University Southern California Trojans
USC Football Fall Camp Report: Lincoln Riley, Trumain Carroll Stress Importance of Discipline for Trojans
July 30, 2025 | Football
Attacking with Discipline
Great first day," head coach Lincoln Riley said following the Trojans' first practice of fall camp. "I thought the staff, [our] guys really attacked it. I was really impressed with the conditioning level and discipline of the team coming out of the summer. Guys came [into camp] in shape, ready to go."
A New Addition Impresses Early
Riley was quick to praise new Director of Football Sports Performance Trumain Carroll for the impact he has made on the Trojans in such a short time.I give Coach Tru and his entire staff a lot of credit," Riley said. "It's a difficult thing to come in with that short of time. Not just put together a program, but he has to get to know the athletes. He has to get to know the rest of the staff, work hand-in-hand with nutrition, hand-in-hand with sports medicine, equipment, and learn the space. I mean, it's just a lot that's got to happen in a really, really short amount of time."
"He's done a really nice job leading it," Riley continued. "He has a really clear vision, and an approach that he has a lot of confidence in. He's had a lot of success with it, and then blending that with our vision from a zoomed out level of what we want this program to be. He's had a great feel [for it]. He's done a good job relaying that to the staff. He's done a good job being very, very consistent and very tough on our players, but also building relationships in a short amount of time."
More Veteran Experience Added
Riley confirmed Wednesday the addition of veteran offensive line coach Adrian Klemm to his staff.​​​​​We've had a position in the past that works with our defense, but with more of an offensive coach background," Riley explained. "We were actively looking for somebody in that role. That's a little bit tough to find sometimes, but it was just one of those things where Adrian was available and obviously had some familiarity with this place, and some people on our staff. We got a chance to connect with him, and it just made sense."
"He'll work primarily with our defensive staff, but we're certainly going to use him in a few other areas as well. So a coach with obviously his pedigree, his history, we're going to find a lot of ways to allow him to help the Trojans."
Here to Enhance
Carroll made his USC media debut Wednesday, noting that the groundwork laid prior to his arrival made the transition into his role smoother.
From January until July, [the team] put on 800 pounds of muscle and lost over 540 pounds of fat," Carroll said. "They didn't do that in just the summer months. The foundation that was laid before I got here was a great foundation. All I'm here to do is help enhance it and take it to another level."
Earning the Right
Over the summer, Carroll set a policy that running inside the Coliseum was a privilege that had to be earned.
I went to the Coliseum for the first time, and when I walked in it just took my breath away," Carroll said.
"[It's] such a sacred place. I didn't want to disrespect it by coming in before we were ready. So I wanted to make sure that we ran on the steps outside so we earned the right to go in there and represent USC when we set foot in the Coliseum."
"A Classless Society"
When asked Wednesday who has stepped up as a leader in the weight room, Carroll said he couldn't single out just one Trojan.
"There are too many to name," Carroll said with a smile. "That's what's been unique about this team. I know that sounds cliche, but no one is above anyone else in this program, and that's really the biggest thing. It's a classless society…So I can't single out one or two people, just because it's been a collective effort of everybody doing the right thing. They're going to step up, and everybody's going to listen to them."
Going Off Script
Carroll shared Wednesday that his first workout with the Trojans didn't go exactly as planned because the team spent the allotted time "learning the standard" of warming up the proper way.
"How you do one thing is how you do everything," Carroll said. "Our workout was supposed to be some 'half-gassers' that day, but we didn't make it to them. We didn't make it for the simple reason that how you do one thing is how you do everything. So that workout was a warmup, learning the standard when it comes to how we warm up for one full hour. Then, obviously, because of CARA (countable athletically related activities) and compliance, we had to cut the workout at that point. But I think they got the message, because they responded well the next day."
