2016 USC Trojans football team
The 2016 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by head coach Clay Helton in his first full season after replacing Steve Sarkisian in the sixth game of the 2015 season. They finished the season 10–3, 7–2 in Pac-12 play to finish in second place in the South Division. They were invited to the Rose Bowl where they defeated Big 10 conference champion Penn State.
Personnel
Coaching staff
Roster
Returning starters
USC returns 32 starters in 2016, including 17 on offense, 13 on defense, and two on special teams.Key departures include Cody Kessler, Tre Madden, Jahleel Pinner, Max Tuerk, Antwaun Woods, Delvon Simmons, Greg Townsend Jr., Claude Pelon, Su'a Cravens, Scott Felix, Anthony Sarao, Lamar Dawson, Kevon Seymour, Alex Wood, Kris Albarado.
Other departures include Soma Vainuku, Connor Spears.
Offense (17)
Defense (13)
Special teams (2)
Depth chart
Official Depth Chart 2016True Freshman
Double Position : *
Recruiting class
Scholarship distribution chart
| Position | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 2017 signed | |
| QB 3 | Matt Fink | – | – | |||
| TB 6 | Vavae Malepeai | Dominic Davis Ronald Jones II Aca'Cedric Ware | Justin Davis | |||
| FB 1 | – | – | – | |||
| WR 11 | Josh Imatorbhebhe Velus Jones Jr. Michael Pittman Jr. Trevon Sidney Tyler Vaughns | Deontay Burnett | Juju Smith-Schuster | De'Quan Hampton Darreus Rogers | ||
| TE 4 | Cary Angeline | Tyler Petite | – | |||
| OL 16 | Frank Martin II Nathan Smith | Chuma Edoga | Toa Lobendahn Damien Mama Viane Talamaivao | | | |
| DT 8 | Liam Jimmons | Jacob Daniel Rasheem Green | Josh Fatu | |||
| DE / OLB 4 | Oluwole Betiku Jr. Connor Murphy | Porter Gustin | – | – | | |
| ILB 7 | Jordan Iosefa | Cameron Smith | Uchenna Nwosu Olajuwon Tucker | Michael Hutchings Quinton Powell | ||
| CB 7 | Jack Jones Keyshawn Pie Young | Isaiah Langley Iman Marshall | Adoree' Jackson Jonathan Lockett | – | ||
| S 8 | Jamel Cook C.J. Pollard | Marvell Tell III | John Plattenburg | Leon McQuay III | ||
| SP 4 | Zach Smith | |||||
| ATH | x | x | x | x | |
/ / * : Former walk-on
– 85 scholarships permitted, 79 currently allotted to players..
–.
– USC can sign 25 players in the class of 2017.
2016 NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 2 | 53 | Su'a Cravens | Outside Linebacker / Safety | Washington Redskins |
| 3 | 66 | Max Tuerk | Center | San Diego Chargers |
| 3 | 93 | Cody Kessler | Quarterback | Cleveland Browns |
| 6 | 218 | Kevon Seymour | Cornerback | Buffalo Bills |
| UFA | – | Claude Pelon | Defensive Tackle | New York Jets |
| UFA | – | Tre Madden | Tailback | Seattle Seahawks |
| UFA | – | Soma Vainuku | Fullback | Houston Texans |
| UFA | – | Greg Townsend Jr. | Defensive End | Oakland Raiders |
| UFA | – | Delvon Simmons | Defensive Tackle | Indianapolis Colts |
| UFA | – | Antwaun Woods | Defensive Tackle | Tennessee Titans |
| UFA | – | Anthony Sarao | Linebacker | Indianapolis Colts |
| UFA | – | Jahleel Pinner | Fullback | – |
| UFA | – | Lamar Dawson | Linebacker | – |
Schedule
Game summaries
Alabama
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 2–5 | 1985 | Alabama, 24–3 |
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 47 yard Field Goal – USC 3–0
- ALA – #13 ArDarius Stewart 39 yard pass from #2 Jalen Hurts – ALA 7–3
- ALA – #99 Adam Griffith 29 yard Field Goal – ALA 10–3
- ALA – #26 Marlon Humphrey 18 yard interception return – ALA 17–3
- ALA – #13 ArDarius Stewart 71 yard pass from #2 Jalen Hurts – ALA 24–3
- ALA – #2 Jalen Hurts 7 yard run, – ALA 31–3
- ALA – #2 Jalen Hurts 6 yard run, – ALA 38–3
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 41 yard Field Goal – ALA 38–6
- ALA – #9 Bo Scarbrough 6 yard run, – ALA 45–6
- ALA – #14 Gehrig Dieter 45 yard pass from #8 Blake Barnett – ALA 52–6
Utah State
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 5–0 | 2013 | USC, 17–14 |
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 3 yard pass from #4 Max Browne, – USC 7–0
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 13 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 14–0
- USC – #7 Steven Mitchell Jr. 2 yard pass from #4 Max Browne, – USC 21–0
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 20 yard Field Goal – USC 24–0
- USC – #2 Adoree' Jackson 77 yard punt return – USC 31–0
- UTS – #83 Wyatt Houston 6 yard pass from #2 Kent Myers, – USC 31–7
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 15 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 38–7
- USC – #28 Aca'Cedric Ware 2 yard run, – USC 45–7
Stanford
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 60–31–3 | 2015 | Stanford, 41–22 |
- STA – #5 Christian McCaffrey 56 yard pass from #17 Ryan Burns, – STA 7–0
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 47 yard Field Goal – STA 7–3
- STA – #34 Conrad Ukropina 31 yard Field Goal – STA 10–3
- STA – #5 Christian McCaffrey 1 yard run – STA 17–3
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 1 yard run, – STA 17–10
- STA – #34 Conrad Ukropina 42 yard Field Goal – STA 20–10
