USC Football Releases 2017 Roster, Early Enrollees Given Numbers

The 2017 USC football roster includes new numbers for the Trojans class of early enrollees as well as positional tidbits for the likes of Toa Lobendahn and others.

With spring camp set to start, USC football released the 2017 spring roster, with some notable new numbers and positions.

As expected, the newest Trojans received their jersey numbers as they begin their USC careers this spring.

USC added five early enrollees from the 2017 recruiting class. Here’s their new numbers:

QB Jack Sears — No. 13LS Damon Johnson — No. 48DT Marlon Tuipulotu — No. 51LB Tayler Katoa — No. 54OL Andrew Voorhees — No. 72

Freshman quarterback Jack Sears will wear the No. 13, most recently worn by De’Quan Hampton. Running back Stafon Johnson revived the number which was first made notable by a pair of Trojan quarterbacks — Todd Marinovich and All-American Irvine “Cotton” Warburton.

On the defensive line, Marlon Tuipulotu grabbed the No. 51, which had been occupied by NFL hopeful Damien Mama on offense.

Another departing offensive lineman, Chad Wheeler, passed his No. 72 off to Andrew Voorhees. Don Mosebar and Wheeler both achieved All-American status in that number.

Linebacker Tayler Katoa will look to add to the prestige of No. 54. Chris Galippo is the most notable past-wearer of the jersey, though Reuben Peters wore it before switching to fullback.

Longsnapper Damon Johnson adopted departed tight end Taylor McNamara’s number while walk-on transfer tight end Austin Applebee will wear the offensive No. 89 along with defensive lineman Christian Rector.

Other things to note from USC’s roster relate to more veteran players.

Kicker Matt Boermeester and defensive lineman Kevin Scott are no longer listed on the roster.

Running back Ronald Jones II retains his No. 25 after wearing No. 4 against Penn State in the Rose Bowl to honor the late Joe McKnight.

Offensive lineman Toa Lobendahn’s positional designation on the new roster is OG-C, which is a change from last season’s listing as a center only.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

Lobendahn was USC’s starting center to begin the season, but a knee injury knocked him out promoting Nico Falah to the top of the depth chart.

Though Lobendahn is likely to miss spring practice while he continues to recuperate, there are questions about what his role might be for the Trojans in 2017 if Falah holds onto his starting job.

Falah is listed as a center, though he has been an offensive tackle in the past. Lobendahn has experience across the line, so it stands to reason he could compete for any of the three open starting jobs up front — left tackle, right tackle or left guard.

The presence of those open starting jobs is evident across USC’s roster, where a number of linemen have split designations at tackle and guard as the free-for-all begins. Roy Hemsley and Jordan Austin both carried the split OG-OT tag last season, but Chris Brown also now carries that designation.