Opponent Preview: USC
After starting the 2025 season 0-1, the Georgia Southern Eagles will play another west coast game against the USC Trojans on September 6th. The team remained in Oxnard, California after the Fresno State game and are utilizing the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp facility there to prep for the Trojans.
In Week One, USC took on an FCS Opponent in Missouri State and the Trojans won that game 73-13. The offense put up just under 600 yards of total offense with 364 coming through the air and 233 on the ground. The Trojans starting quarterback, Jayden Maiava, only played the first half of the game but still completed 15 of 18 passing attempts for 295 yards and two touchdowns while adding 9 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Fourteen different receivers caught a pass for the Trojans in their Week One matchup with junior WR Makai Lemon leading the way with 7 receptions for 90 yards. RB Eli Sanders, TE Lake McRee and TE Carson Tabaracci caught touchdown passes in the game.
In the ground game, the Trojans were led by freshman RB King Miller who finished the game with 4 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. Backup QB Husan Longstreet was the second leading rusher and finished the game with 8 carries for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half. He also completed all nine of his passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. RBs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders both finished the game with more than 30 yards rushing as well.
Defensively, USC got the opportunity to play a ton of guys in the blowout win, but the most impressive player was Junior DE Braylan Shelby who finished the game with 4 tackles including 2 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. The 6‘5”, 265 Pound defender is extremely quick off the ball and is an absolute game wrecker. Keeping him out of the backfield is going to be a tall task for the Eagles offensive line on Saturday. The defensive unit finished their matchup against Missouri State with 5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
On special teams, kicker Ryon Sayeri was perfect on the night as he made a 32-yard field goal attempt and converted all eight of his extra point attempts. The Trojans did not punt in their first game. The primary kick returner for USC is WR Makai Lemon who runs a sub 4.5-second forty yard dash and if he makes a man miss, he can turn any return into a house call.
Georgia Southern’s defense struggled mightily, especially in the second half of their Week One matchup with Fresno State, as they surrendered 527 total yards including 351 rushing yards to the Bulldogs. With that said, expect the Trojans to run the ball much more than they normally would to exploit mismatches and missed assignments. USC’s offensive line averages 6’4.5”, 313 pounds so the Eagles front seven needs to be MUCH more disciplined in gap assignments to have a chance to slow the USC offense down.
Players to Watch for USC
QB Jayden Maiava - 6’4”, 220 Pounds
15 of 18 for 295 Yards and 2 touchdowns in Week One
2 Carries for 9 yards and a touchdown in Week One
Transferred from UNLV after the 2023 season and was named the starter for USC for the final four games of 2024
WR Makai Lemon - 5’11”, 195 Pounds
7 receptions for 90 yards in Week One
52 receptions for 764 yards in 2024
4-Star Recruit in the Class of 2023
DE Braylan Shelby - 6’5”, 265 Pounds
4 Tackles, 2 Sacks and 3.5 TFL in Week One
28 tackles, 3 sacks and 5 TFL in 2024
4-Star Recruit in the Class of 2023
Georgia Southern-USC Connections
GS Offensive Lineman Colin Alexander and USC Linebacker Garrison Madden both played high school football for Dutchtown High School in Hampton, Georgia
GS Linebacker Braxtin McLester, GS Defensive Lineman Korey Jordan, and USC Cornerback James Johnson all played high school football at Douglas County High School in Douglasville, Georgia
GS Wide Receiver Jeremiah Ware and USC Offensive Lineman Alex Payne both played high school football at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia
GS Wide Receiver Camden Brown and USC Wide Receiver Jay Fair both played at Auburn University before transferring to GS and USC respectively
GS Quarterback Turner Helton graduated from Palos Verdes HS in Palos Verdes Estates, California and is the only player on Georgia Southern’s roster from the state of California
USC has seven players from the state of Georgia including WR Asante Das (Kennesaw, GA), CB James Johnson (Douglasville, GA), LB Garrison Madden (Hampton, GA), TE Walter Matthew (Hiram, GA), S Steve Miller (Greensboro, GA), OL Alex Payne (Gainesville, GA), and S Kendarius Reddick (Thomasville, GA)
GS Defensive Coordinator Brandon Bailey and USC Coach Grayson Reed coached together for Texas A&M from 2019-2020
GS Head Coach Clay Helton coached at USC from 2010-2021 in various roles including the Head Coach from 2015-2021
