2025 USC Football Spring Outlook: Trojans Building On Momentum From Vegas Bowl Win, New Personnel
3/24/2025
In the late night hours on Dec. 27, 2024, the Trojans danced to the sounds of cheers and Elvis Presley music under a shower of cardinal and gold confetti.
Marking the biggest comeback in USC bowl game history, the Trojans concluded the season with a dramatic 17-point comeback victory defeating Texas A&M 35-31.
“In some ways it was kind of a poetic ending to the season,” said USC head coach Lincoln Riley. “I’m incredibly proud of this group. The resiliency that they’ve shown. I told them there’s a toughness and a hardness developing in this program right now. You can look at a lot of different points throughout this season and certainly tonight and you see that. I have a lot of excitement about that. Our motto is ‘Fight On!’, and this team really embodies that.”
With an exclamation point to close out the season (and yes, the Trojans were 2-0 against the SEC in 2024), the USC football team and the Trojan faithful eagerly look ahead to 2025.
And sometimes in the surge forward, one must take a glance back to the past.
The Trojans can look back to the 2002 team for inspiration. While most of the USC roster was not yet born, this iconic Trojan team, led by Carson Palmer and Troy Polamalu, could serve as motivation for the season ahead. USC entered a season coming off a 6-loss campaign. That Trojan squad rebounded by going 11-2, capturing the league title and winning the Orange Bowl.
The 2025 USC team certainly has the elements to put together a similarly successful run.
Now in those 23 years, the college football landscape has changed dramatically. From NIL to the transfer portal, college football has become increasingly more complex than ever before. Riley spent the entire offseason ensuring that the program would be taking the correct steps forward into the new age of college football.
“We’re not content with any part of this program being average or even being good. That’s not our mentality,” Riley said.
The Trojans welcomed Chad Savage as USC’s tight ends/inside receivers coach. Savage, one of the nation’s top recruiters, most recently served as the wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator at Colorado State from 2022-24. He was named the Mountain West Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports for three consecutive seasons (2022-24). Savage primarily recruited Southern California and Arizona and was instrumental in signing over 25 players from the Greater Los Angeles area to play at Colorado State. USC made another splashy hire with NFL legend Rob Ryan as the assistant head coach for defense/linebackers coach. With over 35 years of coaching experience and two Super Bowls rings to his name, Ryan is one of the most accomplished defensive coaches in NFL history. He has coached some of the NFL’s top players, including numerous Hall of Famers and All-Pro selections, and has been an NFL defensive coordinator for 15 years. Finally, Trovon Reed, most recently serving as the cornerbacks coach at UCF with the reputation of an exceptional recruiter, was named USC’s cornerbacks coach. A rising star in the coaching profession, Reed was the only cornerbacks coach in the nation to have two of his players compete in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Additionally, USC brought on Chad Bowden to serve as the program’s general manager. Bowden, a nationally renowned college football administrator with proven success constructing championship-caliber rosters, was recently named the 2024 FootballScoop Player Personnel Director of the Year for his outstanding roster construction and exceptional utilization of the transfer portal while the general manager for Notre Dame.
USC bolstered its personnel staff with new hires by Bolden as well as promotions from within. This internal reorganization has allowed everyone to utilize their specific roles and skillsets to chase championships together.
“Our coaches are still certainly going to have a big role in evaluating and certainly going to still have a big role in recruiting,” said Riley. “But [Bowden’s] department is going to spearhead scouting. It’s going to have a heavy role in recruiting. It’s going to have a heavy role in how we construct our roster. It’s going to have a heavy role in our salary cap and how we manage that, how we strategize...there’s a lot of synergy but there’s also separate responsibilities, and it really is going to be kind of its own department within our program. And we wanted to build a team of people that allows us to operate at a higher level where we can evaluate more players, we can recruit more players efficiently and we can manage the roster. We can take a few things off of the coaches so the coaches can really dive heavily into coaching and developing our team and allow our people in personnel, scouting and recruiting to do their jobs at a high level.”
As USC moves into the new era of college football, Riley knows that these moves will propel the Trojans to the top.
