LOS ANGELES -- From beginning his career as a walk-on to being named the starting center for the USC Trojans for the 2025 season, junior Kilian O'Connor is joining some historic company.
"It's a dream come true," O'Connor told the media after Tuesday afternoon's practice. "I came here to be a player, I didn't come here to be a bag holder."
O'Connor, a 6-2, 275-pound offensive lineman from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, enrolled at USC back in August of 2022 and saw no action as a true freshman. 2023 rolled around, and O'Connor saw action in seven games, which included the Holiday Bowl versus Louisville at center as a redshirt freshman.
2024 was O'Connor's most productive year as a Trojan, appearing in nine games with one start in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M as a junior in 2024. All nine of his appearances were at the center position. O'Connor will look to be the anchor to a very exciting offensive line that includes names such as Jayden Maiava, Elijah Page, Tobias Raymond, Alani Noa, and many more.
Up until Tuesday, the only position at OL that wasn't truly solidified was the center position, and head coach Lincoln Riley even stated on Monday's edition of Trojans Live that both Kilian O’Connor and J’Onre Reed would share the center slot.
“Now it's about working through potential lineup changes,” Riley said on Trojans Live on Monday. “Having a few guys that do bring major position flexibility has been great."
Fast forward a day later, and the USC Trojans have themselves their week one starter at center in O’Connor.
"[Kilian O'Connor] has been the most consistent player," Riley told the media after Tuesday's practice. "J’Onre [Reed] is absolutely going to factor in for our offensive line this year, no question about it. Those guys have helped each other and feed off one another, which has been for our entire offensive line."
The man who will receive the ball from O'Connor, starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, gave his praise to the newly appointed center after Tuesday's practice as well.
"Awesome opportunity for him, I can't wait, and he's a true blessing to have him in my life," Maiava said.
In terms of commanding the offensive line, Maiava is fully confident that O'Connor can excel at the center position.
"He does a lot of great things," Maiava continued. "He stays present in the moment and does a great job getting the IDs whenever we need them."
Now, with the season opener just days away, all the puzzle pieces that were laid out during the offseason in terms of the offensive line for USC are starting to take shape and mold into a fast-paced, force to be reckoned with, dynamic offense.