USC Football 2012: Predicting the Spring 2-Deep Depth Chart

Now that spring practice has begun, USC Trojans fans are already gearing up for what they expect to be a memorable 2012 college football season.

When Matt Barkley uttered that he would come back in 2012 to lead USC for his senior year, the Trojans automatically became a Top Two or Three team for the upcoming year. Now that they have strapped on the gear for the first of two main practice sessions (fall being the other), fans of the program can sense on the onset of the college football season.

And they can't wait for it to start.

But wait they will have to, and though time may drag, there is plenty for their fans to occupy their time with. Not the least of which is who will distinguish themselves in the spring. Who will practice their way into playing time come fall?

This slideshow will attempt to make an educated guess as to how the two-deep roster will look entering August when names will be etched in stone (sort of) for the depth chart.

So, let's get started on this way-too-early look at the 2012 USC Trojans.

Quarterback

Starter: Matt Barkley

Backup: Cody Kessler

This just in from the "Department of Duh": Matt Barkley will be USC's starting quarterback.

But who will back him up?

The Trojans have a trio of capable backups in Cody Kessler, Max Wittek and Jesse Scroggins.

Although redshirt sophomore Scroggins has been struggling with academic and injury problems, if he can get past those issues, he has a lot of talent. This looks like a battle between the redshirt freshmen, Kessler and Wittek and at this point, it may be too close to call.

Still, this slideshow did promise a two-deep, so let's go with Kessler based on last year's performance.

Tailbacks and Fullbacks

Tailback Starter: Curtis McNeal

Tailback Backup: D.J. Morgan

Fullback Starter: Soma Vainuku

Fullback Backup: Jahleel Pinner

Again, figuring out the starting tailback for the Trojans will be is a no-brainer in 2012.

With USC being light on running backs, combined with Curtis McNeal's break-out 1,000-yard season last year, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out who will get the nod as the starter this year.

Look for a rejuvenated D.J. Morgan to back him up, although Javorious (Buck) Allen may be ready to make some noise himself this year as the "big back."

As for fullback, Soma Vainuku should be ready to step into the role that Rhett Ellison filled on the fly last year. His backup is a mystery, although I am going to go out on a limb and offer true freshman Jahleel Pinner as the prime candidate.

Receivers and Tight Ends

Wide Receiver Starters: Marqise Lee and George Farmer Jr.

Wide Receiver Backup: Victor Blackwell (Farmer)

Flanker: Robert Woods

Flanker Backup: De'Von Flournoy

Tight End Starter: Xavier Grimble

Tight End Backup: Randall Telfer

2012 will be an interesting and, more importantly, exciting year for fans of the program because it looks like the Trojans will be going to three-receiver sets (and sometimes four) on a routine basis.

And why not? USC sports what is arguably the finest receiver duo in the nation with Marqise Lee and flanker Robert Woods. Looking long and hard at that third receiver position is sophomore George Farmer Jr., who has all of the talent in the world.

But there is more. Redshirt freshman Victor Blackwell has the tools to make his presence felt in a big way, and junior De'Von Flournoy seems to finally be ready to deliver on the promise he possesses. When the Trojans are in their standard sets, look for Farmer to be the first backup to both Woods and Lee.

Meanwhile, true freshman Darreus Rogers has the talent to contribute, but I think Lane Kiffin would like to redshirt him if possible.

As for the tight ends, it's a coin-flip between Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, with whomever not starting backing up the other.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle: Kevin Graf

Left Tackle Backup: Zach Banner (true freshman)

Left Guard: Marcus Martin

Left Guard Backup: Jordan Simmons (Cyrus Hobbi)

Center: Khaled Holmes

Center Backup: Cyrus Hobbi

Right Guard: John Martinez

Right Guard Backup: Giovanni Di Poalo

Right Tackle: Aundrey Walker

Right Tackle Backup: Jeremy Galten (Max Tuerk)

While the Trojans happily return four of the five positions on the offensive line, there will still be questions to answer, not the least of which is who will attempt to replace Matt Kalil at the left tackle spot.

Coming into spring, last year's right tackle, Kevin Graf, will be given every opportunity to protect quarterback Matt Barkley's blind side. To replace Graf on the right side will be mammoth Aundrey Walker, who has lost about 60 lbs since arriving on USC's campus.

