**NOTE** The following is a guest post by Michael Stanzione
With the college football season over and signing day come and gone all we have to look forward to is the overwhelming potential that the USC Trojans have to next year to becoming Pac 12 champs. Maybe even National Champions.
Matt Barkley is back and so is the beast that is linebacker Michael Morgan. USC comes into next season with possibly the best wide receiver tandem in all of college football with Robert Woods and Marquis Lee buoyed by the potential of up-and-comers George Farmer, Victor Blackwell and incoming freshmen Darreus Rogers and Nelson Agholor.
However, out of all of those guys and the new blood coming in, who at USC is going to step up and have a banner year?
The Trojans scored on some fresh OL talent coming in with Zach Banner, Jordan Simmons, and Max Tuerk immediately poised to battle for a starting spot in protecting Matt Barkley from on rushing traffic. Should one of these freshmen show greatness it will surely resonate along the walls of the Coliseum.
Matt Kalil was Matt Barkley’s main man last season helping the Trojans average 456.8 yards and allowed only 8 quarterback sacks all season. Kalil also blocked 2 PAT’s and 2 field goal attempts last season leaving a massive hole in the offensive line moving forward for the Trojans.
An interesting upperclassmen battle is brewing this spring as Kevin Graf and Aundrey Walker will duke it out against the young bucks coming in to see who might fill the shoes left by Kalil.
Another position that is hairline thin for the Trojans is the at running back. With Dillion Baxter off the team, Kyle Prater transferring, and Marc Tyler off to the NFL that pretty much leaves the snaps up to Curtis McNeal and D.J. Morgan. However, one incoming recruit who is sure to spark a bit of a fire and compete immediately for the RB position will be new frosh Jahleel Pinner. Pinner provides relief from McNeal and Morgan and also has the ability to play fullback as well.
Certainly USC lost a great deal of talent to the NFL this year. There are seven former Trojans making a showing in the 2012 NFL combine including tight end Rhett Ellison, linebacker Chris Galippo, defensive tackle DaJohn Harris, offensive lineman Matt Kalil, defensive end Nick Perry, defensive tackle Christian Tupou and running back Marc Tyler.
Yet, with the depth shown in this year’s incoming class there is plenty of room for optimism for the Trojans in 2012.