“I fully believe when it’s all said and done -and I don’t say this lightly -I think it’s going to be the best personnel, off-the-field staff in the country,” said Riley.
2025 SCHEDULE
After its first season with new opponents, new travel and new stadiums, USC enters its second season in the Big Ten.
The Trojans will play seven home games in 2025. Troy will welcome league opponents Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa and UCLA to the Coliseum as well as non-conference foes Missouri State and Georgia Southern. USC will visit Purdue, Illinois, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Oregon on the road.
USC will have byes on Oct. 4 and Oct. 25.
The Missouri State Bears will visit the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to open the 2025 football season on Aug. 30, 2025. While Missouri State is currently in its final year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (FCS), it will officially join Conference USA for the 2025-26 athletic season, thus making it an FBS program. This will be the first time ever that USC has faced Missouri State.
The Trojans then welcome Georgia Southern of the Sun Belt Conference to Los Angeles on Sept. 6. The Eagles, who are coached by former USC head coach Clay Helton, are another new opponent for the Trojans.
USC opens Big Ten Conference play on the road at Purdue on Sept. 13. The Trojans are 3-1 alltime against the Boilermakers, last facing them in 1998 when USC won 27-17 in the Coliseum. The Trojans then return home to the Coliseum to host Michigan State on Sept. 20. USC is tied 4-4 in its series with Michigan State, last falling to the Spartans 16-17 in the 1990 John Hancock Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The Trojans wrap up the month of September by traveling to Champaign, Ill. on Sept. 27 to challenge the Fighting Illini. USC holds an 11-2 record all-time against Illinois, last defeating them in the 2008 Rose Bowl 49-17.
After enjoying a bye-week on Oct. 4, USC hosts Michigan in the Coliseum on Oct. 11. The Trojans lead 6-5 all-time in their series with the Wolverines, most recently falling to them 24-27 in Ann Arbor, Mich. in 2024. Michigan has not played in the Coliseum since 1957, when the Wolverines defeated the Trojans 16-6. USC then travels to South Bend, Ind. to challenge Notre Dame on Oct. 18. The Trojans are 37-52-5 all-time against the Fighting Irish (not including Troy’s 2005 victory that was later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 38-52-5). USC will then take its second bye of the season on Oct. 25 to prepare for its final five-game stretch of the regular season.
USC will kick off the month of November with a trip to Lincoln, Neb. to challenge the Cornhuskers on Nov. 1. USC is 5-0-1 against Nebraska and is 2-0 versus the Cornhuskers on the road. The Trojans return to Los Angeles to host Northwestern on Nov. 8. USC remains undefeated against the Wildcats boasting a 5-0 record, having last faced them in the 1956 Rose Bowl where the Trojans secured a 41-32 victory. Another home game awaits the Trojans as USC welcomes Iowa to the Coliseum on Nov. 15. USC is 7-3 all-time against the Hawkeyes, most recently falling to them 24-39 in the 2019 Holiday Bowl. A familiar road trip looms as the Trojans travel north to Eugene, Ore. to take on the reigning Big Ten champions, the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 22. USC holds a 38-23-2 all-time lead in its series with Oregon (not including 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 3923-2), last falling to the Ducks 27-36 in Autzen Stadium in 2023. USC wraps Big Ten play by challenging crosstown rival UCLA on Nov. 29 at the Coliseum. USC leads its series with UCLA, 51-34-7 (not including Troy’s 2004 and 2005 victories that were vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 53-34-7).
The 2025 season will conclude with the annual Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 6, which will feature the top two teams in the overall conference standings at the end of the regular season, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship. Tiebreaking procedures will be announced at a later date.
ROSTER
In all, 73 USC squad men return from 2024 (including 45 who saw action), 18 having started at least once last season. Joining them will be 15 promising true freshmen and 13 highly-regarded transfers who enrolled at USC for the spring semester and will participate in spring practice. Another 8 outstanding newcomers will become Trojans in the fall.
OFFENSE
Lincoln Riley’s dynamic and high-powered offense will no doubt continue to pose a threat to opponent defenses. With a variety of weapons at his disposable, expect Riley’s brand of creative and heart-stopping plays to be on full display under the lights in the Coliseum.
