USC football rush end depth: Jamil Muhammad looks like a difference maker
With spring practice in the books, we've put out our projected USC football depth chart for the fall. But let's go deeper. Over the course of the next few weeks, we'll release position-by-position breakdowns of USC's roster.
Who is back from last season? Who's new? Who will have the biggest impact? Who's an under-the-radar player to watch? What does the future of the position look like?
We'll answer all of those questions and more.
We started our breakdowns with the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, offensive line, cornerbacks, linebackers, safeties and nickel safeties. Let's now move to the rush end position.
THE ROOM
There are a lot of moving parts on USC's defensive line. Some players listed as rush ends below could end up lining up somewhere else.
We know for sure that Jamil Muhammad and freshman Sam Greene will be in the rush end rotation with Muhammad likely starting. Behind them are two defensive lineman who played the position last year in Romello Height and Solomon Byrd.
Three other true freshmen join Greene as potential rush ends: Braylan Shelby, David Peevy and Elijah Hughes.
Muhammad is a transfer from Georgia State. He was initially recruited out of high school to play quarterback by Vanderbilt prior to transferring to Georgia State.
PROJECTED LINEUP AND DEPTH CHART
1. Jamil Muhammad (R-Sr.)
2. Sam Greene (Fr.)
3. Solomon Byrd (R-Sr.) OR Romello Height (R-Jr.)
4. Braylan Shelby (Fr.) OR David Peevy (Fr.) OR Elijah Hughes (Fr.)
Muhammad was recruited to take over as the starter for Nick Figueroa, who graduated. Greene enrolled early and had such a good spring that Lincoln Riley said he will likely play in 2023. Height was in line for a big role last year before a shoulder injury ended his season two games in. Byrd had a solid year as a rotation option in 2022 and will likely continue in that same role in the fall. Out of the remaining three freshmen, Shelby is the most likely to carve out a spot in the rotation as a top 100 2023 prospect.
2022 BY THE NUMBERS
Muhammad (at Georgia State): Played in 12 games with 9 starts. Played a total of 511 snaps. Made 44 tackles and had 1.5 sacks. Recorded 1 forced fumble and 1 interception.
Byrd: Played in all 14 games making 4 starts. Played a total of 405 defensive snaps. Made 28 tackles and had 4 sacks. Recovered 2 fumbles and forced 1.
Height: Started 2 games and played 33 snaps.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Like pretty much every position on USC's defense, the rush end group has the potential to be better than it was a year ago. Muhammad should be an upgrade over Figueroa and Byrd, who was solid last year, should once again play a key role. Greene's great spring has put him in a position to be a real difference maker. Anything Height can provide will be helpful after missing so much time last season and being a non-contact participant in the spring.
Shelby has a ton of potential. Peevy and Hughes will likely use their true freshman seasons to develop.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE POSITION LOOK LIKE?
With four freshmen in this group, the future of the rush end position is bright. If USC winds up with two difference makers from their 2023 recruiting class they'll be in business. If three hit, the position will be set at the top for the next three seasons. The USC staff could take a rush end or two in the 2024 class, but with potentially four rush ends enrolling from the 2023 class, it's not a major position of need this cycle. Landing Shelby, a top 100 recruit on defense, was a major coup for the Trojans last cycle.