- STA – #3 Michael Rector 56 yard run, – STA 27–10
Utah
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 10–4 | 2015 | USC, 42–24 |
- UTA – #3 Troy Williams 10 yard run, – UTA 7–0
- USC – #2 Adoree' Jackson 100 yard kick return – USC 7–7
- UTA – #39 Andy Phillips 36 yard Field Goal – UTA 10–7
- USC – #22 Justin Davis 14 yard run, – USC 14–10
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 32 yard Field Goal – USC 17–10
- USC – #14 Sam Darnold 8 yard run, – USC 24–10
- UTA – #54 Isaac Asiata recovered fumble, – USC 24–17
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 43 yard Field Goal – USC 27–17
- UTA – #11 Raelon Singleton 11 yard pass from #3 Troy Williams, – USC 27–24
- UTA – #12 Tim Patrick 11 yard pass from #3 Troy Williams, – UTA 31–27
Arizona State
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 19–12 | 2015 | USC, 42–14 |
- ASU – #5 Zane Gonzalez 40 yard Field Goal – ASU 3–0
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 5 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 7–3
- ASU – #5 Zane Gonzalez 34 yard Field Goal – USC 7–6
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 3 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 14–6
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 49 yard Field Goal – USC 17–6
- USC – #22 Justin Davis 37 yard run, – USC 24–6
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 46 yard Field Goal – USC 27–6
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 67 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 34–6
- USC – #14 Sam Darnold 3 yard run, – USC 41–6
- ASU – #80 Raymond Epps 13 yard pass from #2 Brady White, – USC 41–13
- ASU – #22 Nick Ralston 10 yard run, – USC 41–20
Colorado
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 10–0 | 2015 | USC, 27–24 |
- USC – #88 Daniel Imatorbhebhe 32 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 7–0
- USC – #82 Tyler Petite 11 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 14–0
- COL – #23 Phillip Lindsay 67 yard pass from #4 Bryce Bobo, – USC 14–7
- COL – #4 Bryce Bobo 12 yard pass from #12 Steven Montez, – USC 14–14
- USC – #82 Tyler Petite 8 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 21–14
- COL – #49 Davis Price 42 yard Field Goal – USC 21–17
Arizona
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 30–8 | 2015 | USC, 38–30 |
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 5 yard run, – USC 7–0
- ARI – #14 Khalil Tate 3 yard run, – USC 7–7
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 11 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 14–7
- USC – #88 Daniel Imatorbhebhe 32 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 21–7
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 3 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold – USC 27–7
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 39 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 34–7
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 46 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 41–7
- ARI – #10 Samajie Grant 7 yard pass from #15 Matt Morin, – USC 41–14
- USC – #28 Aca'Cedric Ware 21 yard run, – USC 48–7
California
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 67–30–5 | 2015 | USC, 27–21 |
- USC – #1 Darreus Rogers 3 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 7–0
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 16 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 14–0
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 13 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 21–0
- CAL – #5 Tre Watson 22 yard pass from #7 Davis Webb, – USC 21–7
- CAL – #9 Matt Anderson 27 yard Field Goal – USC 21–10
- USC – #1 Darreus Rogers 20 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 28–10
- CAL – #7 Davis Webb 1 yard run, – USC 28–17
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 37 yard run, – USC 35–17
- USC – #88 Daniel Imatorbhebhe 17 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 42–17
- CAL – #1 Melquise Stovall 16 yard pass from #7 Davis Webb, – USC 42–24
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 32 yard Field Goal – USC 45–24
Oregon
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 37–20–2 | 2015 | Oregon, 48–28 |
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 35 yard Field Goal – USC 3–0
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 23 yard run, – USC 10–0
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 3 yard run, – USC 17–0
- ORE – #6 Charles Nelson 25 yard run – USC 17–6
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 3 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 24–6
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 66 yard run, – USC 31–6
- ORE – #85 Pharaoh Brown 5 yard pass from #10 Justin Herbert, – USC 31–13
- USC – #48 Taylor McNamara 8 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 38–13
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 1 yard run, – USC 45–13
- ORE – #9 Dakota Prukop 15 yard run, – USC 45–20
Washington
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 50–29–4 | 2015 | Washington, 17–12 |
