USC's recruiting depth at the same position resembles coach Pete Carroll's approach

During the heyday of USC, observers could go up and down the lineup and see high-caliber collegiate bodies everywhere. The depth chart stacked up well against anyone else's best in the nation. That was the type of appeal that the Trojans had.

It did not matter for incoming freshmen if there were already two or three great options at the same position. They knew that with USC's development and everything that the school has at its disposal, they would be set up for success athletically and beyond.

Being able to stack the roster and flood it with talent is something that could be seen on both sides of the ball, and it appears that the current recruiting efforts are allowing for that to happen again.

Through the efforts of coach Lincoln Riley and GM Chad Bowden, there is a seeming willingness of players to commit themselves to the program, even with other great recruits being part of the same class as them.

The class of 2026 having Shahn Alston and Deshonne Redeaux, two four-star running backs, is a great place to begin the comparisons. 2003-2005 saw LenDale White and Reggie Bush dominate from the tailback position.

During the 2002 season, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Matt Cassel were all part of the same quarterback room. In 2008, the linebacker corps included Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava, Rey Maualuga, and Clay Matthews.

And these are only some of the examples illustrating this point.

While this is no longer entirely the case after R.J. Sermons' reclassification, he joins a highly rated cornerback freshman corps that will also include Brandon Lockhart and Elbert Hill. Lockhart in particular is working hard to ensure that his fellow future Trojans already feel a part of the fraternity.

For a lot of what is happening in college football, there is a degree of competitiveness within programs not having the same emphasis as it once did prior to the change in transfer portal rules. What coach Riley is doing a good job of recreating is making it so that the best want to and will be willing to fight for their spot and improve USC.

Strong building pieces throughout USC roster

That can be a difficult ask at times. It is something that becomes that much less appealing when a potentially lucrative offer also comes with the promise of more playing time. While there are certainly success stories and the Trojans themselves make good use of the portal, there are also many student-athletes who then fail to find a home after leaving their original school.

With coach Riley, as was the case with coach Pete Carroll, athletes who stick around and give to the program will have their efforts rewarded because of what being at USC means.

On the journey back to national dominance, watching this Trojan staff able to form relationships among a number of top recruits at the same position group is a tremendous sign that things are improving under coach Riley.