Already poised to show over most of its offensive line, USC now should exchange its offensive coach as nicely.
Josh Henson, who spent the final three seasons main USC’s offensive line, is leaving to turn out to be the offensive coordinator at Purdue, an individual acquainted with the choice informed The Occasions. Whereas he technically carried the identical title at USC, at Purdue, he’ll step into a bigger play-calling function for brand 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 start out 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 numerous depth from which to decide on their replacements. Left guard Emmanuel Pregnon and middle Jonah Monheim are off to the NFL, whereas proper sort out 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 may probably observe in gentle of Henson’s departure, placing USC in a precarious place forward of its bowl recreation on Dec. 27, with only a few obtainable backups behind a patchwork line. Other than its two returning starters, Elijah Paige and Alani Noa, everything of its returning offensive line corps has simply 161 snaps between them, greater than half of which belong to offensive sort out Tobias Raymond (86).
Paige, whose presence is now vitally vital, 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 method to Purdue. And Riley is left to rent an offensive line coach, with an entire offensive line nonetheless left to rebuild after that.
