Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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off while the Trojans' recruiting has picked up the last two seasons, includ- ing a No. 1 ranking by Rivals.com this February. 2015 PERSONNEL OVERVIEW: USC could have returned all 11 starters from its potent 2014 offense, but wide receiver Nelson Agholor (1,313 yards receiv- ing) and running back Javorius Allen (1,489 yards rushing) both declared early for the NFL Draft. Although he was not a starter, wideout George Farmer — who scored two of USC's first three touchdowns versus Notre Dame on 31- and 48-yard passes — also opted to turn pro. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams decided to forego his senior year for NFL riches as well, making Florida State the lone team this season with more early entries than USC. Still, the offense is expected to re- main lethal with the return of all five starting linemen and quarterback Cody Kessler, who threw the most touchdown passes ever in a game against Notre Dame (six) and finished No. 4 nationally in pass efficiency (167.1 rating). Defensively, the front seven has to be rebuilt, but safety Su'a Cravens (17 tackles for loss in 2014) headlines a strong secondary. SUMMARY: With Kessler, a veteran line and reloading at the skill positions, this team has the makings to put up 30-plus points in its sleep, but it is the defense that will dictate its fate. The Trojans are in the top 10 of the myriad "way too early" 2015 polls, and as high as No. 4 by ESPN. We consider this maybe the toughest challenge in 2015 not just in light of USC's 49-14 slaughter of the Irish last November, but also because the Irish are 2-6 the past eight years in the game following Navy (never mind mid-term exams). 2. AT CLEMSON (10-3) REVIEWING 2014: The Tigers won nine of their last 10 games, highlighted by the 40-6 thrashing of Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl. It marked their fourth straight season with at least 10 victories. Clemson finished No. 1 nationally in total defense (260.8 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency defense (98.3 rating), No. 3 in scoring defense (16.7 points allowed per game) and No. 5 versus the run (103.4 yards al- lowed per game). 2015 PERSONNEL OVERVIEW: This time the offense, with seven returning starters, might have to carry a defense that has only four returning starters. DeShaun Watson, Rivals.com's No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in 2014, had a partial ACL tear late in the year that led to December surgery. Prior to get- ting hurt, he completed 67.9 percent of his passes, averaged 10.7 yards per attempt, and tossed 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. Other underclass standouts are sec- ond-team All-ACC receivers Artavis Scott (76 catches for 965 yards and eight scores) and Mike Williams (18.1 yards per catch on 57 receptions), and running back Wayne Gallman (team- high 769 rushing yards). However, of- fensive coordinator Chad Morris was hired as SMU's head coach. Taking his place as co-coordinators are running backs coach Tony Elliott and receivers coach Jeff Scott, both of whom have been with head coach Dabo Swinney at least three years.