# 2014 USC Trojans football team

The 2014 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2014 college football season. USC played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and were members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by Steve Sarkisian, who returned to USC after coaching Pac-12 opponent Washington for five years. They finished the season 9–4, 6–3 in Pac-12 play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the South Division. They were invited to the Holiday Bowl where they defeated Nebraska.

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Seasons at USC | Alma Mater | Before USC |
| Steve Sarkisian | Head coach | 1 | BYU (1997) | Washington – Head coach (2013) |
| Tim Drevno | Offensive line coach / running game coordinator | 1 | Cal State Fullerton (1992) | San Francisco 49ers - OL Coach (2013) |
| Clay Helton | Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach | 4 | Houston (1994) | Memphis - OC coordinator (2009) |
| Keith Heyward | Defensive backs coach / pass game coordinator defense | 1 | Oregon State (2002) | Washington - DB Coach (2013) |
| Tee Martin | Wide receivers coach / pass game coordinator | 3 | Tennessee (2000) | Kentucky - WR Coach (2011) |
| Johnny Nansen | Running backs coach / special teams coach / assistant head coach | 1 | Washington State (1997) | Washington - ST coordinator / RB Coach (2013) |
| Peter Sirmon | Linebackers coach / recruiting coordinator / associate head coach Defense | 1 | Oregon (1999) | Washington - LB Coach (2013) |
| Marques Tuiasosopo | Tight ends coach / associate head coach Offense | 1 | Washington (2001) | Washington - QB Coach (2013) |
| Justin Wilcox | Defensive coordinator | 1 | Oregon (1999) | Washington - DC coordinator (2013) |
| Chris Wilson | Defensive line coach | 1 | Oklahoma (1992) | Georgia - DL Coach (2013) |
| Ivan Lewis | Strength and conditioning | 1 | San Diego (2003) | Washington - Strength and Conditioning (2013) |
| Ross Cumming | Graduate assistant coach (linebackers) | 2 | USC (2012) | USC - Reserve Linebacker [Player] (2011) |
| Jon Farmerie | Graduate assistant coach (secondary) | 1 | University of La Verne (2008) | California - Assistant DB Coach (2013) |
| Kyle Williams | Graduate assistant coach (secondary) | 1 | Kansas State (2006) | Evangel University - DB Coach / st coordinator (2013) |
| Jaron Fairman | Graduate assistant coach (special team) | 1 | Fresno State (2007) | Crespi Carmelite High School - WR Coach / st coordinator (2013) |

### Returning starters

USC returns 16 starters in 2014, including eight on offense, eight on defense, and the starting kicker, punter & long snapper.
Key departures include Kevin Graf (OT), Marqise Lee (WR), Silas Redd (RB), Xavier Grimble (TE), Marcus Martin (C), George Uko (DE / DT), Devon Kennard (DE), Morgan Breslin (LB), Dion Bailey (LB / S), and Demetrius Wright (S)
* : Co-Starter in 2013

