Can Jude Wolfe be the USC offense's H-Factor?

There are a few players on this USC roster who will see their productivity skyrocket under new head coach Lincoln Riley. Tight end Jude Wolfe looks like he could be one of those players based on his ability to slide into the H-back role, a key position in the Riley offense.

Wolfe’s USC career has been slowed by injuries. A back injury limited him as a true freshman. A broken foot sidelined him for much of 2020 and throughout 2021 spring ball. He was able to play in 11 games last season, catching eight passes for 56 yards.

Wolfe works to find silver linings in his stop-and-start USC career to this point.

“It hasn’t been everything I expected, but certainly there’s always good to come out of everything,” Wolfe said. “Last year was probably the toughest it’s been since I’ve been here, but I learned a lot. There are some big takeaways from the year. I’m just excited to put that behind us and look forward.”

USC tight ends woke up a bit last season after a lengthy nap. The 47 receptions between five tight ends last season were four more than the entire position group caught in 2018, 2019 and 2020, combined. It’s also one more than Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Hall and Austin Stogner caught last season. Though Hall and Stogner caught seven touchdowns between then, compared to just three for USC’s group.

Wolfe settles in at H-back

The tight ends have cross-trained at both the H-Back and Y positions and that group is asked to play everything from traditional tight end, to typical fullback to a split out receiver. Quarterbacks receive the most attention in Riley’s offense, as they do pretty much everywhere. Media often highlight running backs and wide receivers as well. But there might not be a spot more integral to the success of the offense than the H-back. Riley has a way of making it hugely impactful. And the ability of that player to influence the passing and running games is vital.

Tight ends coach Zach Hanson called the H-back role a “huge part” of the offense. Wolfe said it wasn’t a focal point of the offense, but that it holds much more weight than the position has in the past.

“It’s much more crucial to how the offense functions,” Wolfe said.

The H-back will line up pretty much anywhere in this offense. Looking back at Hall’s production at Oklahoma is a good way to visualize it. He played as an offset fullback, next to the quarterback in the shotgun, a traditional tight end, a wingback, in the slot and part of a bunch formation. The H-back will line up with his hand in the dirt or in a two-point stance, will serve as a true lead blocker in the run game or decoy and release as a receiver. He’ll block defensive ends or cornerbacks. He’ll be the No. 1 receiving option on occasion or an outlet receiver. Hall even logged six rushing attempts and scored a touchdown on the ground last season. There are a lot of different expectations but one quality that must be consistent.

“He’s got to be a really savvy football player,” Hanson said of the H-back. “There’s a lot of feel.”

Wolfe sees a few more necessities to the spot.

“You’ve got to be physical, but I’d say smart above all else,” Wolfe said. “There’s a lot we have to learn. Being involved in the run and pass game, that’s just another layer of the offense you have to learn to master and be completely comfortable with before you get on the field. So, you know, being smart, being physical. And just fanatical effort at all times.”

Wolfe played this position in high school before moving to a more traditional tight end spot at USC. But he said he feels comfortable moving back there.

“I’m pretty much like a hybrid tight end,” Wolfe said. “I think I can get it done in the run game and in the passing game. And I think bringing that to the table fits really well in this offense.”

The Trojans won’t unveil everything this offense has to offer during Saturday’s spring game. But Wolfe and fellow tight end Malcolm Epps have been two of the standouts over the first 13 spring ball practices. This weekend in the Coliseum, Wolfe can illustrate just what kind of impact he might be able to make this season for the USC offense.