USC Head Coach Walks to the Field Beside Strength Trainer
Lincoln Riley has placed Trumain Carroll at the front of the team's entrance, a change from last year that reflects the coach's view of the role.
By Stella Brooks ·
USC head coach Lincoln Riley now walks onto the football field directly beside Trumain Carroll, the team's director of football sports performance. The two stand at the center of the Trojans' pregame entrance, a formation that marks a sharp departure from the previous year's routine. Last season, the team stormed out of the tunnel in a disorganized rush, with Riley at the front. This year, the group moves slowly and deliberately, linked arm in arm in a unified line.
Riley told reporters that placing Carroll at the front was a deliberate choice. He said he wanted the strength coach to be visible because of the specific role he plays in the program. Riley noted that the team's personality and leadership structure influenced the decision to change the entrance plan. The new routine sets a tone of intense calmness before the game begins.
Carroll joined the USC staff just before the 2025 season. Before that, he helped lead a cultural shift at Kansas State that resulted in three bowl game wins and a 2022 Big 12 Championship. Riley called the strength and conditioning role super important in college football. He said having one of the best in that position walk out front with the team is fitting.
This past offseason was Carroll's first full break with the Trojans. He used that time to physically transform the roster to meet Big Ten standards. The results were measurable. Defensive tackles Jide Abasiri and Jamaal Jarrett each lost 15 pounds. Offensive lineman Elijah Vaikona dropped 25 pounds. Other players added mass. Running back King Miller, tight end Mark Bowman, and linebackers Desman Stephens II and Ta’Mere Robinson each gained 10 pounds. Thirty-eight other players also put on weight under Carroll's guidance.
The team currently holds a 6-1 overall record and a 3-2 mark in Big Ten play. Players say Carroll's consistent approach keeps them focused. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri said Carroll keeps the team disciplined and prevents them from getting complacent. Abasiri noted that Carroll stays hard on the players and remains the same person every day, making him someone the team can count on and trust.
Several football alumni have served as tunnel captains this season, hoisting the Trojan Sword to lead the way. The entrance now features a specific order with the Trojans linked together. Riley said the plan was put together early in the season. The visual presentation of the team entering the stadium now emphasizes unity and deliberate focus rather than speed.
