Elijah Paige’s ascent seemed steady as he was poised to be USC’s future left tackle, his development progressing as expected. However, around the midpoint of his freshman season, Paige appeared to hit a plateau. The days passed with minimal improvement, a common challenge for players adjusting to the demands of college football. Yet, in Paige’s case, the coaching staff questioned whether his struggle was more about mental toughness than skill.
USC’s offensive line coach, Josh Henson, noted some frustration with Paige’s progress, feeling he had reached a certain level but then stalled. Despite Paige’s impressive physical attributes—highlighted by a viral video of the 6-foot-7 tackle walking to practice—his physical presence didn’t always equate to on-field intensity. This pattern of needing a push was evident from his freshman year at Pinnacle High in Arizona.
Last season, freshman LT Elijah Paige was sent down to USC’s scout team. The demotion jumpstarted his development, to the point that he came back a totally different player.
“It forced him to fight,” OL coach Josh Henson said. pic.twitter.com/kV6LjzBYxu
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) August 8, 2024
To address this, head coach Lincoln Riley suggested Paige join the scout team to face more intense competition and see how he would react. “We just said, ‘This kid needs to go down there and get beat up a little bit,’” Riley said. Henson added that being on the scout team would force Paige to either accept being pushed around or rise to the challenge. Paige chose the latter, and upon returning, his game showed significant improvement.
For USC to compete effectively in the tougher Big Ten, their offensive line—including Paige—needs to continue developing. The Trojans chose not to recruit additional linemen from the transfer portal but instead focused on nurturing their young talents, including Paige.
At first, Paige was disappointed by the scout team move, viewing it as a setback. “Obviously, that’s not really what you want to hear or where you want to be,” he admitted. However, Jonah Monheim, the senior center and Paige’s former left tackle predecessor, encouraged him to see it as an opportunity for growth rather than a demotion.
Monheim believed the scout team experience would enhance Paige’s skills and toughness, providing him with valuable practice against high-caliber players. Similarly, Dana Zupke, Paige’s coach in high school, had used a similar strategy to motivate him by keeping him on the freshman team despite his physical advantages. This approach led to remarkable improvement in Paige’s sophomore year.
At USC, Paige spent only a few weeks on the scout team, but it was enough to shift his mindset. “On scout team, you have to give it your all every play or it’s not going to end well,” he said. Henson noticed a change in Paige’s intensity upon his return.
Paige’s improved performance was evident in the Holiday Bowl, where he excelled as left tackle, contributing to a dominant victory over Louisville. This performance solidified confidence in his abilities and alleviated concerns about needing additional talent at the position. Despite being just a redshirt freshman with limited game experience, the coaching staff remains optimistic about Paige’s future. “You forget he’s still learning,” Henson said. “But he’s gonna get there.”
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