- WASH – #48 Cameron Van Winkle 43 yard Field Goal – WASH 3–0
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 38 yard Field Goal – USC 3–3
- USC – #1 Darreus Rogers 13 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 10–3
- WASH – #48 Cameron Van Winkle 39 yard Field Goal – USC 10–6
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 4 yard run, – USC 17–6
- USC – #1 John Ross 70 yard pass from #3 Jake Browning, – USC 17–13
- USC – #88 Daniel Imatorbhebhe 8 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 24–13
- USC – Team Safety – USC 26–13
UCLA
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 45–31–7 | 2015 | USC, 40–21 |
- UCLA – #2 Jordan Lasley 56 yard pass from #12 Mike Fafaul, – UCLA 7–0
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 1 yard run, – USC 7–7
- UCLA – #2 Jordan Lasley 7 yard pass from #12 Mike Fafaul, – UCLA 14–7
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 60 yard run, – USC 14–14
- USC – #13 De'Quan Hampton 31 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold – USC 20–14
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 30 yard Field Goal – USC 23–14
- USC – #13 De'Quan Hampton 6 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 30–14
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 32 yard Field Goal – USC 33–14
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 25 yard Field Goal – USC 36–14
Notre Dame
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 35–46–5 | 2015 | ND, 41–31 |
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 37 yard Field Goal USC 3–0
- ND – #14 DeShone Kizer 1 Yd Run ND 7–3
- USC – #25 Ronald Jones II 51 yard run, USC 10–7
- USC – #2 Adoree' Jackson 55 Yd Punt Return USC 17–7
- USC – #27 Ajene Harris 33 Yd Interception Return USC 24–7
- ND – #10 Chris Finke 14 Yd pass from DeShone Kizer USC 24–14
- USC – #2 Adoree' Jackson 52 Yd pass from Sam Darnold USC 31–14
- ND – #29 Kevin Stepherson 29 Yd pass from DeShone Kizer USC 31–21
- USC – #2 Adoree' Jackson 97 Yd Kickoff Return USC 38–21
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 2 Yd pass from Sam Darnold USC 45–21
- ND – #6 Equanimeous St. Brown 15 Yd pass from Malik Zaire USC 45–27
Penn State (Rose Bowl)
| Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
| 5–4–0 | 2009 | USC, 38–24 |
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 26 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 7–0
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 22 yard Field Goal – USC 10–0
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 44 yard Field Goal – USC 13–0
- PSU – #26 Saquon Barkley 24 yard run, – USC 13–7
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 3 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 20–7
- PSU – #12 Chris Godwin 30 yard pass from #9 Trace McSorley, – USC 20–14
- USC – #1 Darreus Rogers 3 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 27–14
- PSU – #88 Mike Gesicki 11 yard pass from #9 Trace McSorley, – USC 27–21
- PSU – #26 Saquon Barkley 79 yard run, – PSU 28–27
- PSU – #12 Chris Godwin 72 yard pass from #9 Trace McSorley, – PSU 35–27
- PSU – #9 Trace McSorley 3 yard run, – PSU 42–27
- USC – #9 Juju Smith-Schuster 13 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – PSU 42–35
- PSU – #26 Saquon Barkley 7 yard pass from #9 Trace McSorley, – PSU 49–35
- USC – #4 Ronald Jones II 3 yard run, – PSU 49–42
- USC – #80 Deontay Burnett 27 yard pass from #14 Sam Darnold, – USC 49–49
- USC – #39 Matt Boermeester 46 yard Field Goal – USC 52–49
Rankings
Statistics
Team
As of November 20, 2016.Non-conference opponents
Pac-12 opponents
Offense
Defense
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : TouchdownSpecial teams
Awards and honors
Coaches
Clay Helton – Head Coach- Paul "Bear" Bryant Award : Finalist
- FWAA First Year Coach of Year
Offense
- Archie Griffin Award : Winner
- Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year
- Manning Award : Finalist
- Davey O'Brien Award : Semi-Finalist
- POLY POY : Finalist
Defense
- Jim Thorpe Award : Winner
- Pac-12 Defensive Player of The Year
- Paul Hornung Award : Finalist
College Sports Madness All-American Team
- First Team
Adoree' Jackson – CB – Junior
- Third Team
All-Pac-12 Individual Awards
- Offensive Freshman of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
PAC-12 All-Conference Team
- First Team
Chad Wheeler – OT – Senior
Adoree' Jackson – CB & PR – Junior
- Second Team
Juju Smith-Schuster – WR – Junior
Damien Mama – OG – Junior
Stevie Tu'ikolovatu – DT – Senior
Cameron Smith – ILB – Sophomore
- Honorable Mention
Darreus Rogers – WR – Senior
Daniel Imatorbhebhe – TE – Freshman
Rasheem Green – DT – Sophomore
Porter Gustin – DE – Sophomore
Michael Hutchings – ILB – Senior
Iman Marshall – CB – Sophomore
Chris Hawkins – S – Junior
Leon McQuay III – S – Senior
PAC-12 All-Freshman Team
- First Team
Daniel Imatorbhebhe – TE – Freshman
PAC-12 All-Academic Team
- Honorable Mention
Max Browne – QB – Junior
Matt Boermeester – K – Junior
Chris Tilbey – P – Sophomore
USA Today Sports Freshman All-America Team
- Second Team