Lincoln Riley sees USC’s two transfers from Oregon State as team leaders
Lincoln Riley remarked on Monday evening that two recent additions to the USC football team, formerly of Oregon State, have exhibited impressive leadership qualities.
Riley stated, “We’ve brought in some individuals from other institutions who have demonstrated the potential to excel as leaders, given their previous experiences.” He specifically mentioned Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Akili Arnold, highlighting their past leadership roles at their former schools.
The fact that Riley highlighted the leadership attributes of newcomers, rather than focusing on players from the 2023 roster, is noteworthy. This could be interpreted simply as praise for the Arnolds. The stepbrothers made the move from Corvallis to USC following the departure of Oregon State’s coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. However, it might also subtly imply that the returning players from USC’s 2023 defense did not exhibit or earn notable leadership roles.
Regardless, USC is optimistic that the Arnolds will fulfill expectations and spearhead a defensive resurgence for the Trojans in 2024.
