📅 Published on: 2024-12-05 08:56:22
⏱ Duration: 00:24:20 (1460 seconds)
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📝 Video Description:
USC head coach Lincoln Riley is set to speak to the media on the first day of the Early Signing Period.
🎙 Channel: USCAthletics
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usc,trojans,usctrojans.com
🕵️♂️ Transcript:
the internet e e e e e all right welcome everybody good to have you guys here in our facility uh at the team room uh another another exciting Signing Day a signing day for those of us that have been in the business for for a little bit unlike any other um one where we haven’t been in homes and obviously one that that that obviously snuck up on us here pretty quickly and uh it’s it’s been uh it’s been a unique stretch I think for all of us in college football and I’m proud of the way that that our program has handled this I’m proud of our staff you know so much goes into to signing these guys there’s there’s uh years and years uh of of work you know travel relationship building obviously so much going on in the world right now and our uh I think our staff did early did a tremendous job um you know exciting about how the morning excited about how the morning played out I think it was pretty much expected for us um kind of after the last couple of days we had really you know kind of two battles here at the end or two kind of ones that we knew were going to go down the wire and one one certainly went in our favor and one didn’t and that’s a little bit the nature of this right now but we feel like we we did a great job addressing some of the the biggest needs that we felt like uh were going to be important to our football team going forward uh certainly the the lines of scrimmage uh the defensive line the offensive line as you can tell with what we’ve signed up to this point we we’re we huge we’re very very important we were able to get the numbers the body types the sizes and you know we’ve I know I’ve been asked a lot throughout these the last year about you know how are we adapting and changing our roster and one of the big things has been the added size added weight and as we’ve talked about there’s there’s part of that which is developing the guys inhouse uh then the other part is obviously recruiting those body types and you see you see what we brought in here uh today and there’s certainly a real effort to do that um you know defensive back was obviously a high priority in this with what we’re obviously getting ready to lose with having you know seven seniors um and and going to lose bare minimum seven uh and so that was a very very important part of this and getting some different skill sets we really tried to look at guys in the defensive back field that we felt like had position flexibility and guys that we felt like had the opportunity to to come in here and compete early because we’re going to need we’re going to need a little bit of that in that room no question about it um also we’re able to to get some impact guys at receiver you know at running back um obviously really excited about the quarterback that we signed so um it’s a it’s really really been a great class um you know this is just kind of the the beginning of a stretch where your roster is going to really start to reveal itself in terms of next year you know over the next several weeks there there’s a lot going on right now as you can imagine conversations uh with everybody on our current roster uh that has eligibility to to return um obviously the the transfer portal opens up uh here pretty quickly and there’s going to be some positions that we’re certainly going to be uh aggressive with uh that that we need to go make some moves on and I think you know today gives you a little bit more clarity on that and so uh but you know I’m I’m excited about this group a lot of hard work went into this group um especially excited uh you I’m excited about all parts but especially defensively you know when you have the major changes that we did you know less than 12 months ago and to be able to go in here and sign you know this Defensive class that we did here today that that’s not easy when you know a lot of these guys hav’t had the normal Runway of time to build the relationships with the type of prospects we recruit at USC and so to have have this group here less than 12 months later that they’re now Trojans is a is a great feeling and obviously can’t wait to get these guys here and get started question hey Lincoln uh with news that mattens is going to be the head coach at Fresno State how did that complicate things maybe in the the last 24 hours before today yeah it didn’t it didn’t get finalized um you know until here uh this morning um you know it it was one of those situations that that came together pretty quickly um and and uh and and so I I don’t know that it’s fair to say that it that it did or didn’t complicate things I mean that’s that’s uh in this world it’s just kind of part of it you know when you have a really good staff you got really quality people on your staff you’re going to have guys that get opportunities to move move on and I think um you know we’re happy for Coach an first that’s these you know college football head coaching jobs are really really hard to get and uh I think it’s always a sign of a healthy program when programs are wanting to come in and and and hire your people particularly in head coaching roles