Since it is the early part of summer, months before the start of USC's 2024 fall camp, we decided it would be the perfect time to look around USC's schedule and identify some of the best opposing players at any given position the Trojans will face. Today we will start with arguably the most important position: quarterback. USC gets a big break in the opposing QB department, facing teams replacing notable signal callers like Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix, JJ McCarthy and Sam Hartman.
1) Riley Leonard(Notre Dame)
Class: Senior
Career Starts: 21
2023 Stats:1,102 yards (57.5 percent completion) for three touchdowns; 352 rushing yards for four TDs
Overview: Notre Dame is running the same play from last season: plucking one of the best signal callers out of the ACC a la Sam Hartman in 2023. Leonard was on his way to establishing himself as one of the best QBs in the country for 2023 but was hobbled by an ankle injury that limited him to just seven games. Leonard has legit first-round potential but needs to show he can be just as dangerous with his arm as he can on the ground. Leonard has more than 4,000 yard passing in his career and close to 1,200 rushing yards with 19 TDs.The big question mark is if Notre Dame has the needed weapons around him in the passing game.
2) Drew Allar(Penn State)
Class: Junior
Career Starts: 13
2023 Stats: 2,631 yards (60 percent completion) for 25 TDs (two INTs); 210 rushing yards for four TDs
Overview: Allar is an interesting case for this coming season, as he's clearly a talented signal caller, but there are times he's been hindered by a lackluster Penn State passing attack. Allar gets a Top 2 spot based on the Nittany Lions adding new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas, tasked with unlocking Allar's big arm to jump start a Penn State passing attack. Allar took care of the ball in his first season as a starter, but now fans are looking for more playmaking down the field. Penn State will be one of the better all-around teams USC will face in 2024, boosting Allar.
3) Will Rogers (Washington)
Class: Senior
Career Starts: 40
2023 Stats: 1,626 yards (59.9 percent completion) for 12 TDs (four INTs); one rushing TD
Overview: By far the most experienced QB the Trojans will face in the regular season is Rogers, battled tested through 40 starts over 43 game appearances in the SEC with Mississippi State. Washington will task Rogers to lead the rebuild (reboot?) under new head coach Jedd Fisch. Rogers is coming off his worst season in college and is hungry for a bounce back season. Fisch knows how to put together an offense and he has arguably the most experienced QB in the Power Four to put up points this season.
4) Tyler Van Dyke (Wisconsin)
Class: Redshirt Senior
Career Start: 27
2023 Stats:2,703 yards (65.8 percent completion) for 19 TDs (12 INTs); 32 rushing yards, two TDs
Overview: Another high experience QB on the slate is Van Dyke, who looked like a potential future Heisman winner after being named the ACC Rookie of the Year as a redshirt freshman. Van Dyke threw for 25 TDs in that breakout season, but just 29 TDs combined over the next two seasons as his play plateaued. He's also struggled with turnovers, tossing 12 picks in 2023. Despite these struggles, Van Dyke is a big upgrade for the Wisconsin passing attack and he should be among the top signal callers in the Big Ten.
5) Dylan Raiola (Nebraska)
Class: True Freshman
Career Starts: 0
2023 Stats: N/A
Overview: This might be controversial going with hype/pedigree over experience, but it's not every season there is a No. 1 overall recruit possibly under center across the line of scrimmage. Raiola might not even begin 2024 as a starter, but the overwhelming expectation is that he will find his way on the field this season. There is too much riding on Nebraska for him to not play, especially for a program mired by subpar QB play. USC faces Nebraska in the back half of the season, setting up the former USC target to potentially have a couple starts under his name. Raiola looked impressive in the Nebraska spring game, throwing for 239 yards and two TDs against one interception. There will be growing pains along the way when he does play, but the potential is also off the charts.
Other Names to Know:
Alex Orji (Michigan)
- The presumed starter for the defending national champions. A former Top 50 recruit in the 2022 cycle who served as the backup on the national title run. He only has one pass attempt in nine games over two seasons. A big 6-foot-3 athlete that can run but fields questions about his passing.
Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
- A former four-star prospect that has patiently waited his turn for the keys to the LSU offense. One career start with 18 game appearances over four seasons. Threw for 395 yards and three TDs in LSU's bowl win over Wisconsin, his first career start. A potential breakout candidate.
Ethan Garbers (UCLA)
- Garbers got his first chance as a starter in 2023 with six starts, going 4-2. Garbers is a candidate to make the jump in 2024, which could put him in the top half of the conference quarterbacks. UCLA's offense overall is a question mark.
Athan Kaliakmanis (Rutgers)
- And experienced Big Ten signal caller that cut his teeth as a starter at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers. A big QB at 6-foot-4 that can run for TDs when asked and should elevate a scrappy Rutgers team.
