We present the final 10 of our post-camp re-ranking of the Top 30 Most Important Trojans for 2024.
Shotgun Spratling
The USCFootball.com re-rank of the Top 30 Most Important Trojans for 2024comes to a conclusion with the final 10.
Unlike the bottom other two-thirds of the top 30 list, the top 10 was relatively stable with only two pairs of players swapping spots. Despite some changes made during fall camp and some expectation bumps made, we decided to mostly stick with what we had agreed upon in our initial summer ranking of the most important Trojans.
As a reminder, considerations for the rankings factor in a number of items including positional depth, 2023 stats, overall talent, projected development and expectations. But the most important factor for our top 30 list remains if the individual player was lost for the year, how detrimental would it be to the team and the overall success of the season.
The final say in the rankings has been a collaborative work of Chris Trevino and myself. For both the initial rankings and the re-rank, the rest of the USCFootball.com staff each submitted their own rankings, which were then compiled andthose rankings were takeninto consideration as Chris and I discussed (which we will be releasing in podcast form later today) who should make the list and where each player should place.
Havinglistened to what the coaches and players have said throughout the preseason, seen glimpses of a developing two-deep during the early portions of practice that are open to the media and been able to make some minor evaluations/evaluation adjustments after seeing some new players in person for the first time, wecontinue ourre-ranking of the Top 30 Most Important Trojans for 2023 withnumbers1 through 10.
10. Mason Murphy
Prev: 10
Change: -
Comments: Murphy holds steady at the No. 10 spot. The Trojans need him to take a step forward and become a trusted blocker protecting new quarterback Miller Moss. He has actually played the third-most snaps in a Trojan uniform on the current roster, so now's the time for him to step up, especially with there being basically no other tackle experience on the roster other than starting center Jonah Monheim.
9. Woody Marks
Prev: 9
Change: -
Comments: Marks canbe a special weapon with his pass-catching ability out the backfield. He's also the only running back with any notable collegiate experience. His three understudies have a combined 60 career offensive snaps, so if Marks goes down, there will be some major concerns. He's really been the only running back we've heard much about this fall, so it'll be interesting to see what the RB1/RB2 split is this season.
8. Zachariah Branch
Prev: 6
Change: -2
Comments: Mr. Electric is going to affect the game in a variety of ways, but he still slides a couple spots. It's not because of anything he has or hasn't done but because of the growing importance of others on the roster. Branch gets bonus points because of his return abilities but his importance to the team as a receiver takes a slight hit with the improved depth the Trojans added late in the summer.
7. Emmanuel Pregnon
Prev: 7
Change: -
Comments: The strongest player on the Trojans' squad and a potential selection for first guy off the bus, Pregnon's continued ascension to becoming an all-conference caliber player could be vital for USC this season. While there are a couple of options as reserve guards that could step in if Pregnon were to go down, none have the combination of experience and potential this season.
6. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
Prev: 8
Change: +2
Comments: Mascarenas-Arnold will be the primary defender asked to wear the 'green dot' helmet that has the in-helmet communication with the coaching staff. D'Anton Lynn trusts Mascarenas-Arnold to get the rest of the defense in the right spot from his inside linebacker spot. His leadership -- he was named a captain to open the season this week -- has also been mentioned by several different defenders.
5. Kamari Ramsey
Prev: 5
Change: -
Comments: Speaking of leadership, Ramsey is the Trojans' coach on the field. Entering his second season in Lynn's defense, Ramsey has been the go-to guide for other players when they have questions. The safety room is deep, but Ramsey has a chance to take another jump in his game just as he did last year in his first extendedaction.
4. Miller Moss
Prev: 3
Change: -1
Comments: This move may be surprising to some, but it reflects the improvements backup quarterback Jayden Maiava has made more than anything Moss has done to dissuade us from believing he is one of the most important Trojans on the roster. If USC wasn't so thin at a couple of other positions, Moss very well could have landed atop the top 30 countdown as a quarterback had done each of the first four seasons we've compiled the Most Important Trojans list.
3. Elijah Paige
Prev: 4
Change: +1
Comments: The massive second-year freshman went viral during fall camp when he exited the tunnel leading up the All-American Walk sandwiched between short guys, making Paige look10-foot tall. The Trojans need Paige to play 10-foot tall and bulletproof as the blindside protector of Miller Moss. The offensive tackle depth remains a huge concern behind Paige and Mason Murphy, which is in part why Paige got bumped up a spot.
2. Jonah Monheim
Prev: 2
Change: -
Comments:Monheim made the move to center where he will help Miller Moss help identify fronts before keeping him safe from any immediate threats directly up the middle. Monheim is aquiet leader of the team and the force that will propel the offensive line, if it is to have success this season. Gino Quinones, who has been slowed by his 2023 season-ending knee injury at times during fall camp, is likely the player USC would put in behind Monheim should he get injured or have to move to another position due to someone else's injury. Monheim's versatility is an added bonus to his value, but his importance first stems from him being one of the best interior offensive linemen in the nation.
1. Bear Alexander
Prev: 1
Change: -
Comments: We debated the potential of moving Monheim to the top of the list after seeing more defensive line depth emerge during fall camp, but ultimately Alexander's potential to be a disruptor at a position where USC hasn't had a star since Leonard Williams became a top five pick, kept Alexander atop ourlist. D'Anton Lynn is going to scheme things up to free Alexander for some one-on-one battles. Now Alexander has to show he's ready to take the next step toward dominance.
