Four captains, two of them on each side of the ball, two of them newcomers, two of them returning Trojans.

USC announced a four-man captain class for the new season on Tuesday, and it pretty accurately reflects the nature of the roster in Lincoln Riley’s first season in Los Angeles. Quarterback Caleb Williams, offensive lineman Justin Dedich, defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu, and linebacker Shane Lee have been voted 2022 captains by their teammates.

Williams and Lee are both newcomers to USC this season. Williams transferred in from Oklahoma, Lee from Alabama. It’s not a surprise to see them recognized as team leaders, considering those were the two who represented the Trojans at Pac-12 Media Day.

It does serve to illustrate the changing of the guard, though. Williams and Lee both played for programs that have been in the College Football Playoff. They both played at programs that won an awful lot of football games in recent years. They both came from established cultures. And they’re part of the cultural overhaul Riley has attempted in his first offseason at USC.

Dedich and Tuipulotu are holdovers from the previous era, players expected to anchor the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

The 6-foot-4 Tuipulotu has 70 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles in just two seasons with the program. Entering his third year, he’s expected to be a significant contributor for what Riley hopes is a much-improved defense.

A 6-foot-2 senior from Temecula, California, Dedich is entering his fifth season with the program. He’s worked his way up from reserve center buried on the depth chart to starting guard. Last season, he was an honorable mention selection to the Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 team, and also won USC’s Co-Lifters Award.

The Trojans begin the new year on Saturday against Rice. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Network.