LOS ANGELES — USC offensive lineman Micah Banuelos has a signature dance. It’s known simply as “The Micah.”
“Oh, that one dance that goes like this,” Banuelos said as he flexed both arms for a group of reporters and rotated his hips.
“It started in fall camp,” he explained. “Just whenever I’m pulling like, we make some big runs or big passes – you’ll just see me in the background, just nobody around me. I’m just doing it out of excitement, just to get the energy going.”
@haleymsawyer USC football offensive lineman Micah Banuelos explains his signature celebration dance. #collegefootball #usc #uscfootball #touchdowndance #offensivelineman
♬ original sound – Haley Sawyer
Banuelos was joined by many of his teammates for a postgame rendition of “The Micah” that was done in celebration of a game ball, which was awarded to him after his first career start at right guard against Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 412 yards behind the offensive line’s play and was not sacked for the second straight game. The rushing attack accounted for 309 yards on the ground, including Jordan Waymond’s 167 yards.
Banuelos found out that he was starting against Georgia Southern during the pregame stretching period. He got some advice from starting center Kilian O’Connor and felt some nerves early on.
“The first couple of plays I was a little nervous,” Banuelos said, “but I got to see my (family) out there out in the stadium. I was just like, dang. This is really a blessing, just playing in front of 60,000 people.”
The redshirt sophomore is part of a position group that is growing in depth and has experience with USC’s developmental process.
Center J’Onre Reed, right guard Kaylon Miller, right tackle Elijah Vaikona and Hayden Teeter can also rotate in on the offensive line as needed.
“It’s good to have some depth and being able to start some different lineups, play with some different lineups so they bode well for us because it’s a long season,” head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters on Tuesday.
Cleaning up penalties
USC had nine penalties for 93 yards in losses against Georgia Southern. The Eagles were given a first down on five of those penalties and three flags were for illegal hands to the face.
“Most of the ones we were disappointed with were discipline penalties,” Riley said. “A couple hands to the face where we have our hands there, and all you’ve gotta do is take them down. Because hands to the face initially is not a penalty. Hanging on and not letting go is when it becomes one.”
In two games this season, USC is the second-most penalized team in the Big Ten Conference with 69 penalty yards per game, which trails UCLA’s 79.5.
While the Trojans’ talent was able to make up for the yards lost, Riley said during the Trojans Live broadcast on Monday that he’d like to clean up the penalties ahead of Big Ten play. He elaborated to reporters on Tuesday.
“There were a few aggressive ones throughout the game that are going to happen when guys are competing at a high level,” Riley said. “We coach those. We coach everything, but we don’t get too down on guys because of those.
“The ones that really matter are where you do something and it wasn’t even a competitive play, but you’ve handed them an explosive play and 15 yards on either side of the ball. Those are the ones we can’t have, and I think our message has been heard loud and clear.”