and so um he he did a great job for us you know he he made us better uh made me better was a great hire and a big part of you know the the statistically one of the most if not the most improved defense in the country so um you know wish he and Brenda the best they’ve been great Trojans and uh excited for their next opportunity um yeah I I don’t I don’t know that I can sit here and say we did or didn’t get somebody because of that today I don’t know that it was uh that it was that impactful in terms of anything that played out today but I think you know part of our you know part of our goal is is to have a program an offense a defense that goes goes beyond any one coach um that people know that what they’re getting into here in terms of our culture our systems that we have in place and that they’re going to remain steadfast and never be tied directly to one person and so um no wishing the best and and again I think it’s a compliment to our program and and to those hires that we made 12 months ago at this time we talked a lot about the need for more production in the past rush given that how critical was it to win that jaem Stewart recruiting battle and see you got you see coming in and making an impact pretty quickly it was important you know jaem was was somebody that that we targeted you know very early on uh you know the tough thing was so did everybody else uh but you know he’s a he’s a he’s a neat young man I mean we got to spend a lot of time with him you he was able to come out to LA you know you know several times throughout the process and you just you know everybody sees the you know the the physical ability the length I mean it’s he has a he has a very unique combination physically but I do think you know jae’s mentality um the way he attacks it his confidence he he has a a real gritty tough hardworking mentality and I think you know that is really you know what makes him such an outstanding Prospect and made him a dominant high school player and so yeah I mean I you look at guys and you’re like all right do they have the mental makeup and do they have the physical are they far enough developed physically to feel like that they could come in and make an impact and I mean I I he certainly has that now like every other play on a roster he’s going to have have to come in and earn it but that’s you know knowing jaem I mean that’s that that’s what he wants anyway and so um now it was important I he’s he’s uh you know one of the more talented defensive linemen that I’ve you know had a chance to be involved with recruiting and uh it just this is one of those things where everything about this just fit and we’re really glad he’s a Trojan hey coach um I’m kind of continuing on to Jae you know he only played 12 Varsity games I’m wondering from your perspective when you Scout and and your scouting Department as a whole how do you kind of evaluate kind of the talent you see on the field but then also looking at just the game experience they have in high school yeah it’s a it’s a great question um I mean I I felt like as a you know I felt like when we watched him in high school that he was Advanced enough that he he could have made an impact on a college field you know you know even as a high school age player I mean he’s the there’s you watch the way that this guy plays the game it’s it’s uh it’s pretty impressive and when you really look at you know his entire scenario you know and why you know he didn’t play here at the end you know he obviously you know was was made the decision that he felt like it was best to to reclassify which you know I there’s a lot of people that I don’t think would be ready physically or mentally to do that um but he’s he is one of them and so I I can understand why he did and then obviously got caught up a little bit within the rules of the state um because of that and but he’s a driven kid he’s uh he’s very confident he’s very very hyperfocused and everything that we know about him and everything that we’ve been able to see when we had a chance to evaluate him in person we we had zero hesitation um you know to Target him and um have zero hesitation or or questions about um you know what he brings to the table here so um you know I I I like that the kid knew what he wanted and had enough confidence and and belief in himself to go get it and uh that he’s kind of got that type of mentality which I think is going to serve him well in the future coach you’ve been linked to a couple other jobs recently just when people approach you about that what’s your response been I I tell them I’m a USC Trojan man this is I’m at the place I want to be so that’s it’s a non-starter it’s a non-issue that’s I’m I’m home Lincoln obviously Hassan’s coming into the quarterback room but after losing Jake and Miller is hitting the transfer portal for another quarterback on necessity for you guys this offseason it it is um we we will um look for another another quarterback in the portal um you know I don’t you know I think you know we’re really going to be you know probably looking at at somebody to be able to come in and provide some depth in that room um being that as you said we just have two guys right now which uh I think earlier in my career I would have been you know probably freaking out a little bit now it’s just kind of a yearly a yearly occurrence so um you know excited about the two guys we got returning you know and really excited about the way