hunter Echols, who had 50 career tackles and 7 starts, transferred.
• Sophomore Korey Foreman, ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in 2020, looks to once again be a key contributor at rush end in 2022. While seeing significant action in 11 games as a first-year freshman in 2021, he had 11 tackles, including 3.5 for losses of 8 yards (with 2.5 sacks).
• Redshirt senior Solomon Tuliaupupu has been plagued by foot and knee injuries throughout his entire career. He played in the first game of
his 5-year career at USC against Rice.
• Making the transition from the SEC to the Pac-12 is redshirt sophomore transfer Romello Height. The rush end from Auburn collected 18 tackles, including 3 for losses, while appearing in 10 games in his 2-year career as a Tiger. Due to an injury, Height will most likely be out for the remainder of the season.
• Freshman Devan Thompkins (Edison High, Stockton, Calif.) and walk-on freshman Garrett Pomerantz (Bishop Gorman High, Las Vegas, Nev.) joined this group in the fall.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
• USC’s 2021 tackle leader, inside linebacker Kana’i Mauga, is gone. He had 90 stops in 2021 and made All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He had 206 career tac kles, including 16.5 for losses with 5 sacks, plus 6 deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions while starting 24 of his 43 games. Raymond Scott, who had 27 tackles and 3 starts last season, has transferred.
• Veteran starter Ralen Goforth returns at inside linebacker for the Trojans. In his career, the senior has recorded 147 tackles (4 for losses of 8 yards), 1 interception (which was returned for a TD), 2 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble.
• Three more inside linebackers with experience are redshirt senior Tuasivi Nomura (33 tackles in his career with 1.5 for loss and 1 PBU while
appearing in 27 games), junior Chris Thompson Jr. (20 career tackles, including 1 for a loss, while appearing in 16 games with 2 starts) and sophomore Raesjon Davis (appeared in 10 games in 2021). Thompson played safety and nickelback last year at USC.
• Also battling for action will be redshirt senior Tayler Katoa (slowed in his career by a lingering knee injury and a Mormon mission), redshirt junior Clyde Moore (2 tackles in his career while appearing in 16 games, mostly on special teams) and redshirt freshman Julien Simon (he saw action in 2 games on special teams in 2021).
• Bringing in a wealth of experience is senior transfer Shane Lee. He arrived at Troy after a 3-year career at Alabama, where he made 96 tackles, including 8 for losses (with 6 sacks), plus an interception, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a deflection. He appeared in 29 games for the Crimson Tide with 13 starts. Now in his career, he has recorded 171 tackles, including 14.5 for losses (with 8.5 sacks), plus 3
interceptions (one of which was returned for a TD), 3 forced fumbles, 2 deflections, 1 QBH and a fumble recovery.
• Joining the inside linebacker corps in the fall were four fresh faces: transfer sophomore Eric Gentry from Arizona State, freshman Garrison Madden (Dutchtown High, Hampton, Ga.), walk-on freshman Roman Marchetti (Foothill High, Santa Ana, Calif.) and transfer freshman Carson Tabaracci from Utah. Now in his career, Gentry has 114 tackles, including 9.0 for loss of 39 yards (with 3 sacks), 1 INT, 4 deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 3 quarterback hurries.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
• USC lost five standouts in the secondary and replacing them will be critical. Free safety and two-time captain Isaiah Pola-Mao (178 tackles,
including 9 for losses, with 1.5 sacks, plus 5 interceptions, 8 deflections, 4 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble in his career), cornerbacks Chris Steele (95 tackles 3 for a loss, with a sack, 12 deflections, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and 3 interceptions in his career) and Isaac Taylor-Stuart (80 tackles, including 1 for a loss, plus 2 interceptions and 7 deflections in his career), 3-year starting nickelback Greg Johnson (98 tackles, 6.5 for losses with a sack, 9 deflections, 3 interceptions with a TD, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles in his career) and strong safety Chase Williams (85 career tackles, including 4.5 for losses, plus a fumble recovery and deflection in his career) were impactful in the Trojan backfield. They combined for 111 starts and 13 interceptions in their careers (29/5 by Pola-Mao, 25/3 by Johnson, 23/3 by Steele, 19/2 by Taylor-Stuart, 15/0 by Williams).
• Two young safeties shined for USC in 2021: redshirt sophomore Xavion Alford and sophomore Calen Bullock. After transferring from Texas, Alford led USC with 3 interceptions and 3 deflections, while collecting 31 tackles throughout 11 games. Bullock, the first USC true freshman to start a season opener since Su’a Cravens in 2013, had an impressive debut, leading the team with 8 tackles in USC’s 2021 season opener against San Jose State. He went on to play in 12 games, starting 6 times, and recorded 39 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 deflections. He made the 2021 Football Writers Freshman All-American and Pro Football Focus True Freshman All-American first team. In his career, Bullock has 82 tackles, 7 interceptions (1 returned for a TD) and 5 deflections.
