USC Football: Ranking the 10 Most Important Players of 2015

Who are the 10 most important players for USC football in 2015? After a 9-4 record in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season, the Trojans are hoping to make a big leap in 2015. With plenty of talent returning from last year, expectations are understandably high.

Quarterback Cody Kessler set or tied single-season school records last season for completions, touchdown passes and completion percentage. Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is a three-way threat and made several freshman All-American teams in 2014, and linebacker Su’a Cravens is a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.

But where will they end up on this list?

Talent level is the biggest factor in this ranking, followed by depth at the player’s position, expected production and impact on the team’s overall success.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comment section. Before we get to the list, here are some honorable mentions who didn't quite make the cut.

Honorable Mentions

Iman Marshall

Position: Cornerback

Year: Freshman

2014 Stats: N/A

The lone freshman to be mentioned, Marshall arrives at USC with plenty of hype. After making his college announcement by releasing a music video (see above), he’s set the bar high for himself for his first season.

Both of last year’s starting cornerbacks—Adoree’ Jackson and Kevon Seymour—are back for 2015, but Jackson is expected to play more on offense and special teams this season, and there is not a lot of depth behind those two. Chris Hawkins has shifted from corner to safety this offseason, and three reserves from last year—Josh Shaw, Devian Shelton and Lamont Simmons—have either graduated or transferred.

Despite the lack of proven players at corner, Marshall doesn’t make the cut simply because it seems wrong to call a freshman who’s yet to play a college down one of the 10 most important players on a team with national title expectations. But after seven true freshmen started for USC a season ago, expect Marshall to see the field plenty in 2015.

Tre Madden

Position: Running Back

Year: RS Senior

2014 stats: N/A

Through the first six games of the 2013 season, Madden was USC’s most productive offensive player. He totaled 809 yards from scrimmage and, as shown in this 48-yard touchdown catch against Arizona State in 2013, was a versatile playmaker out of the backfield.

Injuries have unfortunately been the theme of Madden’s college career. He did not play in 2012 while recovering from a torn ACL, missed significant time in the second half of 2013 and sat out all of 2014 with a turf-toe injury. Justin Davis is ahead of Madden on the depth chart, and the Trojans signed three running backs in their 2015 recruiting class, so there are other options should Madden’s injuries persist.

But Madden showed two seasons ago that he can be a game-changer, and though it’s not enough to get him on the list, his presence would be an added luxury for USC’s offense.

Kevon Seymour

Position: Cornerback

Year: Senior

2014 stats: 11 starts, 49 tackles, 1 interception, 13 pass deflections

A starter since his sophomore year, Seymour is the most experienced player in USC’s secondary. As mentioned before, the lack of depth at the position adds extra value to any experienced cornerback on the roster.

Seymour had an all-around solid season in 2014, leading the team with 13 pass deflections. He misses the cut on the top 10 mainly because he has yet to demonstrate big playmaking ability. His lone interception of last season came on a deflected pass, and he made two crucial mistakes in last year's collapse against Arizona State.

Seymour will be counted on to make more impact plays in 2015. He’s taken a more serious approach to his preparation for his senior season, according to Michael Lev of the Orange County Register, and he will be critical for USC’s defense in 2015.

Leon McQuay III

Position: Safety

Year: Junior

2014 stats: 9 starts, 36 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 pass deflections

McQuay was one of USC’s most highly touted recruits in the 2013 class. Ranked as the nation’s No. 3 safety by ESPN, he has been inconsistent in his two seasons at USC but will be relied upon heavily this year.

His inconsistency was on full display in two of USC’s biggest games last season. Against UCLA, McQuay had missed tackles that led to big gains, and he got turned around in pass coverage during the Bruins' 38-20 win that knocked the Trojans out of the Pac-12 South race.

Against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl, McQuay redeemed himself and made perhaps the two most important plays of his career late in the fourth quarter. With less than three minutes to play and USC leading 45-42, Nebraska faced 3rd-and-3 from the USC 31-yard line. McQuay made a nice play in one-on-one coverage to deflect the pass away and prevent the Huskers from picking up the first down.

