Another year of football is kicking off, and that means more former USC Trojans will take the field in their new NFL homes. So far, Ja'Kobi Lane not only has been one of the most talked-about rookies in the league; he is becoming a fan favorite across the NFL. His performance was not even the best of the bunch this past week as it pertains to Trojan alumni in the pros.
Here is my breakdown of how some former USC football players fared in Week 1 of the NFL preseason:
Ja'Kobi Lane
Lane was the star of the bunch this past week. Lane built off of all the training camp hype and hauled in 3 catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. Lane's stardom is only continuing to grow, and he is no longer looked at as an underrated player with a lot of talent. By the end of this preseason, Lane could end up being Lamar's top target.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
Newly starting linebacker Arnold posted 4 tackles vs the Chicago Bears. He does not have to prove himself as much as many other guys on this list. However, for the preseason, it will be all about building confidence and maintaining his position until the regular season.
Bishop Fitzgerald
Undrafted free agent Bishop Fitzgerald got his opportunity to show what he can do vs the 49ers. Fitzgerald had 2 tackles on the day. He is currently a player on the bubble, but his skill set is one in which, if more opportunity comes, he can be a very valuable member of a defense's secondary.
Mekhi Blackmon
Blackmon showed up big for the Colts last season, and the change of scenario looks to benefit him greatly. Blackmon tallied 5 tackles vs the Patriots in Week 1. He should be in for another season as a key contributor.
Greedy Vance
Greedy Vance was all over the place for the Las Vegas Raiders. Vance had 10 tackles vs the Arizona Cardinals. Vance got some experience last season, and he is a key part of the Raiders rotation currently. The Raiders are giving him a full opportunity to move up the ranks, and his performance this past week showed he is ready to take that next step.
Solomon Byrd
Byrd, since joining the Texans, has mostly been a special teams guy. So far, he has specialized in that role. In the first preseason game this past week, he showed he can be more than that with 5 tackles vs the Chargers. His value to the special teams will keep him on the 53-man roster, but this could be the year when he provides the Texans with much more.
Jaylin Smith
Jaylin Smith is another former Trojan for USC who is looking to expand his value. He tallied just 2 tackles vs the Chargers. He will still have 2 games left to build some momentum and showcase the type of player he can be for Demeco Ryans; he will have to tally more than just 2 tackles.
Kamari Ramsey
Ramsey was the best former Trojan for the Texans. He posted just 2 pass deflections. However, he had a big interception in the red zone to stop a Chargers drive that had momentum. It is plays like that that help players in Ramsey's position stand out. He showcases his ball skills, and that is a valuable asset to a defense. I expect him to make more plays this preseason and earn himself a spot in the rotation.
Anthony Lucas
Anthony Lucas has the size needed to be an impactful rotation player. This preseason, if he showcases that he can put it all together, he could make the Lions roster. In his first game, he tallied just 2 tackles. Over the next 2 games, he'll need to have a bigger impact to stand out. The Lions need more production in their pass rush rotation; he needs to show he can be that for them for the rest of the postseason.
Marshawn Lloyd
This preseason proves to be very important for Marshawn Lloyd, as it's one of his first real opportunities to show what he can do now that he's healthy. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Lloyd got the start, and he did not make the most of that. He ended up with 4 carries for 13 yards. He also brought in a catch for -4 yards. The rest of the preseason, Lloyd needs to showcase his talent, or he could be on the outside looking in.
Lake Mcree
The tight end is very underrated, and with the way the game is evolving, teams love to run multiple tight end sets. This makes a player like McRee very valuable. McRee can block, and when he gets his targets, he makes the most of them. It was a quiet week for McRee. McRee had 2 catches for 9 yards. He will make the Steelers roster by impacting the run game with his blocking and doing a lot of the dirty work.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football alumni performance recap for NFL preseason openers