Jaden played for us here in the last three particularly the way he played you know a couple of days ago um yeah really excited to bring you know Hassan into our program that was just something that you know as as as that whole scenario played out it became very clear to us that we wanted him to be the quarterback in this in this program for a lot of different reasons uh specifically his just his mental makeup and his commitment to the team and and commitment to to want to be great and um so I can’t wait to add him into the room and and yeah we’ll certainly you know in some form or fashion need to find a find a third guy and uh we’ll you know coach hu you know the rest of our staff we we’ll be diving into that heavily and find somebody to help come fill out the room Lincoln on husan it was just kind of a a strange turbulent year for quarterback you know recruiting and you obviously have a pattern of you know only pursuing one quarterback at a time how how were you guys able to make Hassan feel like a priority throughout the whole process and and ultimately you know yeah make him feel like he was the the one you guys wanted yeah I I I give you know I give Coach hu a lot of credit I think I think Luke did a really great job you know continuing to to to maintain a great relationship with with son and his family you know even at at the point when we had you know another another player committed at the position um and I think as that relationship you know begin to grow um you know you’re you’re you’re always constantly evaluating these guys just like you know they’re constantly evaluating schools but that goes both ways and I think you know this was really about Hassan and and the more we got to know him um you know got to evaluate him the more we got to see again just his mental makeup uh how team oriented he was uh how serious he was about the game um we just felt like in the end that there wasn’t a better fit for us and that’s eventually you know why we made the decisions that we made and so um I’m I’m really excited to have them I think the obious all these players are so important but you know the quarterback in terms of you know fitting within the program and what you’re trying to build is obviously you know an important piece and I I feel like we landed on the perfect guy for us coach what’ you see from Eric Henderson just over the course of the cycle then specifically kind of his Chase of of jaem yeah he does he does a great job I mean you know you know coachin is such a a passionate guy you know you feel the passion in the way he coaches feel the passion in the the way he you know he recruits uh and then and then when you add in his his track record and pedigree and you know proven track record of development behind that you know it’s uh you know he did a great job you know he obviously had some some great connections to um you know to to jaem you know from being from you know the same general area um you know th those guys really hit it off early on and I think you know we had recruited jaem even before that happened but I think you know having Eric here and our defense of staff I think was certainly a huge huge part of you know our you know our pursuit of jaem and How It ultimately turned out here today so um you know great players want to be coached you know by the best I mean they just they do they great ones and and that gets confused because a lot of people say that they want to be great and not everybody wants to make choices that actually take you to being great um but great people want to great players want to be coached by the best at the end of the day and uh you put this guy’s track record up there you know it’s it’s that’s a tough thing to say no to and uh so he did a great job um as did all a lot of our staff I mean thing with jaem and a lot of our and a lot of these recruits today it’s you know sometimes one guy gets a credit a coach or a head coach or whoever it it is really a group effort I mean the amount of relationships that are built within so many different levels of this staff is it’s it’s cool and you could see today as guys were signing phones are getting passed around and I mean people are talking you know 20 different people on our staff and it’s it’s pretty cool to see how strong that those bonds have already already become now that things have started to come into focus a little bit how do you feel just confidence-wise in Jaden kind of heading into next season slided in at that starter spot and maybe how quickly could you see husan having an impact or being able to contribute yeah I mean I have a lot of confidence in Jaden I mean he he you know played well led us to to two big victories and and I thought you know really put us in great position I mean I mean you know that was you know statistically the number one passing defense in the country the other day that that you know he he did a pretty good job against and so I I think he’s going to continue to progress and get better and better and we obviously have a ton of confidence in in you know both he and Hassan um and and what that room has a chance to become and uh you know we’re going to put a lot of emphasis put a lot of rips put a lot of time uh into those two guys and and on top of their skill sets I just love the way that those two guys are wired um we obviously have to get somebody else at some point in some role to to fill out a room and make sure we’re doing right