QUARTERBACKS
The USC quarterback position is unlike any other in the country. The prestige, the fame and the pressure all come with being named QB1 at USC. Additionally, these quarterbacks have the honor of working with the game’s best quarterback whisperer, Lincoln Riley. Riley has developed 3 of the last 8 Heisman Trophy winners, and in addition to being the only head coach to tutor three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, Riley is the only coach to have 3 quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and has the most No. 1 overall draft selections in the common draft era. Additionally, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Luke Huard has proved himself as an integral part of the development of the Trojan offense, as well as an outstanding recruiter.
Redshirt junior Jayden Maiava returns after starting USC’s last four games with a 3-1 record as the starter (including defeating crosstown rival UCLA and SEC opponent Texas A&M). Last season, Maiava went 101-of-169 (.598) for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs with 6 INTs. He also rushed for 45 yards on 20 carries with 4 TDs.
The Trojans signed the No. 1 quarterback in the state of California and one of the nation’s top prospects in five-star freshman Husan Longstreet from Centennial (Calif.) HS. He was rated as the No. 3 quarterback in the country by On3, No. 4 by 247Sports and ESPN and No. 8 by Rivals, and the No. 13 player in the nation regardless of position. The 2025 Polynesian Bowl All-Star helped Centennial to reach the CIF-SS semifinals. He was named to the MaxPreps 2024 California All-State First Team. Longstreet enrolled “extra early” to join the Trojans for the Las Vegas Bowl in December and was allowed to practice with the team.
From the portal, USC welcomes redshirt senior Sam Huard, who has previous stops at Utah, Cal Poly and Washington. Huard, USC offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Luke Huard’s nephew, was one of the nation’s top prospects coming out of high school. While Cal Poly’s starting quarterback in 2023, he broke numerous program records and worked his way up the statistical leaderboard.
Redshirt junior Gage Roy, redshirt sophomore Dylan Gebbia and redshirt freshman Jack Stupin also return to round out the quarterback room.
WIDE RECEIVERS
With their electric playmaking abilities and flashy moves, the USC wide receivers never fall short of entertaining the Trojan fans. Led by assistant head coach / wide receivers / pass game coordinator Dennis Simmons, a multiple Biletnikoff-winning coach, and inside receivers coach Chad Savage, an intense recruiter and proven coach, the Trojan wideouts are in good hands.
USC welcomes back junior Makai Lemon who should once again prove to be one of the nation’s top playmakers. Lemon, an All-Big Ten Third Team selection, was USC’s most versatile player of the 2024 season. The 2025 Biletnikoff candidate recorded a team-leading 52 receptions for a team-leading 764 yards (14.7 avg.) and 3 TDs. Lemon also fielded kickoff returns, recording 19 returns for 514 yards (27.1 avg.) with a long of 80 yards. He finished the season ranked No. 6 in the nation in kickoff returns and will be a serious contender for a Paul Hornung Award in 2025. Lemon was also a crucial member of the punt coverage team downing punts for Ray Guy winner, Eddie Czaplicki.
Fellow junior Ja’Kobi Lane also returns for the 2025 season. In 2024, Lane was No. 5 in the nation in receiving TDs as he led the Trojans with a whopping 12, just 4 shy of USC single-season record of 16 held by Mike Williams (2002) and Dwayne Jarrett (2005). Lane, a fellow 2025 Biletnikoff candidate, recorded 42 receptions for 525 yards (12.2 avg.) last season.
Senior Jay Fair (8 catches for 78 yards [9.75 avg] and 1 TD), redshirt senior Jaden Richardson (1 reception for 19 yards [19.0 avg.]) and redshirt senior Josiah Zamora (1 KOR for 17 yards [17.0 avg.]) all look to have increased roles next season.
Redshirt seniors Asante Das (1 game) and Donovon Wood and untested redshirt freshmen Collin Fasse, Xavier Jordan, Brady Jung and Seth Zamora also make up the USC wideout unit.