### Depth chart

Defense :
* FS
* John Plattenburg*
* Leon McQuay III
* Rob Dooley
| WLB | ILB | ILB | SLB |
| J.R. Tavai | Hayes Pullard | Anthony Sarao | Su'a Cravens |
| Scott 'Starr' Felix | Michael Hutchings^ | Olajuwon Tucker* | Uchenna Nwosu |
| Charles Burks | Reuben Peters | Joel Foy | Quinton Powell |
* SS
* Gerald Bowman
* Josh Shaw
* JuJu Smith * #
* CB
* Kevon Seymour
* Jonathan Lockett*
* Devian Shelton
| DE | NT | DE |
| Delvon Simmons | Antwaun Woods | Leonard Williams |
| Claudeson Pelon | Cody Temple | Greg Townsend Jr. |
| Don Hill | Jeff Miller | Malik Dorton* |
* CB
* Adoree' Jackson*#
* Chris Hawkins
* Ryan Dillard
Offense :
* WR
* Nelson Agholor
* George Farmer
* Darreus Rogers
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Toa Lobendahn* | Damien Mama* | Max Tuerk | Viane Talamaivao* | Zach Banner |
| Aundrey Walker | Khaliel Rodgers | Giovanni Di Poalo | Chris Brown* | Nathan Guertler |
| Nico Falah | Erick Jepsen | Richie Wenzel | ⋅ | Quinn Bassler |
* TE
* Randall Telfer
* Bryce Dixon
* Teddy Baker
* WR
* JuJu Smith * #
* Adoree' Jackson* #
* Steven Mitchell
* QB
* Cody Kessler
* Max Browne
* Jalen Greene*/ Conner Sullivan
* Key reserves
* Jabari Ruffin - OLB (Out for Season - Knee)
* Kenny Bigelow - DT (Out for Season - Knee)
* Chad Wheeler - OT (Out for Season - Knee)
* Lamar Dawson - LB (Injury - Knee)
* Tre Madden - TB (Injury - Toe)
* Jordan Simmons - OG (Injury - Knee)
* Jordan Austin - OT (Injury - Hip)
* RB
* Javorius 'Buck' Allen
* Justin Davis
* James Toland IV
* FB
* Jahleel Pinner
* Soma Vainuku
* Pat Hart
* Special teams
* PK Andre Heidari
* PK Alex Wood
* P Kris Albarado
* KR Adoree' Jackson* / Nelson Agholor / JuJu Smith*
* PR Nelson Agholor / Adoree' Jackson*
* LS Zach Smith
* H Conner Sullivan
Rookies : *
Double Position : #

### Recruiting class

College recruiting information (2014) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Adoree' Jackson #3 CB | Gardena, CA | Junipero Serra High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| John 'Juju' Smith #3 ATH (S / WR) | Long Beach, CA | Long Beach Polytechnic High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Damien Mama #4 OG | Bellflower, CA | St. John Bosco High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 370 lb (170 kg) | February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Bryce Dixon #1 TE | Ventura, CA | Saint Bonaventure High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | January 4, 2014 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Viane Talamaivao #5 OG | Corona, CA | Centennial High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | November 18, 2013 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Toa Lobendahn #8 OG | La Habra, CA | La Habra High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 293 lb (133 kg) | June 12, 2012 / January 13, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Malik Dorton #21 DE / OLB | Bellflower, CA | Saint John Bosco High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | August 23, 2013 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Rahshead Johnson #29 ATH (WR) | Long Beach, CA | Cabrillo High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 164 lb (74 kg) | January 4, 2014 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Chris Brown #16 OT | Los Angeles, CA | Loyola High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | December 16, 2012 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Don Hill #29 DE | Boise, ID | Timberline High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | December 15, 2013 / January 13, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Claudeson Pelon #6 DT (JC) | Orlando, FL | Mesa Community College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | December 11, 2013 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jonathan Lockett #25 CB | Santa Ana, CA | Mater Dei High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 168 lb (76 kg) | December 11, 2013 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jalen Greene #27 QB | Gardena, CA | Junipero Serra High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | December 22, 2013 / January 13, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Uchenna Nwosu #61 OLB | Torrance, CA | Narbonne High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | October 08, 2013 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| John Plattenburg #72 S | Houston, TX | Lamar High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 179 lb (81 kg) | January 6, 2014 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ajene Harris #100 ATH (WR) | Los Angeles, CA | Crenshaw High School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | November 07, 2013 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Lamont Simmons #66 CB | Jacksonville, FL | Raines High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Olajuwon Tucker #120 OLB | Gardena, CA | Junipero Serra High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 214 lb (97 kg) | October 18, 2013 / February 5, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jordan Austin #140 OT | Claremont, CA | Claremont High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 273 lb (124 kg) | June 28, 2013 / January 13, 2014 (Signed) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: ? |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 1, 2014. |||||||

