USC is already ready to transfer most of its offensive line, but will now also have to replace its offensive coach.
Josh Henson, who led USC’s offensive line for the past three seasons, is leaving to become the offensive coordinator at Purdue, a person familiar with the decision told The Times. While he technically held the same title at USC, he will play a bigger role at Purdue for new Boilermakers coach Barry Odom, who previously coached alongside Henson at Missouri.
Henson’s three seasons make him the longest-tenured offensive line coach in a decade at USC. But his tenure as leader of the Trojan Front will go down in history as a largely uneven period. After a strong showing in 2022 behind a veteran line, USC’s front took a step back in 2023 and struggled to start the 2024 season before stabilizing in the second half of the season.
His departure leaves USC’s offensive line in an even more precarious state, with three starters needing to be replaced and not much depth from which to choose their replacements. Left guard Emmanuel Pregnon and center Jonah Monheim are headed to the NFL, while right tackle Mason Murphy has already signed with Auburn as a transfer. Two key domestic reserve players, Gino Quinones and Amos Talalele, have also already entered the transfer portal, along with freshman Kalolo Ta’aga.
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More could potentially follow in light of Henson’s departure, which would leave USC in a precarious position for the Dec. 27 bowl game with only a few backups available behind a patchwork quilt. Aside from the two returning starters, Elijah Paige and Alani Noa, the entire returning offensive line corps has just 161 snaps between them, with more than half of those coming from offensive tackle Tobias Raymond (86).
Paige, whose presence is now vital, assured last week that he intended to stay at USC. But that was before Henson’s departure on Tuesday.
“I committed here because I see Coach Riley’s vision,” Paige said. “I believe in it. I trust it. I am a part of it.”
These plans have already been put to the test this past week, as 18 players, including four linemen, entered the transfer portal. USC will get reinforcements soon enough, after signing four offensive linemen during the early signing period, including two top-150 tackles. But the Trojans are also expected to target several linemen in the transfer portal.
That wasn’t the path Riley and Henson had hoped to take when they outlined their offensive line plans last fall. Both then made it clear that they hoped to rely on high school recruiting as their primary focus.
But plans have now changed. Henson is now headed to Purdue. And Riley needs to hire an offensive line coach, after which an entire offensive line needs to be built.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