The Trojans welcomed junior transfer Prince Strachan from Boise State. In his 2-year career at Boise State (2023-24), Strachan recorded 37 receptions for 578 yards (15.6 avg.) and 3 TDs while appearing in 28 games with 7 starts. He looks to immediately compete for playing time.
Additionally, freshman Corey Simms out of Christian Brothers College (Mo.) HS enrolled in January at USC. Simms, a four-star recruit, was rated as the No. 2 player in the state of Missouri by Rivals, No. 4 by 247Sports and No. 6 by On3 and ESPN. He was touted as the No. 19 wide receiver in the country by Rivals, No. 58 by ESPN, No. 80 by On3 and No. 81 by 247Sports. He was 117th on the Rivals 250 List. Simms helped Christian Brothers go 10-2 overall and 4-0 in district play in 2024 and was an All-State selection in 2023.
RUNNING BACKS
While USC loses an exceptional playmaker in running back Woody Marks, the young Trojans in the room, with the help of some exciting transfers, look to make the running back unit a strength of the USC offense. Anthony Jones Jr. returns in 2025 to lead the Trojan backfield.
Sophomore Bryan Jackson is back for his second season after having his break out game in front of the nation during USC’s victory in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl recording 16 carries for 66 yards and 1 TD as he bulldozed his way through the Texas A&M defense. Throughout the season, he tallied 36 carries for 188 yards (5.2 avg.) and 1 TD. Redshirt sophomore A’Marion Peterson (16 carries for 65 yards [4.1 avg.] and 1 TD) also returns and looks for an increased role in 2025.
USC bolsters its running back room with two experienced transfers. Junior Waymond Jordan won the 2024 JUCOWeekly Trophy, the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy at the junior college level. He was named the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year after leading Hutchinson CC to win the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Championship. Jordan rushed for 1,614 yards on 218 carries (7.4 avg.) while averaging 134.5 yards per game with 20 TDs through 12 games. He finished out the 2024 season first in the nation in yards, yards per game and touchdowns, while also finishing fourth in the nation in yards per rush with 7.4. He also recorded 6 receptions for 43 yards (7.2 avg.) and 1 TD. He was named 2024 NJCAA DI Football First Team All-American and to the 2024 All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference First Team.
Redshirt senior Eli Sanders arrives at Troy after stops at New Mexico and Iowa State. In his 4-year career (3 seasons at New Mexico and 1 at Iowa State), Sanders has recorded 305 carries for 1,766 yards (5.8 avg.) with a long of 75 and 13 TDs through 33 games. He has also tallied 30 receptions for 268 yards (8.9 avg.) with a long of 31 and 1 TD. Additionally, he had 5 kickoff returns for 113 yards (22.6 avg.) with a long of 32. Sanders looks to bring strong experience to the Trojan backfield.
Redshirt sophomore Cian McKelvey and redshirt freshman King Miller return to gain more experience this spring.
TIGHT ENDS
With a new leader in coach Chad Savage, the Trojan tight end unit boasts experienced talent and depth entering 2025.
Redshirt senior Lake McRee returns as the leader of the room. In 2024, he recorded 24 receptions for 245 yards (10.2 avg.) through 10 games with 9 starts. He will remain a vital part of the Trojan offense.
Sophomore Walker Lyons looks to once again contribute for the Trojans. After a strong freshman debut with 6 receptions for 36 yards (6.0) with 11 appearances and 3 starts, Lyons looks to increase his role next season.
Untested redshirt freshman Walter Matthews and redshirt freshman Joey Olsen (who saw action in 1 game) both look to gain valuable reps this spring.
Redshirt junior Carson Tabaracci works to find his way back to the field after a season-ending injury sidelined him in 2024.
Freshman Taniela Tupou from Folsom (Calif.) HS enrolled at USC in January and will participate in spring ball. Tupou, a three-star recruit, played tight end and edge in high school, but will focus on tight end at the collegiate level. He was rated as the No. 52 player in the state of California by 247Spsorts, No. 53 by Rivals, No. 67 by ESPN and No. 92 by On3. He was touted as the No. 36 edge in the nation by Rivals, No. 45 by 247Sports, No. 76 by ESPN and No. 146 by On3. In 2024, he helped Folsom win the San Joaquin Section Division 1 Championship.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Zach Hanson, who has coached multiple NFL offensive line draft selections, steps in to lead the Trojan trenches. The USC offensive line unit returns 3 Trojans who have at least 1 game of starting experience. USC will miss the veteran presence of four-year starter and captain Jonah Monheim who departs for the NFL Draft.
