USC Football: Underrated Trojans Who Could Make Impact in 2015

The 2014 season presented young and otherwise inexperienced members of the USC football team with opportunities to shine. In 2015, another wave of Trojans who flew under the radar could prove vital to USC's championship aspirations.

"On our team right now, it is critical everybody has a role," head coach Steve Sarkisian said in the final month of the 2014 regular season.

Those filling complementary roles should see their impact expand next year, thanks to the experience gained in the past campaign and departures in various spots on the roster.

The Trojans defense in particularly is rife with potential playmakers just waiting for their opportunity to break out in a big way. Some already began that process to close the past season.

Defensive end Claude Pelon was a 4-star junior college transfer coming into the year, but was slow to get his bearings at the Division I level. But early in Pac-12 Conference play, Pelon became a primary contributor on the defensive line.

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He recorded all 2.5 of his sacks during the conference slate, including a critical one in the Trojans' 28-26 win at Arizona on Oct. 11.

Pelon also blocked a field goal in that win.

With three-year defensive line dynamo Leonard Williams headed to the NFL, Pelon has an opportunity to become the primary pass-rusher up front for the Trojans. However, he certainly won't be the only one USC needs to step up his production in 2015.

The linebacker corps is replete with talented role players, some of whom could emerge as leaders of USC's blitz defense in 2015.

Quinton Powell got his first taste of prominence in the USC defense late in the season, helping fill the void J.R. Tavai's injury left in the Trojans' pass rush.

"We've put him back in a role where he's doing what he's comfortable doing. That's rushing the passer," Sarkisian said of Powell in November. "We've minimized some of his traditional linebacker role and got him more in the pass rush role, and he's done a nice job at it."

Should Powell hone his run-stopping in the offseason, he'll have a much bigger role in his junior season.

Defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox should have plenty of options to insert some underrated or under-the-radar Trojans into more prominent positions.

Nelson Agholor and George Farmer forgoing their final year of eligibility opens up opportunities in the wide receiving corps. Steven Mitchell is one candidate to help fill the void.

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Mitchell caught just seven passes in 2014, but two were touchdowns. As Mitchell's production proved, quarterback Cody Kessler was committed to distributing the scoring wealth rather evenly.

And Kessler should get some added red-zone support in 2015 with the return of tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick.

Cope-Fitzpatrick turned heads in spring workouts a year ago, but he missed the season due to academic issues.

He made his return to the team earlier this month, participating in throwing sessions.

With Randall Telfer gone, Cope-Fitzpatrick gives USC an experienced player capable of sliding into the other tight end spot along with Bryce Dixon. Telfer and Dixon were the Trojans' only tight ends on scholarship last season.

The continued development of these and other underrated Trojans into impact players could be a cornerstone of USC's pursuit of the Pac-12 title in 2015.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports composite scores.