What are the Trojans? biggest strengths? Where do they need to get better? Who?s staying and who?s coming? Beat reporter Michael Lev breaks it all down.
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BY MICHAEL LEV / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
What's in store for USC in 2012? Here are the Trojans' potential strengths, areas in need of improvement, top returnees and incoming recruits:
Strengths: A lot depends on who comes back. If QB Matt Barkley returns, he'll be a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. If OT Matt Kalil returns, the Trojans will have all five starters back on the offensive line. If DE Nick Perry returns, USC will have a ferocious outside pass rush. Regardless of their status, the Trojans will boast the nation's premier WR duo in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. They'll have a promising, athletic LB corps featuring three sophomore starters: Dion Bailey, Lamar Dawson and Hayes Pullard. They also return the first-team All-Pac-12 kicker in Andre Heidari, another sophomore-to-be.
Improvements: The Trojans' defense improved markedly in 2011, but they still didn't take the ball away as much as Lane Kiffin and his staff would like. USC forced 17 turnovers, tied for ninth in the Pac-12. That was the Trojans' lowest total since 2006 (18). Getting better in that area will require two things: an improved pass rush by the front four and more opportunistic playmaking by the back seven. On offense, USC was a good rushing team in 2011 but not a great one. Curtis McNeal emerged as a big-play threat, but the Trojans could stand to improve in short-yardage situations.
Top returning players (year of eligibility for 2012): Armond Armstead (DL, Sr.)*, Dion Bailey (LB, So.), Matt Barkley (QB, Sr.)*, Victor Blackwell (WR, Fr.), Anthony Brown (CB, So.), Charles Burks (DE, Fr.), Brice Butler (WR, Sr.), Amir Carlisle (RB, So.), Lamar Dawson (LB, So.), George Farmer (RB-WR, So.), De'Von Flournoy (WR, Jr.), Jeremy Galten (OL, Sr.), Kevin Graf (OT, Jr.), Kevin Greene (DE, Jr.), Xavier Grimble (TE, So.), Torin Harris (CB, Jr.), Andre Heidari (PK, So.), Ryan Henderson (CB, Fr.), Christian Heyward (DT, Fr.), Cyrus Hobbi (OL, Fr.), Khaled Holmes (C, Sr.), Wes Horton (DE, Sr.), Matt Kalil (OT, Sr.)*, Devon Kennard (DE, Sr.), Cody Kessler (QB, Fr.), Marqise Lee (WR, So.), Tre Madden (LB, So.), Marcus Martin (OG, So.), John Martinez (OG, Jr.), Drew McAllister (S, Sr.), Peter McBride (LS, Fr.), T.J. McDonald (S, Sr.)*, Curtis McNeal (RB, Sr.), D.J. Morgan (RB, So.), Kyle Negrete (P, Sr.), Nick Perry (DE, Sr.)*, Kyle Prater (WR, So.), Hayes Pullard (LB, So.), Nickell Robey (CB, Jr.), Anthony Sarao (LB, Fr.), Jesse Scroggins (QB, So.), Marquis Simmons (LB, Jr.), Jawanza Starling (S, Sr.), J.R. Tavai (DT, So.), Randall Telfer (TE, So.), Christian Thomas (TE, So.), Greg Townsend Jr. (DE, Fr.), George Uko (DT, So.), Soma Vainuku (FB, Fr.), Aundrey Walker (OL, So.), Isiah Wiley (CB, Sr.), Max Wittek (QB, Fr.), Antwaun Woods (DT, Fr.), Robert Woods (WR, Jr.), Demetrius Wright (S, Jr.)
(*--Status to be determined for 2012)
Top recruiting targets: Arik Armstead (OT-DE, Elk Grove), Zach Banner (OT, Lakewood, Wash.), Gerald Bowman (S, Pierce College), Noor Davis (LB, Leesburg, Fla.), Joshua Garnett (OL, Puyallup, Wash.), Ellis McCarthy (DT, Monrovia), Tyriq McCord (DE, Tampa, Fla.), Kyle Murphy (OT, San Clemente), Andrus Peat (OT, Tempe, Ariz.), Deaysean Rippy (LB, McKees Rocks, Pa.), Kevon Seymour (CB, Pasadena), Aziz Shittu (DT, Atwater), Ronnie Stanley (OT, Las Vegas), Derrick Woods (WR, Inglewood)
Commitments: Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (TE, Rocklin), Jaydon Mickens (ATH, Los Angeles), Jahleel Pinner (RB, Mission Viejo), Darreus Rogers (WR, Carson), Jabari Ruffin (LB, Downey), Jordan Simmons (OL, Encino), Scott Starr (LB, Norco), Max Tuerk (OL, Santa Margarita), Pio Vatuvei (DE, Patterson), Chad Wheeler (DE, Santa Monica), Kelvin York (RB, Fullerton College)
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