Linebackers dominate USC's Core Values Players of the Week
The third batch of USC’s Core Values Players of the Week was announced Monday evening and it had a heavy linebacker feel to it as Eric Gentry, Garrison Madden and Ryan Quintanar were chosen. All three are linebackers and bring various levels of previous impact into the 2025 season.
Gentry is expected to be a leader of the defense in 2025 after missing most of the 2024 season following a concussion sustained against Wisconsin. Gentry said after that game he would sit out the remainder of the regular season and use his available redshirt year. Despite missing eight regular season games, he still led the Trojans in tackles for loss. He finished the year with 33 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He’ll be a leader for the Trojans and one of the most versatile defenders in the Pac-12 this season. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn said Gentry was putting on and holding good weight, which had been a challenge for him previously.
Madden will look to make more of an impact on the defensive side as a redshirt junior, but he did take on a strong special teams role in 2024, finishing with five tackles.
Quintanar came to USC from TCU last season and landed a role on special teams, appearing in eight games.
Linebacker is a big focal point for the USC defense this season. The Trojans lost starters Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Mason Cobb this offseason and depth could be an issue. Gentry and second-year player Desman Stephens look to be the starters. USC grabbed a big addition out of the transfer portal in former Penn State linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson. Backups like Madden, Anthony Beavers and Jadyn Walker will need to make an impact if called upon.
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About the Core Values Players
Three student-athletes will be recognized each week for “exemplifying each of our program’s three core values.” Photos of the players are accompanied by the words, “Unify,” “Sacrifice” and “Championship Culture.”
USC’s social media post reads: “These student-athletes actionably unify us into a familial band of brothers, choose to see the team’s mission as more valuable than their own personal ambition, and drive a contagious championship-level culture of discipline. Though their motivation is not praise, we honor these student-athletes publicly for the way they’ve worked privately.”
Previous USC Core Values Players of the Week
June 17 – WR Makai Lemon, DT Jide Abasiri, DT Devan Thompkins
June 24 – OC Kilian O’Connor, RB Waymond Jordan, LB Anthony Beavers
