First Practice: March 6
Spring Game: April 14
For the first time in a long time, USC fans can comfortably say that they enter spring practice where most believe they belong: On top of the college football world.
While no one will ever mistake these Trojans for the teams of Pete Carroll’s heyday (thanks, NCAA), the Trojans are coming off a 10-win season, survived a two-year bowl ban and enter 2012 with a bounty of front-line talent, including Heisman front-runner Matt Barkley.
Now, can the Trojans cash in all these good vibrations and make it to Miami for next year’s BCS title game? The road to a title starts this spring.
Stability Factor (1= Chaos; 5= Rock Solid): 4
For a program that has had as much instability as any over the last three, it seems as though the storm is finally calming. Sure there were a few transfers this spring (mainly because of scholarship limitations), and yeah there was some coaching turnover (hellllllllo Tee Martin), but in the world of big-time college football that’s kind of the norm. Otherwise, it’s been incredibly quiet around Troy. No NCAA investigators. No high-profile player complaints (good riddance Dillon Baxter). No major coaching changes.
Incredibly, Lane Kiffin has become college football’s poster boy of stability.
Under The Microscope: Running Back Depth
With USC, asking which player or position group is most “under the microscope” is a lot like asking a dude in his mid-20’s which Sports Illustrated swimsuit model is his least favorite. Ultimately, 
there’s no real good answer, and no matter what you say will seem nitpicky by comparison to other college football programs.
If you did have to pick a spot though, the answer would probably be running back. Marc Tyler has graduated, Amir Carlisle has transferred, and Baxter was booted last year for being a complete, and utter knuckle head. Because of it, only two proven scholarship backs remain, and as things stand, just three guys total who can tote the rock this spring.
Still, it’s hard to feel entirely bad for ‘SC when considering that one of those backs is junior Curtis McNeal, who rushed for over 1,000 yards last year, and averaged a staggering 6.9 yards per carry. D.J. Morgan could prove to be a serviceable back-up, and even if he’s limited, five-star recruit Nelson Agholor will get carries as soon as he arrives on campus this summer.
The defensive lines and offensive lines certainly need work, but building depth at running back should be the key for Kiffin’s club this spring.
Locked And Loaded: Quarterback
It doesn’t get more locked or more loaded than Matt Barkley, the Heisman Trophy favorite entering the season.
Barkley finished last season by throwing for 3,528 yards, and in the process also set a Pac-12 record with 39 touchdown passes. Did we mention that he also returns a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Robert Woods and Marquise Lee?
Add in this picture, and it’s quite clear: Right now, it’s good to be Matt Barkley.
Jockeying For Position: Left Tackle
Again, with so much returning talent, most of the positions on this roster are already wrapped up. One place to keep an eye on though is left tackle; Matt Kalil is gone for the riches of the NFL, and in his place, it appears as though Kiffin has elected to move Kevin Graf over from the right side.
This isn’t really a “position battle” since Graf seems to have it locked up, but it is still important. After all, keeping Barkley upright is the single most important thing USC needs to be able to do this spring and fall.
Name To Know: Lamar Dawson
With both Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard making Freshman All-America teams last year, it’d be easy to overlook the third starting sophomore linebacker on ‘SC’s roster, Lamar Dawson.
Don’t.
Despite starting the 2011 season as Chris Galippo’s back-up, it wasn’t long before the true freshman overtook the senior and ended the year as the starting middle linebacker. He finished the year with 25 total tackles, despite only playing in eight of USC’s games.
With a few starts under his belt, it could be a monster year for Dawson.
Spring Will Be A Success If… : Nobody Gets Hurt
For all the front-line talent that USC has, it’s also no secret that they’ve basically got no depth anywhere on the roster. USC has an All-American caliber player at virtually every position, yet they’re also one injury away from having an unheard of freshman or sophomore replacing them.
Granted, some help will come to campus in the fall, but right now the biggest thing this spring is keeping everyone upright, and on the field. If that can happen, they’ll be the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
That is however, a big if.
For all his opinion, insight and analysis on college football and beyond, please follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