On the ensuing fourth-down play, McQuay tripped up Nebraska receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El behind the line of scrimmage to give the ball back to the Trojans.

With few experienced players at safety, McQuay has a clear path at a starting job this season. There is no doubt that he is talented enough to be a special player for USC in 2015, but his mistake-prone track record keeps him off the final list.

Steven Mitchell

Position: Wide Receiver

Year: RS Sophomore

2014 stats: 2 starts, 7 receptions, 82 yards, 2 touchdowns

Having a player with seven career receptions barely miss out on the top 10 might seem strange, but Mitchell’s potential is sky-high for 2015.

Big things were expected of Mitchell prior to his true freshman season, but he tore his ACL in the spring and missed all of 2013. He had a limited role last season with Nelson Agholor and JuJu Smith ahead of him on the depth chart, but he’s had an impressive offseason, according to Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times.

His lack of production in 2014 keeps him from cracking the top 10, but given the lack of proven receivers on the roster, he'll have a chance to make a big impact this season.

No. 10: Chad Wheeler

Position: Left Tackle

Year: RS Junior

2014 stats: 8 starts

Wheeler comes in at No. 10 on this list, but he would rank No. 1 on the list of toughest players on USC’s roster. Last season against Utah, he tore his ACL on the third play from scrimmage but didn’t remove himself from the game until the 11th play.

“That’s what we lose when Chad Wheeler comes out—that sheer mental and physical toughness,” Sarkisian told the Orange County Register after Wheeler was ruled out for the rest of the season. “He fought through it until he just couldn’t anymore.”

In addition to toughness, the Trojans lost consistency in their running game in Wheeler’s absence. After they averaged 189 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry in the first seven games of last season, those numbers dropped to 127 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry without Wheeler in the lineup.

In the video above (at the 2:17 mark), Wheeler displayed his strong run-blocking skills during a touchdown run by Buck Allen against Oregon State. In a one-on-one matchup, Wheeler walled off the defensive end and created a clear running lane for Allen to score.

Wheeler should be able to return early next season and could be ready to play in the opener against Arkansas State. Whenever he returns, the offensive line will get a big boost.

No. 9: Antwaun Woods

Position: Defensive Tackle

Year: RS Senior

2014 stats: 10 starts, 37 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass deflection

At 6’1” and 320 pounds, Woods is a prototypical run-clogging tackle who has been a reliable player for the Trojans. He manned the middle of the defensive line and helped the Trojans hold opponents to 3.8 yards per carry last season. His play will be critical for the run defense without Leonard Williams in 2015.

Woods' ability to occupy blockers is shown in the video above at the 2:22 mark. Lined up over the center during Arizona’s two-point conversion attempt, he draws a double-team from the right guard. That forces the right tackle into a one-on-one matchup with Williams, who is able to beat him and hit the ball-carrier behind the line of scrimmage. Woods sheds the blockers and comes in late to help secure the tackle.

Plays like that won’t show up in the stat sheet, but they show why Woods is so important to the Trojans defense. He should be fully healthy for the start of the season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle late last year, and he will be the anchor of the defensive line once again.

No. 8: Anthony Sarao

Position: Inside Linebacker

Year: RS Senior

2014 stats: 13 starts, 74 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 sack

Sarao quietly was one of USC’s most consistent players in 2014. His 74 tackles are the most among returning players, and as shown at the start of the video above, he provided one of the few highlights of the UCLA game with a pick-six on Brett Hundley’s first pass of the game.

Aside from Sarao, USC is thin at the inside linebacker position. The top two candidates to start alongside Sarao are junior Michael Hutchings and redshirt senior Lamar Dawson.

Hutchings made 20 tackles last season in a reserve role, and Dawson has been a starter in previous seasons but missed all of 2014 while recovering from knee surgery.

Like Woods, Sarao goes unnoticed at times because of his position. He only had one tackle for loss last season and typically does not have many opportunities for interceptions.

