Doug Belk USC secondary is underrated by Phil Steele

The USC football team has a secondary which, in the eyes of most fans, should be good this year. Legendary college football magazine publisher Phil Steele isn’t as convinced the Trojans will have a top secondary. He rated the USC secondary at No. 55 in his preseason projections. Doug Belk has a chance to make a statement in response to that ranking.

USC’s Akili Arnold had the fourth-highest coverage grade of any returning safety in the Power Five ranks of college football last year according to PFF. He received All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2023.  PFF recently tweeted out that Akili Arnold has allowed one touchdown in 569 coverage snaps since 2021, which has led him to an impressive 88.1 coverage grade.

Kamari Ramsey, DeCarlos Nicholson, Greedy Vance, and John Humphrey were all added in the offseason to overhaul the secondary. Jacobe Covington will compete for a starting cornerback job with Nicholson and Humphrey, if they can hold off red-hot true freshman (from St. John Bosco) Marcelles Williams, who impressed in spring camp and at the spring game with his ballhawking skills.

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