College Football: 5 reasons USC wins 2017 National Championship

3. Veteran defense

Anyone saying that the USC defense didn’t take a big hit due to the NFL Draft is sorely mistaken (though I’m not sure how many would actually say that). Adoree’ Jackson was a proven playmaker in the secondary that could lock down on the outside, in addition to what he gave the Trojans on special teams. What’s more, he wasn’t the only defender lost from the defense as safety Leon McQuay III and nose tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu also made their way to the pros.

Even with those losses, however, this is still a veteran group on defense that is littered with talent, and high-end talent at that. Back in the secondary, there’s no question that Iman Marshall is the tone-setter and leader of the group. It’d be hard to argue that he wasn’t even better than Jackson one year ago. So with another year of growth and development under his belt, he could be a bonafide star in the USC secondary in the 2017 season.

What’s more, Cam Smith will be the leader of the defense, particularly the front seven. He’s a tackling machine that leads by example and with his presence in the huddle. There’s no doubt that this unit will take their orders from the veteran college player, and that’s a strong statement for the mentality that this unit will play with.

Rightfully so, much of the talk about USC’s College Football Playoff and National Championship chances will center on their offense. Don’t sleep on their defense, though, as this unit is experienced and will be more than capable of holding their own.