But he has been a key contributor for two seasons, and with the departure of last season’s leading tackler in Hayes Pullard, Sarao becomes that much more important as the leader of the linebacker corps. The experience he provides in the middle of the USC defense is why he ranks ahead of previously mentioned players.

No. 7: Toa Lobendahn

Position: Left Guard

Year: Sophomore

2014 stats: 13 starts

As a true freshman, Lobendahn was a savior for the Trojans in 2014. Though his natural position is center, he started the first eight games of the year at left guard and then shifted to left tackle for the next five games after Wheeler’s injury.

In addition to his versatility, Lobendahn’s biggest strength is his athleticism. In the play featured above (at the 2:42 mark), he is lined up at left guard. When the ball is snapped, he pulls around the right side and sets a perfect block on the outside linebacker, allowing Allen to go mostly untouched for a 53-yard touchdown run.

Lobendahn made multiple freshman All-American teams last year and appears to be headed for a stellar career. Though Wheeler (when healthy) may have been the better of the two last season, Lobendahn’s healthy offseason and ability to play all three offensive line positions earn him a higher spot on the list.

No. 6: Justin Davis

Position: Running Back

Year: Junior

2014 stats: 129 carries, 595 rushing yards, 6 total touchdowns

The list of scholarship running backs on USC’s roster who carried the ball last season is just one name—Justin Davis. As mentioned in the Honorable Mention section, projected backup tailback Tre Madden missed last season with a toe injury, and the other three scholarship tailbacks are all true freshmen.

That means USC will rely on Davis to shoulder the load in the running game. Given Sarkisian’s history of divvying up carries, Davis will get plenty of touches as the primary running back.

In the past four seasons (one at USC, three at Washington), the leading rusher on Sarkisian’s team has accounted for over 70 percent of the team’s total rushing output three times. Allen rushed for 71 percent of USC’s total rush yards last season. In 2012, Bishop Sankey’s 1,439 rushing yards accounted for 77 percent of Washington’s output, and Chris Polk’s 1,488 rushing yards represented 74 percent of the team’s 2011 output.

Davis is a fast, physical runner who played better as the season went on in 2014. The video clip above (at the 2:05 mark) showcases his speed and cutback ability as he navigates through traffic on a 16-yard touchdown run against Notre Dame.

After catching just one pass in his freshman season, Davis improved his receiving skills and caught 13 passes in 2014. On this play against UCLA, Davis runs a swing route out of the backfield and makes a nice adjustment on a pass thrown behind him. He then breaks a tackle at the 1-yard line to get into the end zone.

Given the Trojans’ question marks beyond him at running back, combined with Allen’s departure, Davis is deserving of his high ranking and will need to become a reliable, every-down back in order for USC to thrive on offense in 2015.

No. 5: JuJu Smith

Position: Wide Receiver

Year: Sophomore

2014 stats: 12 starts, 54 receptions, 724 yards, 5 touchdowns

Last season, Nelson Agholor caught nearly one-third of all of Cody Kessler’s completions. Replacing his production will not be easy, but USC will count on Smith to be Kessler’s primary target in 2015.

Smith finished his freshman season strong, with 478 yards and five touchdowns in the last seven games of the year. He had 104 receiving yards against Colorado, including the diving, one-handed grab shown at the beginning of the video above.

Smith has embraced his new role as the No. 1 receiver heading into this season, according to Rahshaun Haylock of Fox Sports West. As Kessler’s new go-to receiver, Smith will get a lot more attention from opposing defenses. Given how explosive Agholor was in that role a year ago, Smith gets ranked higher than Davis as the team’s most important offensive skill player.

No. 4: Max Tuerk

Position: Center

Year: Senior

2014 stats: 13 starts

Tuerk is the most important player on USC’s offensive line. He started every game at center last season and has played all three offensive line positions in his career, with 15 starts at guard and five at tackle. 

Tuerk was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season and was named to the 2015 Rimington Trophy watch list for consideration as the nation’s best center.

He might be the only USC lineman who is more athletic than Lobendahn. In the first play of the video above, Tuerk shows off his quick feet.