Redshirt sophomore Elijah Paige returns as the most experienced player of the group. The 2024 Freshman All-American and Big Ten Honorable Mention started in all 13 games at left tackle. Junior Alani Noa also returns as an experienced starter after seeing action in 13 games with 12 starts at right guard. Paige and Noa were crucial to the success of the USC offense this season. USC finished the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation in passing offense (291.9) and No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the nation in total offense (437.2) and second in the Big Ten.
Redshirt junior Kilian O’Connor (saw action in 9 games with 1 start), redshirt sophomore Micah Banuelos (saw action in 2 games), redshirt sophomore Tobias Raymond (saw action in 13 games with 1 start) and redshirt freshman Justin Tauanuu (saw action in 2 games) each bring playing experience to build off of this spring.
Untested redshirt freshman Makai Saina, redshirt sophomore Erwin Taomi and redshirt freshman Hayden Treter look to gain experience heading into the 2025 season.
Redshirt freshman Kaylon Miller and redshirt sophomore Jack Susnjar, who each saw action in 2 games, also make up the Trojan offensive line.
USC welcomes 2 transfers and 4 early enrollee freshmen to the Trojan offensive trenches.
Redshirt senior J’Onre Reed who transferred to USC in the spring of 2025 from Syracuse, looks to compete for playing time at center as a redshirt senior in 2025. In his 2-year career at Syracuse (2023-24), he appeared and started in 25 games. Redshirt senior DJ Wingfield started on the offensive line in all 12 games at right guard as a redshirt senior in 2024 at Purdue. Both bring needed experience to the Trojan offensive line room.
Freshman Aaron Dunn, a four-star recruit out of Spanish Fork (Utah) HS, was ranked as the No. 76 player in the nation by ESPN and No. 150 by 247Sports. He was rated as the No. 2 player in the state of Utah by On3, 247Sports and ESPN and the No. 4 player by Rivals. He was touted as the No. 9 offensive tackle in the country by ESPN, No. 17 by 247Sports, No. 24 by On3 and No. 33 by Rivals. He was 76th on the ESPN 300 and No. 147 on the Top 247 List. Most of his snaps in high school were at right tackle, but he also took reps on the left. He helped Spanish Ford reach the 4A State Championship game.
Freshman Alex Payne from Gainesville (Ga.) HS, also a four-star recruit, was ranked as the No. 124 player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 159 by ESPN and No. 194 by Rivals. He was rated as the No. 17 player in the state of Georgia by 247Sports, No. 25 by Rivals, No. 27 by ESPN and No. 30 by On3. He was touted as the No. 16 offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports, No. 19 by Rivals, No. 21 by ESPN, and No. 22 by On3. He was 124th on the Top247 List, 159th on the ESPN 300 List, 163rd on the On300 and 195th on the Rivals 250. Prior to his senior season, he was named to the 2024 Recruit Georgia Preseason All-State Class 5A Team, the 2024 Georgia High School Football Daily Class 5A Preseason All-State Team and the 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Preseason AllState Team.
Local product from South Orange County, four star Elijah Vaikona out of Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.) HS was rated as the No. 38 player in the state of California by Rivals No. 41 by On3, No. 63 by ESPN and No. 90 by 247Sports. He was touted as the No. 40 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals, No. 52 by On3, No. 76 by ESPN and No. 78 by 247Sports.
Freshman Willi Wascher of Bellevue (Wash.) HS was rated as the No. 4 player in the state of Washington by Rivals, No. 10 by 247Sports and No. 15 by On3 and ESPN. He was touted as the No. 15 interior offensive lineman in the nation by ESPN, No. 30 by Rivals, No. 82 by 247Sports and No. 149 by On3. Wascher, a four-year starter at Bellevue, helped his team reach the 2024 Washington 3A State Championship game.
