Posted on December 2, 2020
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With USC idle last week due to a coronavirus outbreak on the team—and this week’s game still on, for now—there’s obviously no Trojan football for us to complain about (to the chagrin of many, I’m sure).
We’re four weeks into the schedule, and if USC can fit in its last two regular season games (that’s a big “if”) plus a likely Pac-12 Championship Game, the Trojans are halfway through their conference slate.
Feels like a good time to hand out some midseason awards, yes?
Let’s get to it.
—USC Offensive Player of the Year—
Tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker
Look, I get that it’s not particularly “sexy” to give out the OPOY to an offensive lineman. Thankfully, the point of this piece is to be accurate, not sexy.
Can you imagine where USC’s offensive line would be without Vera-Tucker?
The group was subpar—and that’s generous—in the team’s first two games against Arizona State and Arizona, and it took a small but noticeable step forward against Utah. Vera-Tucker, however, has been the one constant.
Pro Football Focus rated Vera-Tucker the No. 1 Power Five offensive tackle in Week 1 and put AVT at No. 2 on its Top 10 2021 NFL Draft prospect performance list in Week 2. Week 3 saw more of the same dominance from AVT.
Put simply, Vera-Tucker is the most dominant Trojan at his respective position, and no one else is really close. After moving from guard to tackle this offseason, Vera-Tucker has likely vaulted himself into the top 15 of the NFL Draft.
USC’s offense would be miles worse without him.
Honorable mention: Wide receiver Drake London, who is second on the team in receiving yards and has USC’s biggest play of the season, a late, go-ahead touchdown on a difficult grab in Week 1.
—USC Defensive Player of the Year—
Defensive Lineman Marlon Tuipulotu / Linebacker Drake Jackson
This is a slight cop-out, but it’s hard to pick between the two. Tuipulotu has the overall edge on the stat sheet, with 20 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss to Jackson’s 10, 2.0 and 3.0, respectively.
Still, Jackson’s clutch two-sack performance against Arizona, as well as his versatility to play both as a linebacker and defensive lineman, bring the two even.
Linemen Caleb Tremblay and Brandon Pili have each missed two games this season, but Tuipulotu and Jackson were able to hold down the fort in their absences.
Much like Vera-Tucker and USC’s offensive line, it’s hard to imagine where the defensive line would be without the two, and Jackson’s role in USC’s linebacker corps, that was somewhat underwhelming the first two weeks, shouldn’t be overlooked.
Tuipulotu, who forced a fumble deep inside Utah territory that USC turned into 7 points in Week 3, won Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week in Week 1 and grades out as the No. 5 defensive player in the Pac-12, according to PFF.
If I had to pick between the two, I’d give Tuipulotu the edge. But this is my column, and I don’t have to choose, so I won’t.
Honorable mention: Safety Talanoa Hufanga, who leads USC with 24 total tackles and two interceptions. He also adds one forced fumble, tied for the team lead with Tuipulotu.
—USC Special Teams Player of the Year—
Kicker Parker Lewis
Freshman Lewis winning the job over redshirt junior Chase McGrath as USC’s placekicker was the biggest surprise when USC released its depth chart prior to the start of the season, but the move isn’t looking too bad so far: Lewis has drilled six of seven field goals and all 11 extra point attempts.
Two of those kicks, a 43-yarder and 47-yarder, both against Utah, probably would have been good from 53 and 57, respectively. Lewis won the job because of his booming leg, and probably the most jacked kicker in college football is proving his coaches right.
Lewis has had some mistakes—namely, a missed chip shot from 28 yards against Arizona and two kickoffs out of bounds so far this season, but you can’t expect the guy to be perfect.
Honorable mention: Punter Ben Griffiths, who has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line six times this year and has five punts of at least 50 yards, giving USC a Pac-12 third-best average of 45.6 yards on punts.
—USC Freshman of the Year—
Wide Receiver Bru McCoy
McCoy has unquestionably been one of USC’s four best receivers this year and has a case for being No. 3—two statements that sound passive aggressive but are actually high praise considering the strength of this receiving corps.
McCoy hauled in five receptions for 66 yards against Utah in Week 3, marks that tied the team lead and topped the Trojans, respectively. McCoy also had probably the second-biggest play of USC’s season, a late onside kick recovery in Week 1 immediately after hauling in a tipped touchdown pass, helping the Trojans pull off a furious comeback against Arizona State.
McCoy is seeing his role in USC’s offense expand and figures to be an important weapon moving forward.
Honorable mention: Lewis
Another honorable mention because I mentioned Lewis elsewhere: Defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu, whose eight total tackles and one sack are each the most by a freshman Trojan this year.
You can watch Ackerman’s companion Trojan Dash Sports Talk Show on Dash Sports TV, and read his other work at the Daily Trojan.
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