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Hypothetical Trade Proposals and More USC Football News

By Alicia de Artola

Sep 26, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Ronald Jones II (25) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. The Trojans defeated the Sun Devils 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Ronald Jones II (25) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. The Trojans defeated the Sun Devils 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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What hypothetical trade would you make to improve the Trojans in 2016? Plus our daily round up of USC football news from the web.

Can’t get enough USC football and basketball news? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

First Word… Greg Wallace of Bleacher Report proposed eight hypothetical trades to help boost the college football landscape in 2016 Tuesday.

Among those was the idea of sending USC running back Ronald Jones II to Ohio State for defensive end Tyquan Lewis.

Wallace’s reasoning is this: Ohio State lost Ezekiel Elliott to the draft and USC is replacing all three starters on the defensive line. Jones would give the Buckeyes a rusher to build their offense around while the Trojan defensive line would be greatly bolstered adding a pass rusher who had eight sacks last year.

On the surface that makes a lot of sense. Ohio State gets a playmaker they need. USC gets a physical presence they need.

I still wouldn’t make that trade though.

Yes there is good depth at running back, but there is much better depth at other positions worth trading.

More from Reign of Troy

Justin Davis and Jones are expected to operate as a pair to lead the Trojans’ new offense but Davis without Jones would make USC’s prospects of having a dominant rushing attack much more difficult.

And without Jones, an injury to Davis would mean throwing Aca’Cedric Ware into a starting role. As solid as Ware has looked this offseason, that wouldn’t leave the Trojans in a good spot.

Instead, sending some of surplus players on the offensive line and at wide receiver would make greater sense from a USC perspective, especially since the Buckeyes are replacing three starters on the line and three receivers from their passing attack.

Zach Banner would command more than just Lewis in return, but a package including Chuma Edoga and Darreus Rogers might be more intriguing.

Would you make that trade?

And Ten USC Football and Basketball News Links…

  1. “10 Best USC Linebackers of All-Time” (Reign of Troy)We rank the top USC linebackers in history, dubbing Richard “Batman” Wood the best of the best.
  2. “Freshmen and newcomers update” (WeAreSC.com)How’d the newcomers do during summer workouts? Garry Paskwietz breaks it down man-by-man, including musing about a future at fullback for Vavae Malepeai, a redshirt for Cary Angeline and a pleasant surprise from Jordan Iosefa.
  3. “Projecting CFB Preseason Top 25 at Start of Fall Camp” (Bleacher Report)USC checks in at No. 19 on David Kenyon’s projected preseason rankings.
  4. “USC 2016 Preview: Breaking Down the Defensive Line” (Reign of Troy)Our fall camp previews begin with a look at the defensive line, which will feature an all-new line up and could define USC’s success or failure in 2016.
  5. “Todd McNair’s lawsuit against NCAA on hold once again” (LA Times)The never-ending saga of McNair vs. NCAA continued Tuesday as McNair’s lawyers challenged the NCAA’s challenge and successful removal of Judge Frederick Shaller from the case.
  6. “Potential redshirt freshmen contributors for 2016” (FightOn247)Chris Trevino breaks down the contributing potential of USC’s redshirt freshman like John Houston and Ykili Ross, who should be able to see the field this year.
  7. “One play from the 1: Who you got?” (ESPN)With the game on the line and the ball at the one yard line, David Lombardi would put the ball in Ronald Jones II’s hands.
  8. “Giants, Buccaneers, Bills poised to get most out of rookie class” (NFL.com)Cody Kessler and Kevon Seymour got shoutouts as rookies who could help elevate their teams draft classes.
  9. “16 AFC players with everything to prove in 2016” (CBS Sports)Mark Sanchez is the Broncos representative on this list of NFL players who need to have big years in 2016.
  10. “2016-17 USC Basketball Weekly Matchups Announced” (Reign of Troy)The Trojans will open up the conference schedule on the road against the Oregon schools.

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