Linebackers need to take the next step in their evolution at USC

It’s the time of year when college football fans read preseason magazines from publishers such as Phil Steele. If you have read the legendary college football analyst and magazine architect, you know that Steele views the USC linebackers as the No. 32 linebacker room in the country heading into the 2024 season. That’s good, but there’s certainly room for growth and evolution.

Easton Mascarenas-Arnold was a First Team All-Pac-12 selection in 2023 at Oregon State. Mascarenas-Arnold racked up 106 tackles and 11 of them were TFLs. He will likely play alongside Mason Cobb, who was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 at Oklahoma State. Eric Gentry was a Freshman All-American at Arizona State before back-to-back injury-filled seasons at USC. Can Matt Entz and Lynn bring Cobb back to his 96 tackles and 13 TFLs before he played in the dysfunction that was USC’s defense last year? Can Gentry stay healthy and consistently be the disruptive force we have seen when he is 100%?

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