In the high-stakes world of college football, few things generate more excitement and anticipation than the arrival of a highly touted freshman quarterback. For the USC Trojans, that excitement takes the form of Hasan Longstreet, and early reports from fall camp suggest he is living up to the hype. While the team has made significant strides in recruiting and organizational changes, the ultimate success of the program and head coach Lincoln Riley’s tenure may hinge on the development of this young signal-caller.
The conversation surrounding USC’s quarterback position has been a rollercoaster since the departure of Sam Darnold. Following a golden era of stability that saw a succession of legendary quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley, and Cody Kessler, the position has lacked a consistent, long-term solution. This instability has often been a roadblock to the program’s championship aspirations. Lincoln Riley was brought to USC with a clear mandate: to restore the team’s identity as “QBU” and get the program back to competing for national titles. If he wants to last at Southern Cal, now is the time to live up to that mandate.
QB play is still very much the deterministic factor between winning and losing in college football. If there are any doubts to this, refer to the below graph that shows how wins correlate with QB Expected Points Added (EPA):
According to SI.com, USC’s quarterback coach (Luke Huard) has said Longstreet is already demonstrating the kind of poise and talent that could define Riley’s tenure. Huard has been impressed with Longstreet’s performance during the first five practices of fall camp, noting his ability to handle adversity, execute plays effectively, and communicate clearly. These are all critical skills for a young quarterback stepping into a demanding role. Longstreet arrived at USC as a highly recruited athlete with all the physical tools, including impressive size and arm strength. Now, the focus is on developing the leadership qualities necessary to command an offense at the collegiate level. So far, thanks to the USC coaching staff, he’s on on the right track.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for this Trojans program. While USC has made positive organizational changes and assembled a talented roster, it’s important emphasize that the development of the quarterback position is the final and most crucial piece of the puzzle. Most of the pressure for this falls on Lincoln Riley. Riley became nationally known for his ability to develop Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. His main goal is to mold Longstreet into the kind of elite player who can lead the Trojans back to national prominence. Longstreet’s success will not only be a testament to his own talent but will also serve as a defining measure of Riley’s coaching prowess and the overall direction of the USC program.
For Trojans fans, the hope is that Longstreet is the long-term answer at the QB position. There is a good chance that he is the player who will bring stability and championship-level play back to the quarterback position. The early signs are promising, and as fall camp continues, all eyes will be on the freshman who may very well be the key to unlocking USC’s promising future.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the SMI College Football Show YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
