Brett Nealon pegged Jonah Monheim as the eventual heir to the USC center throne long before Monheim ever stepped on the field for the Trojans. From the former three-star prospect's first practice at USC in 2020, it was clear that Monheim would find his way to the middle of the offensive line, even if he had to bide his time at guard and tackle initially.
“I really didn't know when it was going to happen,” said Neylon, a four-year starter at center. “But we just kind of knew Jonah was going to be a great center.”
The Trojans need stability on a shaky offensive line that was one of the team's biggest disappointments last season, and Monheim's long-anticipated move to center has finally come to fruition. In search of a bounce-back year, the team is relying on a redshirt senior who hasn't played center in a game since his youth football days.
Despite the lengthy layoff, the experiment is yielding positive results more than halfway through spring practice. Monheim's 6-foot-5, 308-pound frame is ideal for the position, and the high football IQ he showed as a freshman led the Moorpark graduate to be “probably a little more advanced than I thought he would be,” according to the head coach. said Lincoln Riley. .
“He's this far along mentally and knows us well, so that's a great starting point,” Riley said. “But he has also coped very well with the physical demands so far.”
Monheim attributed part of his rapid improvement to working with Neylon during the offseason, when Neylon was on campus preparing for his pro day this spring. This was a postponed showcase for the Rimington Trophy finalist, who tore his Achilles tendon during the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game, and Nealon needed a workout partner. he texted Monheim.
They trained twice a week for about six weeks, learning the basics from snapping the ball and honing their blocking techniques through drills. They talked through scenarios and others discussed the finer points of the position, which is very different from the four line spots.
“What I'm trying to learn is the mentality of his steps, body placement, hand placement, etc. That's something you only really get live,” Monheim said.
Although he started 12 games at left tackle and one at right guard last year and earned Associated Press All-Pac-12 second-team honors, Monheim welcomed the move to center. That's because Monheim and the USC coaches felt he had the highest professional ceiling at the position. Neylon said he is the “perfect size” for the pros, and despite being taller than USC's recent centers, Monheim still lacks the athleticism to bend his knees and play low inside. The contact will be quicker and come from a bigger defensive lineman.
“It's a lot more of a power game inside,” offensive line coach Josh Henson said.
Daily practice for Monheim is focused on getting as many live reps as possible during spring practice, which concludes with the April 20 spring game.
“You can see it in movies over and over again, but it's not until you actually do it and physically feel it that you know the difference,” Monheim said.
Riley said the center's responsibilities are unique compared to other offensive line positions, and it's difficult to predict how even the most experienced player will react to the move. The Trojans moved longtime guard Justin Dedic to center last season, but struggled to integrate the three transfers and were unable to find chemistry. USC ran efficiently with 4.83 yards per carry, but allowed 2.54 sacks per game, which ranked eighth in the Pac-12.
“Last year, I felt like there was a disconnect somewhere where we couldn't give each other energy,” Henson said. “When we got into those tough moments, we didn't react to each other. But what I'm seeing so far is a lot of guys coming out with enthusiasm. , we're grabbing each other, helping each other, pulling each other along. I like this situation. The group is culturally driven.”
USC is rebuilding its offensive line this year with promising young players competing for more playing time. Sophomore Alani Noah started at left guard in last year's season opener and is working at right guard alongside redshirt freshman Amos Talalele. Sophomore Elijah Page played at left tackle in the Holiday Bowl and is expected to resume that role as a full-time starter.
Monheim, who has played in 40 career games, sets the tone for a young group.
“Jonah had a ringtone,” Nealon said. “I think he can easily lead them by example because he was forced to play young as a freshman and he was forced to play a lot. We need to take a big step up.”
This change in position only increased attention to Monheim's leadership responsibilities. He's ready for his moment on stage.
“There's always pressure,” Monheim said. “But that just comes with playing football at USC.”
