USC football: 5 Trojans poised for breakout seasons in 2020

4. USC football breakout players: Max Williams

Max Williams is a mystery in the Trojans secondary. He was a four-star recruit from last year’s class. During his freshman year, he only played sparingly because he was hampered by an ankle injury. Williams only saw time in about four games.

Somehow, when many analysts, including those close to the Trojans program, look at the USC secondary, they don’t value Williams very high. They talk about Olaijah Griffin and Chris Steele as the starters on the outside. The upside plays are given to Dorian Hewett, who started one game last season because of injury.

Williams might be the most talented of all of them. His ratings as a recruit were wildly different depending on who you ask. Some had him in the late 100s and one of the top 25 cornerbacks in the country, while others have him well below that.

The Trojans secondary returns just about everybody, including four players with starts on the outside and their nickel cornerback in Greg Johnson. It sounds like Williams might have to wait his turn, but that’s not how I see it. He proved in limited time last season that he’s worthy of snaps.

Also, he was coming off a major knee injury he suffered in high school. Another year off that injury, and with a new cornerbacks coach to impress, the Trojans could have a very hard decision to make on the outside. It’s especially important with Todd Orlando’s defenses focusing so much on the nickel cornerback.