Lincoln Riley On USC's Addition Of Kliff Kingsbury: 'He’s Really Invested In What We’re Doing'

News & notes from USC's 13th practice of spring:

• USC announced the addition of Kliff Kingsbury, a veteran football mind, to the staff on Tuesday (Apr. 11). He joins the program as a senior offensive analyst, a role left vacant after the departure of Will Harriger to the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Lincoln Riley shared Tuesday how Kingsbury's hiring came about:

  • "I asked Kliff in passing if it was something he'd be interested in and described it to him," Riley explained. "He thought about it for a little bit and it just ended up being a great fit really for both sides. He's obviously got familiarity with our offense; he's got familiarity with a lot of the members on our staff. So I think that it certainly made sense. Obviously, his experience on the offensive side will be very helpful in terms of game planning, some of those things [analysts] can do off the field. Having another set of eyes there is very, very helpful."

• Riley also stressed how Kingbury's hire is not due to his personal connections to the staff, but his belief in USC's football program:

  • "I know he's really invested in what we're doing and really excited," Riley said of Kingsbury. "This isn't something he is going to come do because he likes some of the people here. Professionally, he sees the opportunity that this is right now, which is a cool statement for our program, that a guy like that would want to come take this role and help this program take another big step, and he recognizes what's going on. Just another example of where we're headed and another great bit of momentum for our program."

• Riley's path with Kingsbury first crossed at Texas Tech, when both men played for the late Mike Leach. When asked Tuesday what coach Leach would think of Riley and Kingsbury joining forces, the head coach couldn't help but chuckle:

  • "I've got to go with the G rated version," Riley said with a grin. "Deep down, he would really like it. He would come up with really a clever, probably fairly crude, remark to describe it. He would have a funny take on it, but deep down I think he would enjoy it. I think he always took some pride in seeing guys getting together and I know he'd enjoy it a lot more if we had a lot of success together. Hopefully we can get that done and make that goal come to fruition."

• Inside wide receivers Luke Huard spoke to the media for the first time since he was promoted from his interim role. Huard shared what the past year has been like for himself, taking on the responsibility to coach USC's inside wide receivers:

  • "[It was] a learning year for sure," Huard said. "First time here with Coach Riley and his staff. I just have a tremendous amount of gratitude. The people here are just phenomenal. Just to be a part of the USC football program having grown up on the West Coast, in Seattle, in this Pac-12 region, to have the opportunity to drive into this place every day, coach here and understand what the expectations are here. Every football coach, everybody that's in this profession, strives to be at a place like this, where the expectations are high."

• Sophomore Raleek Brown has taken on more responsibilities within USC's offense this spring. Coach Huard shared what he's seen so far from the running back:

  • "Raleek is eager to learn and to grow," Huard said. "He spends extra time trying to learn the offense, learn the playbook. His effort and engagement level has been really, really, really good. He's obviously a guy that can do a lot of different things. He has a variety of skill sets. I've been impressed, but you know, we've still got a lot of work to do and we've got some time to do it."

• Huard also evaluated true freshman Zachariah Branch's first spring as a Trojan:

  • "He has a great deal of energy, great deal of love for this game," Huard said. "Obviously, you guys have seen the physical part and just his desire to learn and grow each day. Great energy. Fantastic young man to be around every day in meetings and on the field."

• Quarterback Caleb Williams shared his thoughts Tuesday on the Kliff Kingsbury hire:

  • "It's cool. He knows the offense in a way; they're all from the same coaching tree," Williams said. "Can't wait to get him here and learn from him. My dreams and goals, being at the next level -- he's done it at the highest levels of coaching."

• Williams, who faces pressure from USC's defense each practice, evaluated what he's seen from the team's defensive linemen this spring:

  • "We've got more depth on defense, they're all fighting for a job," Williams said. "Going against them every day has helped us because they all want to start. They all want to be out there for game days, for the first rep of the game and the last rep of the game, the big moments. It's good going against them and they've got a little bit of fire up under them, which is awesome."

• The junior quarterback also shared the growth that he's seen from USC's newest quarterback, Malachi Nelson:

  • "He's been developing. It's been pretty cool to see," Williams said. "When he first got here, it was more just learning the playbook. Learn what everybody's gonna be learning: the hot routes, all the protections, all the hand signals. Now, it's more working on the small things: making sure he's in rhythm, making sure that his feet are under him when he needs to deliver a ball or things like that. He's been doing a good job. It's been pretty cool sitting back and helping him when he asks."

• Wide receiver Mario Williams, who entered the college ranks as a two-sport athlete, shared Tuesday that he has set aside his baseball dreams in order to focus on football:

  • "I'm trying to get ready to look further in life. I'm gonna stick with football," Williams said.

  • "It was hard," Williams said of the decision.  "I still love baseball. I wish I could go out there and play right now. There's more stuff in life that you've got to overcome and work hard towards to get where you want to get."

• Redshirt junior Jonah Monheim gave a status update on USC's offensive line now 13 practices into spring camp:

  • "We've been making progress. Obviously, [there are] new additions to the room, reconstructing the lineup, guys competing for spots, things like that," Monheim said. "There's always going to be progress that has to be made — really from all aspects: technique, communication plan as a unit, understanding the offense, defensive schemes, things like that. We've been making progress. We got to just keep getting coached; keep taking that coaching on the field and keep learning from it."

• Monheim has been a versatile lineman for USC throughout his Trojan career. He went into detail Tuesday and described what it takes to play both right and left tackle:

  • "I'd say [playing both] sides of the line is tough because you're flipping body mechanics," Monheim explained. "You're flipping strengths, how your muscles are working, how your legs are working, timing, hands — really everything's flipping and if you're not used to it, it can be an awkward transition."

  • "More so, position wise, it's just understanding how things happen at each position. The further you go inside, the quicker things will happen," Monheim continued. "Tackle, obviously, you're playing more space, more time. Guard and center, they're a lot quicker, guys on you regarding whatever scheme it is."

• Monheim also had praise for USC's defensive line, sharing how that side of the ball fared in Tuesday's practice:

  • "Those guys have all been competing. They did a great job today, I'd say they out competed us to end practice," Monheim said. "I really can attest to them getting better and working hard. There's definitely been some guys standing out - too many to name. They've been working hard and it's been good to compete against them."

• Offensive lineman Michael Tarquin is connected to a USC legend by marriage. His wife is the daughter of Tony Boselli, former USC offensive lineman and recent NFL Hall of Fame inductee. Tarquin shared Tuesday what football advice he's received from his father in law:

  • "He's been very helpful," Tarquin said. "When I got into the NCAA transfer portal, he did a really good job of being unbiased and helped me make the right decision. Regardless of his career at USC or anything like that, whenever I need anything I know I can always call him and he's very helpful."