LOS ANGELES — Tobias Raymond felt like a freshman all over again when he started getting spring practice repetitions at center.
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So it was a little ironic when the redshirt junior walked into the Bloom Football Performance Center media room with a shirt from his freshman year on scout team. It had “destroyers” written across the chest.
“I’d think so much about where to ID and trying to get it so perfect that I’d forget to do my technique,” Raymond said of learning center.
His experience and versatility prevailed in the end, and he learned the position well enough to be named the starting center ahead of Saturday’s season opener against San Jose State. Previous starter Kilian O’Connor suffered a season-ending injury during fall training camp.
When Raymond gets that start, he’ll have played and started at every spot on the offensive line except for right guard.
“He’s one of the steadiest people and players in this program, and he’s a guy you can count on,” head coach Lincoln Riley said. “A guy that’s fought through countless things to play here.
“He’s played through so many different injuries and all that that the world didn’t know … he’s just that type of player and competitor. And that’s the kind of guy you want leading our O-line.”
Offensive line coach Zach Hanson worked him in at every position on the interior beginning with spring practices, which gave Raymond an inkling that a move to center was within the realm of possibility.
Hudl IQ analytics show that Raymond had an exceptionally low stuff and sack percentages of .25% last season. Combined with a 6-foot-6, 310-pound frame, that makes him a key component of USC’s success in both the running and passing game and a natural choice for the interior.
“When you start thinking about his future after college, center was something that’s always kind of made sense in our mind,” Riley said. “We always kind of thought that at some point there would be that transition for him. It just happened a little bit sooner than maybe we thought.”
O’Connor is still a valuable resource, even though he’s physically limited to wheeling around in a mobility scooter at practices right now. He and Raymond watch film together, and O’Connor doles out pointers on technique, identifying the middle linebacker and setting assignments pre-snap.
Raymond has the trust of his coaches and teammates – including quarterback Jayden Maiava, who never thought his newest center looked like a freshman.
“He’s been attacking it,” Maiava said. “He’s been working his butt off. Coach Hanson’s just done such a great job working all those guys all over the O-line. I think that that alone should bring confidence.”
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STEWART EXPECTED TO SIT OUT OPENER
Sophomore defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart is expected to sit out Saturday’s game, Riley confirmed on Tuesday evening, due to a foot injury.
“The plan is to probably hold him,” Riley said, “and then I think he’ll be available from that point forward, but it’s certainly not long-term. A little precautionary right now and let him do a little bit of healing and should be back here pretty quick.”
Stewart, a former five-star recruit and the No. 1 defensive lineman recruit in the country, played most of his freshman season with a stress fracture in his foot.
The Trojans have depth at the position with players like Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeran, Jide Abasiri, Floyd Boucard and Jamaal Jarrett.
BIG TEN PASSES NFL TRANSFER RULE
The Big Ten Conference passed a rule on Tuesday morning that will prohibit NFL players from returning to play college football for any of its schools.
It was unanimously approved by Big Ten athletic directors, according to reports, and applies to any player who has declared for and did not withdraw from the NFL draft, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a professional contract.
“The conference continues to evaluate potential rules restricting professional athletes in other sports from conference competition,” the conference said in a statement.
Two NFL players have already transferred to LSU to play for head coach Lane Kiffin – tight end Dae’Quan Harris of the Cleveland Browns and defensive end Zxavian Harris of the New Orleans Saints.
However, not long after the Big Ten announced punishments for programs for signing pro players, the SEC made an announcement of its own, banning NFL players, along with NBA and G League players, from returning to the collegiate level.
Riley shared some thoughts on the topic last week, before the Big Ten and SEC policies were announced.
“That is definitely something I wish wasn’t happening in college football right now,” he said, “and not for any individual’s sake just, again, for maybe the overall good of the game – anyways, long story, right? I think, though, for us, it is something we’re looking at.”
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