Jonah Monheim has played guard and tackle before taking over at center for USC’s offensive line. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
Brett Neilon had Jonah Monheim pegged as the eventual heir to the USC center’s throne long before Monheim took the field for the Trojans. From the former three-star prospect’s first practices at USC in 2020, it was obvious Monheim would find his way to the middle of the offensive line, even if he had to first bide his time at guard and tackle.
“We didn’t really know when,” said Neilon, who was a four-year starter at center, “but it was like we knew Jonah would make a kick-ass center.”
Monheim’s long-anticipated move to center finally arrives as the Trojans need a stabilizing force on a shaky offensive line that was one of the team’s biggest disappointments last season. In search of a bounce-back year, the unit is turning to the redshirt senior who hasn’t played center in a game since his youth football days.
Despite the long layoff, the experiment is yielding positive results more than halfway through spring practice. Monheim’s 6-foot-5, 308-pound frame is ideal for the position, and the high football IQ he flashed as a freshman has the Moorpark alumnus “probably a little further along than I thought he would be,” head coach Lincoln Riley said.
“He’s mentally so far along and knows our stuff so well, that’s a great starting point,” Riley said, “but he’s handled the physical demands of it very, very well so far.”
Monheim credited some of his quick progress to working with Neilon during the offseason when Neilon was on campus preparing for his pro day this spring. It was a delayed showcase for the Rimington Trophy finalist who tore his Achilles’ tendon during the 2022 Pac-12 championship game, and Neilon needed a workout partner. He texted Monheim.
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