Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishLOS ANGELES — USC is now halfway through spring practice. Here’s what we learned about the Trojans this week.1. The spring transfer portal window opens Wednesday. USC has made some splashes during this time of year in the past, landing players such as receiver Jordan Addison, linebacker Eric Gentry, defensive lineman Bear Alexander and offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon, who all became significant contributors.USC has obvious needs this spring, like receiver, linebacker and — depending on your opinion — corner and offensive line.But from the sound of it, the Trojans aren’t going to be too active during this upcoming portal window.“It’ll be different than other years,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “I don’t feel sitting out here that we’re missing a whole lot. Just got to keep developing what we have and make sure we have enough depth to make the run we expect to make.”Programs tend to act out of desperation during the spring transfer cycle. The needs are more urgent, the inventory is sparse and it’s the last opportunity to improve the roster before the season. All of that leads to overpaying. Riley said the goal is to build the roster to a point where USC doesn’t have to rely on the spring portal window.General manager Chad Bowden has also emphasized that USC will “major in high school recruiting and minor in the portal.”So expect USC to be selective over these next few weeks.“I think the majority of our football team is either here or already signed to be here in June,” Riley said Thursday.2. That mindset extends to the quarterback position as well. At least in this one specific case. Things could always change, but after speaking Friday to a source briefed on the matter, USC does not seem interested in pursuing former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is set to enter the transfer portal soon.Iamaleava is probably an upgrade over Jayden Maiava, but he would come with a hefty asking price and some significant drama — as we all just witnessed over the past few days.3. Right tackle has seemed like a spot where USC could target a transfer. Tobias Raymond has received extended playing time in just two games in his career, and the other option at the position — Justin Tauanuu — has played meaningful snaps in just one game.But based on Riley’s comments this week, it sounds as though USC isn’t in the market for a tackle. “I think Tobias, his versatility is really important for us going forward,” he said. “Tobias has established himself as one of our best offensive linemen. That’s happened this spring.”He also had high praise for Tauanuu: “The way those two guys are playing right now, you feel like there’s two starters there.”USC bypassed the transfer market at tackle last offseason and stuck with Mason Murphy. That ended up being a very bumpy ride. If the staff decides against adding another tackle this window, we’ll have to wait until the fall to determine whether or not USC made the right move.4. While on the topic of roster building, Riley explained that new hire Conor McQuiston, who holds the title of director of football analytics, will be “more involved in personnel, roster management recruiting side.”Riley said that role was part of Bowden’s vision for the personnel staff and also noted that there are already people on staff who will help with game management from an analytics perspective.5. Receiver Ja’Kobi Lane is arguably the best player on USC’s team. It’s difficult for anyone else to match the highs of his game. He scored six touchdowns over the final two games of the 2024 season and also scored critical fourth-quarter touchdowns against LSU, Michigan and UCLA.There were also some lows. Lane’s snap count decreased quite a bit during a stretch in the second half of the season before picking back up again — and he seemed to take the switch from Miller Moss to Maiava hard.
elite 🎱 did it again‼️@cantGuardJak1 pic.twitter.com/dbiUkCQcoS
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) April 6, 2025Riley was asked about Lane’s maturity this year and gave an interesting, in-depth response.“He’s getting to the point where he not only needs to mature individually, but this team needs him to,” Riley said, “in terms of the leader and the presence that he is because he does have an infectious energy, competitive energy, and it affects our football team. He’s got some big goals for this team. He wants to be a leader, and he wants to be somebody this team can count on each and every day, and he knows the path to that is more consistency in all areas.“He’s doing a lot of things better than he ever has. He’s got great intent for it. He continues to grow and progress. We’re just going to need him to stay on that track. The more steady he can be, the explosive plays and all the things will come out of this guy. Because he’s that talented of a player. He’s taken his craft more seriously. He’s taking the leadership more seriously. Haven’t had some of the emotional ups and downs that at times have plagued him earlier in his career. If that continues, he’ll be set up to have a great season and, most importantly, be a really good leader for this team.”Lane scored 12 touchdowns last season. He can be one of the best receivers in the country if he matures on and off the field and plays with more consistency.6. Defensive end Elijah Newby is one of USC’s more interesting players this spring. Newby was a four-star linebacker signee in USC’s 2024 recruiting class and a top-200 prospect nationally.He looked physically mature enough for the college game as a true freshman, but he didn’t play much while sitting behind some veteran linebackers in 2024.During the recruiting process, Riley mentioned that Newby would have the opportunity to play both linebacker and defensive end in college. He had experience playing both positions in high school.In bowl prep, when USC was low on bodies at defensive end, Riley approached Newby about a position switch.“When coach Riley brought me into the office, I knew it was a go,” Newby said.He wasn’t offended by the idea of a position change. On Thursday, he repeatedly described it as an opportunity. Newby believes he can play on the edge, and he thought this was the coaching staff that could develop him.The technical aspect will be an adjustment, but for a USC defense that has emphasized size along the line of scrimmage, Newby brings speed and athleticism that the Trojans lack at defensive end. Those skills could be a good complement to the newly added beef on the inside.“My main strength for sure is my speed. All my life, I’ve been a speed guy,” said Newby, who ran track in high school.Newby said he arrived at USC at 205 pounds and is now up to 237. His progress will be worth tracking throughout the summer and fall.7. We have an idea of who is in the mix at corner and safety. The nickel spot seems fairly wide open, though. Prophet Brown feels like the front-runner, but USC has also put safety Kamari Ramsey there this spring and has also experimented with some younger players like true freshmen Alex Graham and James Johnson and redshirt freshman Isaiah Rubin.There were times when USC played with three safeties last season. There’s a chance Ramsey and two other safeties, NC State transfer Bishop Fitzgerald and junior Christian Pierce, end up being three of the Trojans’ five best defensive backs.If that’s the case, Riley said the staff would be comfortable with putting three safeties on the field.“Yeah, because sometimes it’s a body type like that anyway,” he said. “And several of those guys give us some position flex. At the end of the day, if we’re in a five-defensive back package, we want to have the best players out there.”(Photo: David Becker / Getty Images)
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