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Excitement is starting to build once again about the USC Trojans football team. Head coach Clay Helton has done a good job getting commitments from some of the top recruits across the country, including local products Korey Freeman and Raesjon Davis.
One position the Trojans have solidified is quarterback. Kedon Slovis will be back for his junior season in 2021 and is expected to be in the running for the Heisman Trophy. Slovis could make the jump to the pros next year or return for his final year of eligibility in 2022.
The good news is that USC should have Slovis’ replacement on the roster with Jaxson Dart and Miller Moss. ESPN released its future NCAA QB rankings and puts the Trojans No. 3, behind Oklahoma and Clemson.
Scouting the Trojans: Despite decommitments from coveted recruits Bryce Young and Jake Garcia in recent years, USC is still set up well at quarterback through the 2023 season. And while projecting anything for USC beyond 2021 is tricky — head coach Clay Helton occupies the hottest of seats — the QB outlook is bright. Slovis didn’t replicate his record-setting freshman year (3,502 pass yards, 30 touchdowns) during a shortened 2020 season, but he still completed 67% of his attempts for 1,921 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. A third season under coordinator Graham Harrell, whose offense is extremely quarterback-friendly, should benefit Slovis, who could carry the position through 2022.
USC has also received a nice boost in recruiting. The Trojans signed two of ESPN’s top seven pocket passers in the 2021 class in Jaxson Dart and Miller Moss, both of whom have top-40 overall ratings (Dart is 19, Moss is 39). USC also has a 2022 commitment from Devin Brown who, like Slovis, is a lightly recruited prospect from the Phoenix area.
Losing Young and Garcia hurt, but Helton has done a nice job of regrouping, netting Dart and Moss. With Slovis under center, the Trojans will get plenty of national attention next season.
Who do you think will wind up taking over the starting QB position out of Dart and Moss once Slovis moves on?