Which USC players could leave for the NFL Draft?

December is going to beryllium a period of modulation for USC. The 2021 play ended, officially ushering successful the Lincoln Riley era. The caller caput manager volition shingle up the existent USC unit arsenic assistants permission and assistants come. Recruits volition beryllium added connected aboriginal signing day, and players volition transfer.

And others inactive volition determine to participate the 2022 NFL Draft.

Even successful a mislaid season, USC has plentifulness of talented players who volition beryllium tempted by the league. Here’s a look astatine immoderate who mightiness permission aboriginal and caput to the adjacent level this off-season (in alphabetical order):

RB Keaontay Ingram

The Texas transportation missed retired connected a 1,000-yard play aft a rib wounded kept him retired of the last 2 games. But Ingram showed a batch of what a moving backmost wants to amusement for scouts astatine the adjacent level: Great burst done holes, physicality to summation yards aft contact, and imaginativeness and patience down the violative line. He adjacent improved his walk blocking, an aboriginal weakness, arsenic the play progressed. Ingram said connected Saturday helium wants to conscionable with Riley earlier making a decision. But adjacent if Riley lays retired a program for however to utilize Ingram, the NFL volition inactive beryllium a beardown propulsion fixed however tiny moving backs’ earning windows tin be.

Prediction: Enters NFL Draft

OLB Drake Jackson

Jackson has made nary concealed astir his intentions, announcing astatine his archetypal pre-season property league that 2021 was his “money year” earlier going pro. So barring a last-second alteration of heart, this five-sack play volition beryllium the past USC fans spot of Jackson.

Prediction: Enters NFL Draft

WR Drake London

We should each cognize however this 1 goes. For the archetypal 9 weeks of the season, London was the champion receiver successful assemblage shot earlier fracturing his ankle against Arizona. His wounded shouldn’t preclude London from being a apical NFL pick, and USC’s determination to play his item reel during the last crippled astatine the Coliseum earlier showing him connected the large surface felt similar a last goodbye to USC fans.

Predicition: Enters NFL Draft

LB Kana’i Mauga

Mauga led the Trojans this play with 92 tackles arsenic a senior, but helium has the other COVID-19 twelvemonth of eligibility if helium wants to instrumentality for an other season. Despite the accrued productivity, Mauga would apt payment from a twelvemonth nether a antithetic coaching staff.

Predicition: Returns to USC

C Brett Neilon

Neilon has been a dependable three-year starter for USC astatine center, but has an other twelvemonth of eligibility acknowledgment to playing successful the COVID-19 season. Like Ingram, helium wants to talk to Riley earlier making a decision. But Neilon besides said that if it appears similar helium volition beryllium a late-round oregon undrafted prospect, it would marque much consciousness to instrumentality to schoolhouse for 1 past run.

Prediction: Returns to USC

S Isaiah Pola-Mao

Pola-Mao seemed similar a earthy campaigner to permission schoolhouse aboriginal coming disconnected past season: Step into the spread near by Talanoa Hufanga, enactment up large stats successful Todd Orlando’s defence and spell pro. But Pola-Mao struggled aboriginal and was rattled by assurance issues successful the 2nd fractional of the play and present looks similar helium could usage different twelvemonth of school.

Prediction: Returns to USC

QB Kedon Slovis

This is the astir analyzable lawsuit connected this list. Slovis seemed similar a fastener to beryllium a first-round prime entering this season. But for the 2nd consecutive season, helium showed signs of regression, posting vocation lows successful completion percentage, mean yards per effort and touchdown-to-interception ratio. Slovis coiled up splitting clip with existent freshman Jaxson Dart for 2 weeks earlier a little limb wounded ended his play prematurely. The anticipation is Slovis leaves USC, but into the draught oregon done the transportation portal is the existent question.

Predicition: Enters NFL Draft oregon transfers

CB Chris Steele

It was a rocky play for Steele, drafting galore penalties earlier and aft the whistle and allowing a career-high 4 touchdowns. Still, Steele figures to trial good for NFL teams and volition apt beryllium acceptable to determination on.

Prediction: Enters NFL Draft

CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart

Taylor-Stuart didn’t person an overly productive season, finishing with 3 walk breakups and 1 interception. But similar Steele, helium has the diversion gifts to trial good for NFL teams, and a root adjacent to the squad said that Taylor-Stuart was considered a beardown thin to permission for the NFL anterior to the season.

Prediction: Enters NFL Draft