DEFENSE
After completely rehauling the defensive coaching staff with defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn at the helm, the USC defense made a massive improvement from 2023 to 2024. Under Lynn, a Broyles Award nominee, USC held opponents to an average of just 24.1 points per game, improving from 34.4 in 2023. The Trojans finished the 2024 season ranked No. 21 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.335), compared to ranking No. 106 (0.436) in 2023. USC’s defense improved in a variety of other statistical categories including ranking No. 33 in passes intercepted (12) and No. 53 in rushing defense (141.2) in 2024. The Trojan defense ranked No. 58 in turnovers gained by collecting 18 throughout the season and ranked No. 69 in red zone defense (0.830) in 2024. USC finished ranked No. 70 in team passing efficiency defense (132.50), improved to No. 77 in total defense (377.1) and was No. 86 in the nation in first downs defense (262) in 2024. The Trojans concluded the season with a 35-31 victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl. The win marked the biggest comeback victory in Las Vegas Bowl history. Additionally, it was the largest deficit that USC has ever overcome in a bowl game win, with the previous being a 15-point deficit against Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl.
With the addition of two new coaches as well as a variety of experienced players and young talent, the Trojans look to build on this solid foundation going into 2025.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
The defensive line received a dose of DAWGWORK as Eric Henderson took over the unit in 2024.
Redshirt junior Devan Thompkins had a breakout season in 2024 and looks to be a standout on the defensive line. He recorded 24 tackles, including 2.5 for loss of 10 yards (with 1.5 sacks for minus 9 yards) and 3 PBUs. Redshirt senior Kobe Pepe returns as a veteran in the trenches after collecting 19 tackles and 1 PBU in 2024.
After seeing action in 10 games and recording 7 tackles in his freshman debut, sophomore Jide Abasiri looks to build on that foundation in 2025.
Redshirt freshman Ratumana Bulabalavu (1 game) and untested redshirt freshmen Carlon Jones and Brendan Cho and redshirt junior Kash Amos look to increase their roles in 2025.
USC also welcomed freshmen Floyd Boucard (a Canadian from Montreal, Quebec who was a top recruit out of Miami Central [Fla.] HS) and Cash Jacobsen (the No. 12 player in the state of Oklahoma by 247Sports out of Jenks [Okla.] HS).
Junior Jamaal Jarrett arrived at Troy this spring from Georgia. Throughout his two years at Georgia, the 6-5, 350 pound defensive lineman appeared in 16 games and recorded 9 tackles. Redshirt senior Keeshawn Silver also transferred to USC from Kentucky this spring. In his 4-year career (2 seasons at Kentucky and 2 at North Carolina), Silver has recorded 47 tackles through 30 games with 23 starts.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Under the tutelage of Shaun Nua, the USC defensive ends have developed some young talent ready to burst onto the scene in 2025.
Senior Anthony Lucas will return as the mostveteran of the group. After appearing in 7 games before a season-ending injury, he tallied 16 tackles and 1 PBU. Lucas looks to return to the field for fall camp.
Junior Braylan Shleby emerged as one of the Trojans’ most fearsome defenders. After collecting 28 tackles, including 5 for loss of 22 yards (with 3 sacks for minus 14 yards), 2 QB hurries and 1 PBU, he made a critical impact on the Trojan defense and looks to bring that same energy in 2025.
After appearing in the Utah State game to start the season, sophomore Kameryn Fountain burst onto the scene and saw action in USC’s last 7 games and tallied 19 tackles, including 4.5 for loss (with 2 sacks for minus 5 yards) and 1 QB hurry.
Redshirt freshman Elijah Newby (5 games and 2 tackles), redshirt freshman Lorenzo Cowan and redshirt junior Garrett Pomerantz each look to expand their roles in 2025.
