USC defensive coaches are hitting grand slams, have Trojans roaring

The USC Trojans got their first shutout in 153 games dating back to the Lane Kiffin era at USC. That’s back in 2011. The Trojans pummeled crosstown rival UCLA 50-0 to end the 2011 season. This Trojan team is just getting started, and it starts with the defense delivering a smackdown. USC’s defense blanked Utah State, 48-0, earning an “A” grade on our report card when the Saturday night game ended. Utah State head coach Nate Dreiling was hugely impressed. Dreiling told Erik McKinney of USC’s On3 Sports site We Are SC that the USC staff is knocking it out of the park, saying “It’s unbelievable how well they’re teaching their players to play.” This is the kind of outcome which is causing prominent USC targets on the recruiting trail to take notice. One of those recruits, four-star linebacker Ty Jackson, committed to USC on Sunday. He picked USC over Florida State and Alabama, among others. Whoa. That’s a big deal. It shows how much credibility USC is gaining (or one could also say, “recovering”) on the recruiting trail after the Alex Grinch disaster unfolded last year.

There’s a lot more to dig into with this USC defense and how the coaches and players are coming together to make it happen. Let’s put the pieces together and give you a lot of details on how, and why, the USC defense is so successful right now:

USC Trojans had 7 tackles for loss and 3 sacks versus Utah State

Mandatory Credit: Tim Prangley | Trojans Wire

All three levels are getting to the quarterback and making stops in the backfield for losses. These negative yards are a big part of the Trojans’ success this year.

Trojans reclaim their own end zone

Tim Prangley, Trojans Wire

When USC kept the Aggies off the scoreboard in the first half, they became the first Trojan squad to register a “goose egg” in any half since the 2022 season.

GAVIN…