USC Football Releases Spring Roster

The influx of new talent includes 32 early enrollees who are part of the nation's No. 1 ranked recruiting class for 2026. Among the newcomers are highly-touted prospects like five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe, who will wear No. 71, and five-star defensive end Luke Wafle, assigned No. 94. Iowa State cornerback transfer Jontez Williams will sport No. 0, while North Carolina State wide receiver transfer Terrell Anderson will wear No. 9. A significant storyline for the Trojans is the revamped coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Lincoln Riley brought in former TCU head coach Gary Patterson as the new defensive coordinator to overhaul a unit that has struggled in recent seasons. Patterson's staff includes new additions like former Baylor assistant Paul Gonzales as defensive backs coach and the promotion of Skyler Jones to defensive line coach. Several returning players have opted for new jersey numbers heading into spring practice. Safety Christian Pierce has switched from No. 24 to No. 6, and cornerback Alex Graham is moving from No. 27 to No. 7. Linebacker Desman Stephens will now wear No. 8 after previously having Nos. 21 and 23, while safety Kennedy Urlacher shifts from No. 28 to No. 9. The offense will look to retool with quarterback Jayden Maiava returning for his senior season after the departure of star wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane to the NFL Draft. Eyes will be on players like sophomore wide receiver Tanook Hines, who showed promise in his freshman year, to step into larger roles. The team also added experience at tight end with Wisconsin transfer Tucker Ashcraft. Defensively, the Trojans return key players who will be crucial to implementing Patterson's new scheme. Junior defensive end Kameryn Crawford is back after recording 10.5 tackles for loss last season. The linebacker corps will rely on the development of players like Jadyn Walker and Desman Stephens, both entering their third year with the program. The safety position will be an area to watch during spring camp, especially with starter Christian Pierce expected to be out while recovering from shoulder surgery. This provides an opportunity for redshirt sophomore Marquis Gallegos and others to compete for more significant playing time. The defensive line will also see fierce competition, with the return of junior Jide Abasiri and the anticipated impact of freshman Jahkeem Stewart.