LOS ANGELES — More often than not, USC football head coach Lincoln Riley is mingling with the special teams coaches and players while the rest of the team stretches and warms up.

“He understands every facet of special teams that we’re doing,” special teams coordinator Ryan Dougherty told reporters after practice Thursday.

“He knows our punt scheme, he knows our punt block schemes, he knows all the kickoff schemes,” Dougherty said. “We have staff special teams meetings every day. He sits in every one of them. He’s very involved and hands-on with all the things that we do special teams-wise.”

Riley’s involvement in special teams highlights the increased importance of that phase of the game, and so does the fact that Makai Lemon – arguably the team’s best receiver – will likely be the prim

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