Lincoln Riley said D’Anton Lynn had been on campus for a bit prior to Monday’s practice. Doug Belk and Matt Entz officially had their first days on Monday as well. The three newcomers on the defensive coaching staff are watching — though not coaching in — practice as the Trojans prepare for the Holiday Bowl.

And Riley says they might not be the only newcomers.

“Still not finalized on the defensive staff. Still a fluid situation,” he said when asked by reporters if he expected more changes on the defensive side of the football. “Still in the evaluation process there.”

Lynn is coordinating the defense, taking over for Alex Grinch. Belk was hired over the weekend to replace Donte Williams as the team’s defensive backs coach. Entz takes over as the linebackers coach and the assistant head coach for defense.

On the 2023 coaching staff, Brian Odom handled inside linebackers while Roy Manning coached outside ‘backers and nickels. Shaun Nua coached the defensive line.

It’s worth noting USC has added two verbal commitments from high school defensive lineman and one from a high school edge rusher in the last week. The Early Signing Period opening on Wednesday complicates matters if Riley is anticipating making another change.

The Trojans won’t play in their bowl game until a week after the signing period opens.

Riley said Monday none of the new defensive assistants will have a role in the Holiday Bowl.

“I felt like that was not the right thing to do at this point,” Riley said. “They’re around, they’ve got opportunities to see the guys, come evaluate the practices, to spend some time with our guys off the field to try to get to know them.”

Overall, the Trojans’ head coach is optimistic about the changes he has made.

“I’m excited,” he said. “With the three hires that we’ve made up to this point, I think if anyone was going to say those were gonna be the three guys you’re gonna get and you’re gonna get them all on one staff, I don’t think anybody would have believed you.”