What Isaiah Langley’s Suspension Means for USC vs. Alabama

USC’s chances against Alabama took a slight hit on Tuesday, with news that sophomore cornerback Isaiah Langley would miss the much anticipated season opener.

Isaiah Langley, who was arrested by UCLA police back in May, will miss the season opener due to a suspension from head coach Clay Helton. What’s it mean for the Trojans on the field?

It’s hard to say, since we’ve yet to see him perform at a high level for USC, following an offseason that has seen him earn positive reviews.

Langley was a reasonably valuable reserve cornerback in 2015, appearing in 11 games and recording 12 tackles, and a single pass deflection.

As a true freshman who began the season thoroughly buried on the depth chart, and with mainstays Kevon Seymour, Adoree’ Jackson and Iman Marshall in front of him, that’s about as much production as you could have asked for.

But in spring camp, he took advantage of Jackson’s absence and Seymour’s graduation by emerging as a de facto first-team cornerback across the field from Marshall.

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Simply put, without him out for Week 1, USC will need to rely on their quality depth at cornerback.

The unit, which is in the running for the title of college football’s best –or at least the most talented– is expected to start a pair of preseason All-Pac-12ers in Marshall and Jackson.

Then there’s Jack Jones, the 2016 class’s No. 3 cornerback in the country per the 247Sports Composite. He’s been one of USC’s most heralded players in summer workouts as an incoming freshman, and could push for early playing time.

Jonathan Lockett, a standout in last year’s fall camp, could break out as a junior in 2016, and should be a prime candidate to absorb any playing time Langley could have had against Alabama.

Ajene Harris, who moved to cornerback from wide receiver during the spring, is also a player who could get his number called if needed.

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But the bottom line is that despite the seemingly positive development of Langley, which could warrant more playing time as a sophomore, Week 1 has all the makings of a game in which you rely on your big guns.

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The Crimson Tide boast one of the nation’s elite receivers in Calvin Ridley, a player that just last week at Pac-12 Media Days, Adoree’ Jackson said he wanted to isolate himself.

Add in Alabama’s penchant for moving methodically, as opposed to running a continuous hurry-up no-huddle tempo, and Langley is suspended for a game that he might not have had a factor in to begin with, as USC might not need to substitute to stay fresh on the edge.

It’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of game for the Trojans against the Tide, but if there was one position group to be down a man, cornerback is about as manageable as could be.