by the team but you know you told me next year that we’re going him with those two guys I I’m I like I feel like we will I’m I’m very very excited about it um Hassan’s got a great skill set uh he he can really throw the ball he’s very athletic uh he’s got a great mind for it you know like every young guy that comes in here he’s going to have to come learn it come invest himself in the details but knowing how much of a football junkie he is like that’s he’s craving that and so I I think he’ll pick it up quickly and you know we’re hopeful uh you know hopeful to obviously get him here and get him started you know quickly even potentially uh here with some of the Bowl practices uh if if that times out once we get the bowl announcement but we’re we’re going to be aggressive with these guys to try to get them ready as fast as we possibly can more uh two-part over are you still in the mix to sign anyone from the high school ranks and out of this class who you have signed is there anyone you expect or who are the guys you think could play Early potentially um uh no right now I think I think as I stand here today unless I’m misspoken I don’t think I don’t think we’re missing anybody that we’re still that we’re still actively recruiting so I think we’ve gotten uh I think we’re we’re done here for the day from a high school standpoint um you know there’s always some potential outliers out there so I don’t I don’t ever want that to be 100% final but that’s where we sit today um yeah I it’s a great question um you know I’m kind of looking on here of of like maybe who I I don’t think would have a chance you know to be completely honest I mean I I I think you can you know I look at that Hassan I look at the two backs you know Harry and Riley I mean certainly all three of the receivers I think are very gifted you know ol line is is historically one of the tougher ones to do it but I think we sign some really outstanding guys I mean you know you know Dunn was a big win you know we thought he was you know one of if not the most athletic tackle that we saw in the entire circuit you know so he was a big win obviously getting pain here at the end was big you know viona and Willie jumped on there quickly and and and was you know were really steady guys for us you Elijah is is massive Willie has a great mind for it uh you know getting Nella um you know here in the last you know week to 10 days you know from a great program up there in fulam uh he he was a guy we were super impressed with how um he had progressed uh I think and I think if you kind of look at us our our usage of the tight end and the tight end sets you know really increased as high this year as we’ve been at any point and I you know we’ve really put a concerted effort to building up that room and um I think Nella has a great chance to be a part of it uh certainly the DBS I mean you look at them with what we’re losing I mean they’re they’re all going to have a great opportunity we’ll see who’s obviously ready to go but um the position flexibility these guys is is really important um so yeah I mean I obviously not all going to um but there’s not a lot of guys that I look on this list right now and say all right they they got a really small chance to help us next year I mean this this is there’s a lot of potential high impact guys early on in their career on this list which is a good feeling uh tup parther last year you gave us Desmond Stevens as a guy who was kind of under the radar you thought is there a guy in this class that fits that a pretty good prediction it was it was and and then do you expect any other staff changes aside from an um no other no other expect did staff changes right now now I know there’s you know this is the time of year when those things happen and as I said we’ve got a we got a we got a really good staff and so you know people are going to want to you know are going to be interested in our guys which is a sign of a healthy program but nothing that I would call imminent right now by any stretch um yeah it it’s hard to to nail down one but I mean one of my there’s a couple of guys in the class man that I think you know maybe people don’t quite know their names but I think they probably will soon I mean I I mean d reic is one of my favorite players in the whole class like the guy the way this guy plays the game is um some guys just look different uh I would put James Johnson I’d put JJ in that that camp too got to see both those guys play live and it it’s it’s you that term just football players guys that look like it’s it’s very natural uh the game is very easy for them they did a lot for their respective high school teams um those are two guys that I think were are two of the more like versatile kind of dynamic players that we signed but I there’s a lot of them on this list I’m pretty excited about but uh I would list those guys um you know Castro had a phenomenal senior year here Alex Graham just won the state championship at ctec another guy had a great senior year that that DB class as a whole Steve Miller and that that DB class as a whole is is pretty exciting and we need them to be right they they’re walking into great opport and I think that was certainly something that was on the minds of these guys when they when they looked at us as they saw the opportunity here to come in and compete right away yeah all right thanks everybody for
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