At center, Kahled Holmes is a lock, and look for both guards from last year, John Martinez and Marcus Martin, to return as starters in 2012.

So far, so good. But who are the backups?

Aye, there's the rub.

Prognosticating the rotation players is difficult because there are such unknown quantities in the incoming true freshmen as well as a couple of linemen who took a redshirt last year.

Time will tell, but this is a very early prediction.

Special Teams (Kicker and Punter)

Kicker: Andre Heidari

Kicker Backup: Craig McMahon

Punter: Kyle Negrete

Punter Backup: Kris Albarado

Is it possible that the second most valuable player on the Trojans (besides quarterback Matt Barkley) is place kicker Andre Heidari?

Heidari, who did everything expected from him and more as a true freshman last year, only has inconsistent Craig McMahon to back him up.

Meanwhile, Kyle Negrete will enter 2012 as the starting punter, with redshirt freshman Kris Albarado as his backup.

(Note: Albarado could also see some time as a backup to Heidari as well.)

Defensive Line

Defensive Tackle: J.R. Tavai

Defensive Tackle Backup: Christian Heyward

Defensive Tackle: George Uko

Defensive Tackle Backup: Antwaun Woods

Defensive End: Devon Kennard

Defensive End Backup: Kevin Greene

Defensive End: Wes Horton

Defensive End Backup: Morgan Breslin

If there is one unit for the 2012 edition of the Trojans that has question marks attached to it, it is the defensive line.

With three-fourths of the 2011 line gone to graduation or early departures to the NFL, combined with a lack of depth, this unit will have to step up in the upcoming season.

Replacing interior tackles Da'John Harris and Christian Tupou (and their valuable experience), will be redshirt sophomore George Uko and true sophomore J.R. Tavai. Both Uko and Tavai have a ton of talent, but are largely untested as starters. Look for Christian Heyward and Antwaun Woods to back them up.

Off the edges come 2011 starter Devon Kennard and sometimes starter Wes Horton. Likely backups there are junior Kevin Greene and JUCO transfer Morgan Breslin, although Greg Townsend Jr. could rotate in not only at defensive end but also on the interior.

Linebackers

Middle Linebacker: Lamar Dawson

Middle Linebacker Backup: Scott Starr (true freshman)

Inside Linebacker: Hayes Pullard

Inside Linebacker Backup: Anthony Sarao

Outside Linebacker: Dion Bailey

Outside Linebacker Backup: Marquis Simmons (Jabari Ruffin)

The defensive line unit is a question mark for the 2012 Trojans, but the same certainly could not be said about the linebackers.

Young and talented, 2011 was a season where a trio of linebackers emerged for Monte Kiffin's defense.

Led by outside linebacker Dion Bailey, he was joined by true freshman Lamar Dawson in the middle and redshirt freshman Hayes Pullard on the inside. All three will be back as starters, and they will be backed up by players who would start for just about any other team.

Suffice it to say, the linebackers will be a strength for the Trojans in the upcoming season.

Defensive Backfield

Strong Safety: T.J. McDonald

Strong Safety Backup: Gerald Bowman

Free Safety: Jawanza Starling

Free Safety Backup: Drew McAllister

Cornerback: Nickell Robey

Cornerback Backup: Anthony Brown

Cornerback: Isaiah Wiley

Cornerback Backup: Josh Shaw (if eligible)

Much like 2011, this upcoming season will find two of the four defensive backfield positions locked up before practice even starts.

T.J. McDonald and Nickell Robey will start at strong safety and cornerback, respectively, as they have for the last two years.

Who will garner the free safety and opposite cornerback slots are still the source of much conjecture.

Jawanza Starling is likely to get the nod to start alongside McDonald, while Isaiah Wiley finished strong last year as the other cornerback besides Robey. However, look for 5-star JUCO transfer safety Gerald Bowman to make some noise and see plenty of playing time as well.

Conclusion

Make no mistake about it, this is a very preliminary two-deep roster. To be certain, new players will emerge, especially at the backup positions, as both the spring and fall camps take place.

In the meantime, USC looks stacked at almost every position as it tries to live up to the lofty expectations most have for this edition of the Men of Troy.

As Lane Kiffin and his staff peruse the roster they have in place for the upcoming year, they can be satisfied that they have assembled a talented roster, one that may go all the way to the National Championship.

And for Trojans fans, they have only one request:

"Can we please get the season started?!"