• Coming back from injury is redshirt junior Max Williams. Williams was set to battle for the starting nickelback job and play a key role on special teams as a sophomore in 2021, but he tore knee ligaments in 2021 spring practice and had surgery, so he missed the 2021 season. In his career, he has recorded 92 tackles, including 5 for loss, with 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, plus 9 deflections and a 3 forced fumbles, while appearing in 19 games, starting 15 times.
• Sophomore Jaylin Smith will look to get into the rotation at safety. Appearing in USC’s first 10 games in 2021 with 1 start, he tallied 11 tackles, including 2 for losses (with 1 sack), an interception, a deflection and a forced fumble. He suffered a concussion against UCLA and missed the final two contests of 2021. Redshirt sophomore Joshua Jackson Jr. will compete for playing time after recording 2 starts, 9 tackles, an interception and a deflection in 2021
• Also competing for playing time will be redshirt senior Micah Croom (11 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery in his career), who
moved to defensive back this spring from inside linebacker, redshirt juniors Briton Allen (8 tackles) and Adonis Otey (1 tackle)–both coming
back from injuries that sidelined them in 2021–and redshirt freshmen Anthony Beavers, Prophet Brown (9 tackles and 1 start), Xamarion
Gordon (3 tackles and 1 INT) and Ceyair Wright. Wright has earned a starting role in 2022 and has collected 28 tackles with 2 PBUs and 1 INT
this season, compared to just 2 tackles in the 2021 season.
• In the mix are two walk-ons: sophomore L Simpson and redshirt freshman Daniel Jimenez-Fulton.
• Two more transfers joined the Trojans in the secondary in the spring: redshirt senior cornerback Mekhi Blackmon and sophomore cornerback Latrell McCutchin. •Blackmon was a 4-year performer at Colorado (2018-21), where he had 87 tackles, including 3 for losses with 2 sacks, 13 deflections, a fumble recovery and 2 interceptions while appearing in 25 games with 19 starts. McCutchin was at Oklahoma last fall, where he had 9 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and a deflection while appearing in 9 games and starting once. In his career, Blackmon has 143 tackles, including 5.0 for losses (with 2 sacks), 23 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and 5 interceptions.
• Highly touted true freshman Domani Jackson (Mater Dei High, Santa Ana, Calif.) also looks to battle for action after he enrolled at USC this spring after graduating a semester early from high school to participate in spring practice. He missed most of his senior campaign because of a knee injury.
• A pair of prep All-Americans from 2021 Las Vegas state champion Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas enrolled this fall: safety Zion Branch and cornerback Fabian Ross. After suffering a lower-extremity injury in an offseason workout, Branch did not participate in fall camp.
• Also joining the Trojan squad this fall is redshirt junior transfer Bryson Shaw from Ohio State and redshirt sophomore transfer Jacobe Covington from Washington.
SPECIAL TEAMS OVERVIEW
• The Trojan special teams unit is going to look quite different than in 2021. With the loss of Aussie punter and USC captain Ben Griffiths (45.0 P avg in 2021), 2-year starting placekicker Parker Lewis (26 career field goals, including 17 in 2021) and steady five-year starting long snapper Damon Johnson, the Trojans will be looking to fill some spots.
• USC was 50th in kickoff returns, averaging 22.0, and 28th in net punting (41.18) in 2021. Just 11 of USC’s 44 punts and 16 of its 64 kickoffs were returned last fall.
PUNTERS
• Griffiths averaged 43.5 yards per punt in his 3-year Trojan career, with only 10 touchbacks on 114 boots. He made All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2021 while averaging 45.0.
• Attempting to fill his shoes is junior Aadyn Sleep-Dalton, a punter who arrived at USC over the summer from Australia, who earned the starting spot. Returners redshirt junior Will Rose and redshirt sophomore Michael McAllister are also available to punt.
PLACEKICKERS
• In his 2 years at Troy, Lewis made 26-of-35 field goals and 45-of-46 PATs and had touchbacks on 49 of his 72 kickoffs (68.1%). Last fall while making All-Pac-12 second team, he hit 17-of-22 field goals (with a long of 52 yards) and 22-of-23 PATs and had touchbacks on nearly 80% of his 34 kickoffs. His 17 field goals in 2021 were 2 shy of the USC season record. He was eighth nationally in field goals (1.7). At one point, he had made 11 consecutive field goals dating to 2020.
• Redshirt senior Alex Stadthaus returns as a kicker with game experience. In 2021, Stadthaus saw key action doing placement kicks and kicking off. While appearing in 7 games, he hit all 6 of his field goal attempts and all 11 of his PATs and had touchbacks on 18 of his 30 kickoffs (60%). He earned the starting kickoff role.
• Walk-on redshirt freshman Denis Lynch, a left-footed placekicker who did not see action in 2021, earned the starting nod at placekicker.
• This fall, Garth White, a transfer from Ventura Junior College, joined the special teams unit as a walk-on sophomore placekicker and punter.