## 2014 NFL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 2 | 39 | Marqise Lee | Wide receiver | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 3 | 70 | Marcus Martin | Center | San Francisco 49ers |
| 5 | 174 | Devon Kennard | Outside linebacker | New York Giants |
| UFA | - | Silas Redd | Running back | Washington Redskins |
| UFA | - | George Uko | Defensive end | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Practice Squad |
| UFA | - | Xavier Grimble | Tight end | San Francisco 49ers Practice Squad |
| UFA | - | Kevin Graf | Offensive tackle | Philadelphia Eagles Practice Squad |
| UFA | - | Dion Bailey | Safety | Free Agency |
| UFA | - | Morgan Breslin | Outside linebacker | Free Agency |
| UFA | - | Demetrius Wright | Cornerback | Free Agency |
| UFA | - | John Martinez | Offensive guard | Free Agency |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 30 | 4:30 p.m. | Fresno State* | No. 15 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | FOX | W 52–13 | 76,037 |
| September 6 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 13 Stanford | No. 14 | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA (rivalry) | ABC | W 13–10 | 50,814 |
| September 13 | 5:00 p.m. | at Boston College* | No. 9 | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | ESPN | L 31–37 | 41,632 |
| September 27 | 7:30 pm | Oregon State | No. 18 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | ESPN | W 35–10 | 74,521 |
| October 4 | 4:30 p.m. | Arizona State | No. 16 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | FOX | L 34–38 | 70,115 |
| October 11 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 10 Arizona | | Arizona StadiumTucson, AZ | ESPN2 | W 28–26 | 56,754 |
| October 18 | 3:00 p.m. | Colorado | No. 22 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | P12N | W 56–28 | 74,756 |
| October 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 19 Utah | No. 20 | Rice-Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | FS1 | L 21–24 | 47,619 |
| November 1 | 1:30 p.m. | at Washington State | | Martin StadiumPullman, WA | P12N | W 44–17 | 25,012 |
| November 13 | 6:00 p.m. | California | | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | ESPN | W 38–30 | 64,615 |
| November 22 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 9 UCLA | No. 19 | Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Victory Bell) | ABC | L 20–38 | 82,431 |
| November 29 | 12:30 p.m. | Notre Dame* | | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA (Jeweled Shillelagh) | FOX | W 49–14 | 79,586 |
| December 27 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. Nebraska* | No. 24 | Qualcomm StadiumSan Diego, CA (Holiday Bowl) | ESPN | W 45–42 | 55,789 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 28 released prior to gameAll times are in Pacific time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Fresno State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fresno St | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| • USC | 21 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 52 |

### Stanford

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • USC | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Stanford | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |

### Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| USC | 10 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| • Boston College | 0 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 37 |

### Oregon State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oregon St | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • USC | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |

### Arizona State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Arizona St | 0 | 15 | 3 | 20 | 38 |
| USC | 7 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 34 |

### Arizona

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • USC | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Arizona | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 26 |

### Colorado

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colorado | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| • USC | 28 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 56 |
* Cody Kessler 19/26, 319 Yds, 7 TD (school record)

### Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| USC | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Utah | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |

### Washington State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • USC | 14 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 44 |
| Washington St | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |

### California

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| California | 2 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 30 |
| • USC | 21 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 38 |

### UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| USC | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
| • UCLA | 14 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 38 |

### Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • USC | 21 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
* Cody Kessler 32/40, 372 Yds, 6 TD

### Holiday Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Nebraska | 17 | 0 | 17 | 8 | 42 |
| • USC | 10 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 45 |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 15 | 14 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 16 | RV | 22 | 20 | RV | RV | RV | 24 | RV | RV | 24 | 20 |
| Coaches | 15 | 14 | 10 | 21 | 22 | 20 | RV | 25 | 21 | RV | RV | RV | 24 | RV | RV | RV | 21 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | 19 | — | 25 | 24 | Not released |