USC coach Riley: Grinch to return as group’s DC

7:38 PM ET Paolo UggettiESPN USC protective planner Alex Grinch will stay in his position next season, according to head coach Lincoln Riley, who revealed the news in a session with regional media on Tuesday.”I’ve been through it enough with that man to know, do not bet against him,”Riley said, according to press reporters who

went to.” I know what he’s made of. I simply do. I understand what’s getting ready to happen defensively.” Riley repeated his self-confidence in Grinch, who joined Riley at Oklahoma in 2019 and followed him to USC last season. As Riley upgraded the program last year, the Trojans included a handful of protective transfers to try to support their shortages, but the defense still struggled under Grinch all season long. 1 Related Despite forcing 28 turnovers that helped the Trojans win 11 games a year after going 4-8, the unit was 8th in the conference in both

hurrying and passing defense and allowed an average of over 400 backyards of offense per game. The latest imperfection– allowing Tulane to score 46 points in the Cotton Bowl and come back from 14 points down to beat the Trojans– had actually left some doubt as to whether Grinch would remain.Riley, nevertheless, is supporting Grinch, who has reiterated himself the need for enhancement. All season long, after wins or losses, Grinch was not hesitant to point out that the defense needed to be much better and

play up to the standard the offense– led by Riley and Heisman quarterback Caleb Williams– was setting.Part of that improvement will as soon as again originated from a mix of transfer additions and internal development. USC included defensive lineman Jack Sullivan from Purdue in the portal just recently, as well as both cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace and defensive lineman Kyon Barrs from Arizona. Four-star linebacker Mason Cobb from Oklahoma State is also set to join the Trojans. Edge rush Braylan Shelby and linebacker Curtis Tackett(both four-stars)headline USC’s defensive employees in the 2023 class.”Whoever is coordinating at Georgia, I make sure he’s a great coach but take a look at the people last night, “Riley said describing Georgia’s dominant win over TCU in the national title game.” Do they look like our guys? Not yet. Our guys don’t look like that. We will soon.”The 42-year-old Grinch, who has been linked to head-coaching jobs in the past, will get another chance to surpass USC’s defense as it heads into a crucial offseason that will set up Williams’ last season at USC and the best shot the Trojans may have in the instant future to get to the College Football Playoff.