USC special teams have been a sore spot for the Trojans in recent years, but new coordinator Mike Ekeler is ready to flip the script. After a rocky 2023 season that saw crucial special teams miscues—most notably in the heartbreaking loss to Oregon—the Trojans have brought in a fresh voice to lead the charge.

Ekeler, who also coaches linebackers and joined USC from Nebraska, is already buzzing about the potential he sees. "The amount of talent we have and the amount of talent that we're going to be able to put out there on special teams, I'm not joking, like it's hard for me to sleep at night because I'm so damn excited," Ekeler told 247Sports. "It's about finding the really good mixture of guys and giving them roles."

With a roster loaded with young playmakers, Ekeler is focused on building depth and confidence. "We have so many talented young players here, finding a spot for them, giving them roles to go out there, and when the lights are on, make plays that are going to affect winning and losing games," he said. "To get them a part of it so now when their number's called and they go out on offense, they go out on defense, they're already in the flow of the game, been there done that. It's about finding that right mixture, which we will."

For a team with College Football Playoff aspirations, a reliable special teams unit could be the difference between a good season and a great one. If Ekeler can turn this unit around, expect the Trojans to win the hidden yardage battle—and maybe an extra game or two along the way.