USC Football: Best-case, worst case on defensive line in 2017

USC Football’s fate on the defensive line in 2017 will always come back to how well the Trojans replace Stevie Tu’ikolovatu.

This time last year, few USC Football fans were aware of Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, but now his shadow looms large over the Trojans.

Tu’ikolovatu made himself an invaluable member of USC’s defensive line in 2016. Now, replacing him has become the big task of the offseason, one that will help anoint or doom the Trojans’ title hopes.

Here’s a look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for the defensive line in 2017:

Best-case scenario

A healthy Kenny Bigelow and promising freshmen anchor the defensive line,

While Tu’ikolovatu was a newcomer who rejuvenated USC’s defensive line, the Trojans have another potential game-changer who might as well be a graduate transfer.

Kenny Bigelow is entering his sixth year as a Trojan, but he’s only seen action in one campaign due to multiple knee injuries. In fact, it was Bigelow’s spring ACL tear that made Tu’ikolovatu such an important target.

Getting Bigelow back is a boost in terms of the extra body, but his contribution could be even more critical if he matches Tu’ikolovatu’s presence in the trenches. While Tu’ikolovatu’s size helped make him an immovable object at nose tackle, Bigelow’s explosiveness could add a different but welcome element at defensive tackle.

Forcing teams to pay attention to Bigelow would lessen the pressure on freshmen like Marlon Tuipulotu, who is set to replace Tu’ikolovatu more literally at nose tackle, and Jay Tufele, whose talent could earn him some early playing time.

There’s another big element to USC’s best-case scenario on the defensive line, involving Rasheem Green.

The junior defensive end was a five-star prospect out of high school because of his high ceiling, but he’s struggled to tap into that potential on a consistent basis.

If 2017 is the year it all comes together, then Green should be a force in the Pac-12, one who could approach the double-digit sack mark.

Worst-case scenario

USC never recovers from Stevie Tu’ikolovatu’s departure.

The biggest problem for USC’s defensive line is the best hope for filling Tu’ikolovatu’s shoes happens to be a true freshman.

Tuipulotu is an exciting prospect, but leaning on him to replace a 25-year-old graduate transfer is asking a lot.

That’ll only be exacerbated if the other supporting players on USC’s defensive line can’t be relied upon.

The Trojans know more-or-less what Green will bring to the table, but the remainder of the cast is unproven at best.

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Bigelow is coming off of major knee surgery and may need time to get up to full speed, if he can stay healthy at all.

Neither Malik Dorton or Christian Rector were trusted with major playing time in 2016 while Josh Fatu was little more than a stand in. Stagnation from those three would force the Trojans to throw both Tuipulotu and Tufele into the deep-end right away, hoping they can swim.

If it turns out they can’t, then it will be a long season in the trenches.

Most-likely scenario

Putting all of the eggs in the Kenny Bigelow basket may be wishful thinking. The former five-star showed promise when he was healthy enough to see the field, but his injury record really is about as bad as it gets.

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Fortunately for USC, there are other baskets to fill, and that’s what should help stabilize the Trojans on the defensive line in 2017.

Green may never gain the consistency that could make him an elite player, but defensive end shouldn’t be a great concern so long as he’s there.

USC got good performances out of Tuipulotu and Josh Falo at nose tackle this spring while Malik Dorton and Christian Rector can do a job at defensive tackle.

In fact, the Trojans spring line up, even without Bigelow or Tufele, should be enough to get through the season without major concerns.

A deeper pool of players to work with on the defensive line will make a big difference for second-year defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze. At least, the unit shouldn’t be taking a step back any time soon.

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