USC signed the No. 1 defensive lineman in the nation in freshman Jahkeem Stewart out of Edna Carr (La.) HS. Stewart, one of the nation’s top recruits, was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Louisiana by ESPN and Rivals and No. 2 by On3 and 247Sports and was rated as the No. 8 player in the nation by Rivals, No. 11 by ESPN and No. 25 by On3. Before reclassifying, Stewart was the No.1 overall player in the 2026 class. He was named a 2024 MaxPreps Preseason Junior All-American, a 2024 MaxPreps Preseason All-American and 2024 PRZLA Preseason AllState honoree. Stewart had a highly productive 2023 sophomore campaign at St. Augustine with 85 tackles, including 33 for loss (with 20 sacks), 6 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. He was named to the 2023 All District 5A-9 First Team, the 2023 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American First Team and was a 2023 Louisiana Sportswriters Association 5A All-State Honorable Mention.
LINEBACKERS
The Trojan linebackers will have no shortage of energy with Rob Ryan leading the room. The linebackers will miss the vocal leadership and veteran presence of Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Mason Cobb, but some familiar faces return.
Trojan fans will be excited for redshirt senior Eric Gentry to hit the field again in 2025. With his unique 6-foot-6 frame, Gentry provides opponent offenses with a tough challenge to gameplan against. He redshirted after appearing in four games and returned for the Las Vegas Bowl versus Texas A&M at the end of the season. In 2024, Gentry totaled 33 tackles, including 6.5 for loss of 17 yards (with 2 sacks for minus 11 yards), 1 forced fumble, 1 PBU and 1 QB hurry.
Sophomore Desman Stephens II decorated his stat sheet during his freshman debut while appearing in 13 games. He notched 13 tackles, including 1 for loss of 1 yard, 1 INT returned for 42 yards, 1 forced fumble and 1 QB hurry.
Hoping to expand their roles in 2025 are redshirt senior Ryan Quintanar (8 games), redshirt junior Garrison Madden (12 games with 5 tackles), redshirt junior Roman Marchetti (13 games with 1 tackle) and redshirt freshman Jadyn Walker (1 game).
SAFETIES
The Trojan secondary will continue to develop in 2025 under Doug Belk. Although USC will be missing consistent playmakers like Akili Arnold and Bryson Shaw, the Trojans are returning other key safeties and welcoming young freshman to build up the room.
Although he could have declared for the NFL, redshirt junior Kamari Ramsey returns for the 2025 season to be a leader on the defensive side of the ball. In 2024, Ramsey recorded 60 tackles, including 5.5 for loss of 26 yards (with 2 sacks for minus 19 yards), a team-leading 5 PBUs, a team-leading 2 forced fumbles, 1 QB hurry and 1 INT. He looks to once again be a coach on the field in D’Anton Lynn’s system.
Redshirt senior Anthony Beavers Jr. (18 tackles) and junior Christian Pierce (8 tackles) return to contribute for the Trojans. Untested redshirt freshman Jarvis Boatwright Jr., redshirt freshman Marquis Gallegos, redshirt sophomore Shawn Sehra and redshrt junior Brandon Shepherd look to increase their roles and get some critical reps this spring.
USC welcomed redshirt senior Bishop Fitzgerald from NC State during the spring. In his 2-year career at NC State (2023-24), he recorded 97 tackles, including 7.5 for loss of 10 yards, 16 PBUs, 5 INTs for 47 yards, 2 QBHs and 1 forced fumble.
Freshmen Alex Graham (2024 Prep RedZone All-State Championship Defense and the 2024 MHSFCA All-Region First Team from state champion Cass Technical [Mich.] HS) and Steve Miller (2023 Georgia 1A-D2 Region 8 Player of the Year out of Greene County [Ga.] HS) enrolled early and are ready to compete during spring ball.
CORNERBACKS
Fresh energy awaits the USC cornerbacks from rising star coach, Trovon Reed. The Trojans will be missing veterans like Jaylin Smith, Jacobe Covington, John Humphrey and Greedy Vance Jr., but return a young room full of talent with some important veterans.
After the junior college eligibility rules were revised, redshirt senior DeCarlos Nicholson was able to secure another season of eligibility and return to Troy for one final year. In 2024, he recorded 27 tackles and 5 PBUs. USC also welcomes back redshirt senior Prophet Brown (11 tackles and 1 PBU) who looks to be a leader among the cornerbacks.
