USC linebacking future bright under coach Rob Ryan

With a 2026 recruiting class that has Xavier Griffin, Shaun Scott, and Taylor Johnson, the linebacking corps appears to be in good hands for the foreseeable future. The incoming LBs are going to provide a great spark once they arrive on campus. Coach Lincoln Riley is doing a lot to ensure that the best talent commits to becoming a Trojan. Coach Rob Ryan deserves his fair share of praise as well.

The position coaches are often the first and/or primary point of contact for interested recruits. A coach, recruiter, and all-around good energy guy in the building, the former NFL coach has returned to the college ranks and is making quite a noticeable splash in Los Angeles.

When wanting to shift the focus of the program toward high school recruiting and development, bringing in coach Ryan was an important part of that equation. As evidenced by the wins in terms of bringing in talent, coach Riley can also point to his assistant's resume and show how serious he is about preparing Trojan student-athletes for the NFL.

Between the two Super Bowls and wealth of experience at both levels of the game, coach Ryan gives the defense and linebackers in particular something unique that most other staffs can't offer. In terms of teaching and being able to point to past examples of players he's helped to mentor, the USC players have something of a defensive sage to look up to.

Super Bowl pedigree on USC coach's resume

Arguably, his best masterpiece was with the New England Patriots. Under one of the great football coaches of all-time, coach Ryan coached up a linebacking corps that included Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Larry Izzo.

Especially against the 'Greatest Show on Turf,' the St. Louis Rams, the LBs made their impact on the Super Bowl XXXVI victory very much pronounced en route to a championship. Some of the examples mentioned and some of those experiences are perfect illustrations of what having someone like coach Ryan can bring to the Trojan staff.

By all accounts, when the current players mention the environment, coach Ryan is usually among the top people mentioned or brought up by the student-athletes. And it's for a reason. He has his own approach and knows what he's doing. Anyone doubting him, well, he does have two rings to show for his football experience.