With no defensive tackle lined up over him, he has to block the middle linebacker five yards away. After he releases, Tuerk gains his balance quickly and gets his hands on the linebacker’s chest, moving him to the right to clear the lane for Allen.

As a team captain and the only senior starter, Tuerk is the heart and soul of USC’s offensive line. With all five starters from last season returning, this unit has a chance to be the best USC has had in some time. As the center and most experienced player, Tuerk is the key to the line’s success, which gives him the highest ranking of any offensive lineman on this list.

No. 3: Adoree' Jackson

Position: Cornerback-Wide Receiver-Kick Returner

Year: Sophomore

2014 stats: 10 starts, 49 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 10 receptions, 138 yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 684 kick return yards, 2 kick return touchdowns

In just one season, Jackson established himself as one of the most dynamic and exciting players in all of college football. He made virtually every freshman All-American team and has drawn comparisons to former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, according to the Los Angeles Times.

There are plenty of highlights to choose from, but the clip above (at the 1:18 mark) shows just how electric Jackson can be.

Against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl, he catches a short pass at the USC 30-yard line. With Huskers defenders surrounding him, he weaves in and out of traffic and goes untouched into the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown.

Jackson is perhaps even more dangerous as a kick returner. He had two kick returns for touchdowns last season, including this 100-yard return against Utah.

His unrivaled versatility, playmaking ability and production make him deserving of being ranked No. 3. Considering his self-promotion for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, though, No. 3 might end up being too low.

No. 2: Su'a Cravens

Position: Outside Linebacker

Year: Junior

2014 stats: 13 starts, 68 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, 1 touchdown

While Jackson compiles stats on offense and special teams, no returning player can rival the defensive production of Cravens.

A first-team All-Pac-12 and third-team AP All-American selection in 2014, Cravens was all over the field for the USC defense. Originally a safety, he switched to outside linebacker in the middle of last season and wreaked havoc on opposing offenses.

His three interceptions and 17 tackles for loss were the most on the team. Listed at 6'1" and 225 pounds, he is undersized for a typical linebacker, but he makes up for it with elite athleticism.

In the clip featured above (at the 0:19 mark), Cravens shows off his pass-rushing skills. Lined up over the left tackle, he stunts inside and splits the left guard and the center to bring down Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici for the sack.

A natural safety, his pass-coverage skills were on display during this diving interception against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.

Both Cravens and Jackson were named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s best defensive player. Cravens gets the nod on this list because of his ability to almost single-handedly disrupt opposing offenses and his versatility. Jackson might play on both sides of the ball, but Cravens gets moved all around on defense and looks poised for another big year in 2015.

No. 1: Cody Kessler

Position: Quarterback

Year: RS Senior

2014 stats: 13 starts, 69.7 percent completion, 3,826 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 8.5 yards per pass attempt

Kessler compiled one of the greatest statistical seasons in USC history in 2014. He set USC single-season records for completions (315), completion percentage (69.7), passing efficiency (167.1) and interception rate (1.11). His 39 touchdown passes and seven 300-yard passing games also tied school records.

His biggest asset as a passer is his accuracy. His completion percentage and yards per pass attempt both increased from 2013 to 2014, signifying an improvement in his downfield throwing.

In the play featured above (at the 0:38 mark), Kessler makes a 40-yard throw to Agholor on a post route. With the corner closing hard on Agholor’s upfield shoulder, Kessler puts the ball high and out in front of Agholor, making it nearly impossible for the defender to tip the ball away.

An underrated aspect of Kessler’s game is his mobility. Though he’ll never be confused for a running quarterback, he has excellent pocket awareness and quick feet that are more than capable of avoiding a pass rush and extending plays.

Against UCLA, the USC offensive line was manhandled, and Kessler was on the run many times. On one instance when the pass protection broke down, Kessler felt the rush coming from his blind side, rolled out of the pocket to his right and then threw across his body to George Farmer, who was running the opposite direction on a dig route across the field.

Kessler earns the top spot on the list because, as the quarterback, he is the one most directly involved with the team’s overall success. Given how efficient he was last season, and with the entire offensive line returning, he should be expected to be even better in 2015.