Redshirt freshman Braylon Conley (1 tackle, including 0.5 for loss of 3 yards), redshirt freshman Marcelles Williams (1 tackle, including 1 for loss of 1 yard, and 1 PBU) and untested redshirt freshman Isaiah Rubin look to gain valuable reps this spring to increase their roles in 2025.
The Trojans welcomed redshirt senior DJ Harvey from San José State. In his four-year career (2 seasons at San José State and 2 at Virginia Tech), Harvey has recorded 94 tackles, including 9.5 for loss (with 2 sacks), 16 PBUs, 4 INTs (with 1 pick six) and 1 forced fumble through 37 games. Redshirt sophomore Kevin Longstreet (saw action in 6 games with 1 tackle in his two-year career at Texas A&M and Louisville) also arrived at Troy ready to contribute.
Freshmen Trestin Castro (a 2025 Polynesian Bowl All-Star from Upland [Calif.] HS) and James Johnson (the Georgia Region 6-5A 2023 Player of the Year out of Douglas County [Ga.]) HS) are enrolled and eager to begin their first spring ball as Trojans.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ryan Dougherty will once again lead the Trojan specialists to be nationally recognized in 2025. In 2024, USC finished No. 1 in the nation in net punting (45.40).
PUNTERS
It will be tough to replace USC’s first-ever Ray Guy Award winner in Eddie Czaplicki. However, redshirt senior Sam Johnson transfer from Valapariso will attempt to win that job in 2025. Johnson had a spectacular redshirt junior season in 2024. He was named a 2024 Stats Perform Second Team All-American, becoming the program’s first All-American since 2003 and just one of three All-Americans from the program since 1985. He was named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Year and received All-PFL First Team honors. Johnson was selected as the Phil Steele Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Year and earned placement on the Phil Steele All-PFL First Team.
Redshirt freshman punter Ryon Sayeri saw his first action in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl when Czaplicki suffered an injury. He recorded 1 punt for 57 yards and is ready to compete this spring.
Also available is untested punter redshirt junior Rey Sanchez.
KICKERS
The Trojans lose the consistent Michael Lantz at kicker, but welcome a sophomore transfer from UNLV. Caden Chittenden was one the nation’s top kickers as a freshman at UNLV in 2024. He won a plethora of awards including being named First Team True Freshman All-American by 247Sports, Second Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic, College Football Network Honorable Mention All-American, College Football Network Freshman Specialist of the Year, College Football Network Freshman Kicker of the Year and Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Chittenden earned placement on the All-Mountain West First Team and was the first freshman from UNLV named to the All-Moun tain West First Team since 2006. He was also a semifinalist for the 2024 Lou Groza Award and a three-time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week, as well as a three-time Mountain West Freshman of the Week.
Also available is redshirt sophomore Tyler Robles who saw action as a freshman in 2023.
Sayeri is also available to kick.
SNAPPERS
Redshirt senior All-Big Ten Third Team honoree Hank Pepper returns as USC’s starting long snapper. In 2024, he recorded 3 tackles and also made a crucial play against Wisconsin by recovering a muffed punt at the Badgers’ 30-yard line. This play by Pepper gave the Trojans a short field which ultimately resulted in USC scoring on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Miller Moss to receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.
Untested redshirt junior Devin McDonough is also available to snap.
KICKOFF RETURNERS
Junior Makai Lemon returns as one of the nation’s most dangerous returners. He finished sixth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in kickoff returns (27.1). He also finished 16th in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in combined kick returns. He tallied 19 kickoff returns for 514 yards with a long of 80.
Redshirt senior Josiah Zamora regularly lines up deep for the Trojans and returned a kickoff in the Las Vegas Bowl for 17 yards.
Other Trojans with kickoff return experience are Jaden Richardson, Jarvis Boatwright Jr., Eli Sanders and DJ Harvey.
PUNT RETURNERS
The competition will be open to find USC’s new punt returner. Lemon has experience punt returning as well as Desman Stephens II, Jarvis Boatwright Jr. and DJ Harvey.
