Jamil Muhammad explains decision to return to USC for 2024 season
USC rush end Jamil Muhammad became the first Trojan to firmly announce his return to school for the 2024 season when he did so in late November. On Friday, following USC’s bowl practice, Muhammad went in-depth on his decision.
“Unfinished business,” Muhammad said, referring both to himself and the USC program. “I have a lot of things that I want to accomplish individually, but obviously, the team as well. We’re moving to a new conference, so I’m excited for that. I just have a lot left out there that I deserve to prove to myself, not to anyone else on the outside. And obviously, I want to continue to improve my stock as well.”
Muhammad arrived at USC as a transfer from Georgia State this past offseason. The 6-foot-1, 250-pounder moved into the starting rush end spot following the season opener and never gave it up.
He finished the regular season with 42 tackles and tied for the team lead with six sacks. He finished second on the Trojans with 10 tackles for loss and added two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. But a huge chunk of his productivity came over the first six games of the season, including all of his sacks and tackles for loss.
Muhammad seemed to move into a leadership role as the season progressed, often taking the podium after games to answer questions about that side of the ball. He said one of his offseason goals is to fully establish himself as a leader and become a team captain next season.
“I’ve learned to, I guess, adapt to who I’m playing with as far as my teammates,” Muhammad said. “I learned how to respond to certain teammates versus other teammates. So really, just growing that leadership role not just on the team but also in the building as well, around campus. Just any way I can lead, I want to be better.”
As far as growth on the field, Muhammad was direct when asked what areas need to improve for the USC defense next season.
“Everywhere,” he said. “But just speaking for me, I have to get bigger, I have to get faster, I have to get stronger. That’s everybody, I’m sure if you asked everybody, especially the guys on the defensive line.”
While most Trojan fans would love to turn the page on the 2023 season and get started on the D’Anton Lynn era with the USC defense, Muhammad said that side of the ball views this Holiday Bowl performance as an important one.
“We want to go out there and show what we can do, show how we can finish,” Muhammad said. “It’s also a momentum factor, too. You would hate to have to go into the next season thinking about the ‘L’ you took. You want to go into, not even next season, really the offseason, the winter workouts with the ‘W’ under your belt. And obviously going into a new phase with a new defensive coordinator. I think it’s all a momentum factor.”
Lynn took advantage of having some experienced, veteran and talented edge rushers when he took over the UCLA defense last season. Giving him as much of that same kind of experience to work with up front at USC could help speed the turnaround on that side of the ball for the Trojans.
