Insights on “USC’s Defense Faces Growing Pains: Elite Stars Out, Newbies on the Rise!”

Freshmen are poised to take on larger roles for USC as the season progresses, particularly at linebacker. Coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn are planning to elevate several freshmen, including Desman Stephens, into critical defensive positions. Additionally, freshman defensive end Kameryn Fountain is anticipated to play in the upcoming game against Maryland.

Thus far, Stephens has only seen limited action, primarily during mop-up time. However, during a recent game against Penn State, he was able to visualize the third-down play developing as he stood at the line of scrimmage. With three defenders positioned near the ball and two receivers stacked to his left, the nickel corner was blitzing, prompting Stephens to quickly backpedal and cover the middle of the field.

Thanks to his diverse experience as a versatile defensive back at Clarkston High in Michigan, Stephens felt confident in executing this play. However, he is still adjusting to the nuances of playing linebacker and absorbing the complexities of USC’s defensive scheme under D’Anton Lynn. The fast pace of the game still posed a challenge for him.

With injuries depleting the linebacker corps, the coaching staff had no option but to lean on the true freshman. As depth continues to diminish across USC’s defense, it’s clear that Lynn will often need to rely on freshmen moving forward.

In this instance, Stephens lived up to the coaching staff’s trust by backpedaling into position to intercept a pass from Penn State. This type of play, according to Lynn, will be crucial for a defense that needs to grow quickly.

“You can tell it boosted his confidence,” Lynn remarked.

Lynn is eager to harness all the added confidence he can, especially now that USC’s defense must cope with the absence of two key players: linebacker Eric Gentry and defensive end Anthony Lucas, both ruled out for the remainder of the season. How Lynn plans to manage these losses is still uncertain, but it will likely involve a wave of young players like Stephens stepping into larger roles on the defensive line.

Lynn and coach Lincoln Riley emphasized this as a positive development as USC prepares to face Maryland, hoping that this influx of youth can help break the Trojans’ two-game losing streak.

“We don’t really have a choice right now, do we?” Riley said. “These guys have been working hard behind the scenes, and they’re ready to step up.”

Stephens has already secured his spot in USC’s three-linebacker rotation, backing up starters Mason Cobb and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold. Meanwhile, junior Devan Thompkins emerged as a starter along the defensive line last week, leading the group in pressures after Lucas exited the game.

Freshman defensive end Kameryn Fountain might be the next to join that rotation. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 265 pounds, Fountain is still “very, very” inexperienced, but he impressed during camp with his physical talent. Lynn mentioned that Fountain has significantly improved his grasp of both his position and USC’s scheme, indicating that “he is going to see some time” against Maryland this week.

“He’s improving in managing the pace of the game,” redshirt senior defensive end Jamil Muhammad said about Fountain. “It hasn’t completely slowed down for him yet since he’s still adjusting to the recent health challenges.”

Integrating younger players up front could benefit USC’s pass rush, especially given their current standing. The Trojans have registered just six sacks through six games, ranking among the bottom eight teams nationally, and with Lucas now out for the season, they lost their leading pressure creator. Muhammad, who led the team in sacks last season, has yet to record one in 2024.

There may not be an immediate solution to these challenges, but Riley believes that with Lynn at the helm, USC’s defense will ultimately improve.

“There are going to be numerous positives that emerge from this for our players and the program,” Riley stated. “I believe D’Anton’s teaching style and his ability to adapt to the 11 players we put on the field—considering their strengths and weaknesses—will be a significant advantage.”

Muhammad can personally attest to the progress made under USC’s new defensive staff.

“They’re all about throwing people into the fire, but in a good way,” Muhammad said. “They want you to learn and improve. In a program like this, young players will definitely get their chances; you just have to take advantage of them.”

Stephens capitalized on his opportunity last week by returning his interception for 42 yards before being tackled from behind. This moment was significant validation for the freshman linebacker, showcasing the direction of his first season at USC, even if the team had to rely on him.

“It was always a priority for me to find a place where I could develop,” Stephens said.

“When you work hard, you get rewarded.”