2017 USC Trojans football team

The 2017 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Clay Helton. They finished the season 11–3, 8–1 in Pac-12 play to be champions of the South Division. They represented the South Division in the Pac-12 Championship Game where they defeated Stanford to become Pac-12 Champions. They were invited to play in the Cotton Bowl where they were soundly defeated at the hands of Ohio State, 24–7.

Returning starters
USC returns 26 starters in 2017, including 12 on offense, 11 on defense, and 3 on special teams.

Key departures include Justin Davis (TB – 6 games), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – 13 games), Darreus Rogers (WR – 13 games), De'Quan Hampton (WR), Isaac Whitney (WR), Taylor McNamara (TE – 11 games), Zach Banner (OT – 11 games), Chad Wheeler (OT – 11 games), Damien Mama (OL – 12 games), Jordan Simmons (OL – 2 games), Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (DT – 12 games), Quinton Powell (LB), Michael Hutchings (ILB – 13 games), Adoree' Jackson (CB – 13 games), Leon McQuay III (S – 12 games), Zach Smith (LS – 13 games).

Other departures include Joel Foy (LB), Deion Hart (S).

Transfers
The Trojans lost 5 players due to transfer. One transfer during the 2017 season.

Depth chart
Projecting Depth Chart 2017

True Freshman

Double Position : *

Scholarship distribution chart
/ redshirt year eligible / * : Former walk-on

- 85 scholarships permitted, 85 currently allotted to players.

- USC can sign 15-20 players in the class of 2018 count contingent on 9 graduating SRs (Lockett and Tucker burned redshirt in 2017), NFL early entries and transfers.

Projecting Scholarship Distribution 2017

NFL Combine
The official list of participants for the 2017 NFL Combine was released on Wednesday (February 15), featuring USC football players OT Zach Banner, TB Justin Davis, CB Adoree’ Jackson, OG Damien Mama, WR Darreus Rogers, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, NT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and OT Chad Wheeler.

The eight Trojans were tested at the Combine in Indianapolis beginning on February 28 through March 6.

Trojans who didn't nab an invite include S Leon McQuay III, TE Taylor McNamara, LB Michael Hutchings, LB Quinton Powell, OG Jordan Simmons, WR De'Quan Hampton, WR Isaac Whitney & LS Zach Smith. They waited until USC's Pro Day to get in front of NFL scouts

Colorado
USC clinches Pac-12 South Division title with the win.

Team
As of 10/21/2017.

Non-conference opponents

Pac-12 opponents

All Opponents

Defense
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown

Coaches
Clay Helton - Head coach
 * Associated Press PAC-I2 Coach of the Year : Winner
 * Dodd Trophy (Division I head coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community) : Watchlist

Tee Martin - Offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach
 * Broyles Award (Award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football) : Semifinalist

Offense
Sam Darnold - QB - Sophomore
 * Maxwell Award (College football player of the year) : Semifinalist
 * Davey O'Brien Award (best of all NCAA quarterbacks) : Semifinalist
 * Walter Camp Award (Player of the Year in college football) : Semifinalist

Ronald Jones II - TB - Junior
 * Doak Walker Award (The nation's top college football running back) : Semifinalist

Vavae Malepeai - TB - Freshman
 * Polynesian College Football Player of the Year : Watchlist

Deontay Burnett - WR - Junior
 * Biletnikoff Award (The nation's top college football wide receiver) : Semifinalist

Daniel Imatorbhebhe - TE - Sophomore
 * John Mackey Award (College football's most outstanding tight end) : Watchlist

Toa Lobendahn - OT/C - Senior
 * Polynesian College Football Player of the Year : Watchlist

Viane Talamaivao - OG - Senior
 * Polynesian College Football Player of the Year : Watchlist

Nico Falah - C - Senior
 * Wuerffel Trophy (college football player "who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement") : Watchlist

Defense
Rasheem Green - DT - Junior
 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in NCAA college football) : Watchlist
 * Outland Trophy (Best interior lineman in college football) : Watchlist

Porter Gustin - LB - Junior
 * Bednarik Award (College defensive player of the year) : Watchlist
 * Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football) : Watchlist

Cameron Smith - LB - Junior
 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in NCAA college football) : Watchlist
 * Bednarik Award (College defensive player of the year) : Watchlist
 * Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football) : Semifinalist

Uchenna Nwosu - LB - Senior
 * Butkus Award (top linebacker in college football) : Watchlist

Iman Marshall - CB - Junior
 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in NCAA college football) : Watchlist
 * Bednarik Award (College defensive player of the year) : Watchlist
 * Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back in college football) : Watchlist

Special Team
Chris Tilbey - P - Junior
 * Ray Guy Award (College football's top punter) : Watchlist

Jake Olson - LS - Junior
 * Jason Witten Collegiate Man Of The Year Award (leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field) : Semifinalist. During the season, Olson became the first blind Division I player.

AP Pre-Season All-Americans
Sam Darnold - QB - Freshman
 * First team

Cameron Smith - ILB - Sophomore
 * Second team

Iman Marshall - CB - Sophomore

PAC-12 All-Conference Team
Sam Darnold - QB - Sophomore
 * First team

Ronald Jones II - TB - Junior

Rasheem Green - DT - Junior

Uchenna Nwosu - OLB - Senior

Cameron Smith - ILB - Junior

Marvell Tell - S - Junior

Michael Pittman Jr. - ST - Sophomore

Deontay Burnett - WR - Junior
 * Second team

Toa Lobendahn - OT - Senior

Christian Rector - DT - Sophomore

Matt Lopes - ST - Senior

Stephen Carr - TB - Freshman
 * Honorable mention

Steven Mitchell - WR - Senior

Tyler Vaughns - WR - Freshman

Tyler Petite - TE - Junior

Chris Brown - OG - Junior

Josh Fatu - DT - Senior

Brandon Pili - DT - Freshman

Iman Marshall - CB - Junior

Chris Hawkins - S - Senior

Sporting News 2017 college football preseason All-Americans
Sam Darnold - QB - Sophomore
 * First team

Cameron Smith - LB - Junior