For RJ Sermons, USC is more than just the next stop in his football career. It’s a family line.
The Trojans cornerback has a direct connection to the program through his father, Rodney Sermons, who played running back at USC from 1994-97. That history sits right at the center of how Sermons talks about being in Los Angeles now.
“The culture behind this school is everything,” Sermons said. “My dad coming here means a lot to me, and following his footsteps and continuing to become another legacy is great.”
That legacy angle has given Sermons a built-in sounding board throughout his journey, especially now that he’s in the college game.
"I trust him. He's a great mentor for me and obviously him playing here, going through positives and negatives and pushing through means a lot to me," Sermons said.
Sermons arrived at USC as a late piece in the Trojans’ 2025 class after originally being a five-star recruit and the No. 1 cornerback in the 2026 class. He reclassified after a standout track and field season, when he posted the second-fastest times in California in the 100 meter and 200 meter dash.
The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., product enrolled just before fall camp last August, but USC’s plan was never to rush him. The idea was to let him develop behind the scenes and get him ready for what comes next.
"I feel like coming in, I knew what it was going to be," Sermons said. "Building a schedule, building a routine and just keeping the main thing the main thing. Knowing that I'm here to get better, here to develop and trusting in my coaches."
Even without taking a snap in 2025, USC kept him plugged in. He traveled on road trips and went through the normal game-week routine, all designed to help him adjust to the college environment.
Now entering his second season with the program, Sermons says he’s noticeably stronger after working with strength coach Trumain Carroll.
"It was very beneficial," Sermons said. "Developing with coach Tru, my coaches, learning the game more, building confidence and building myself all around as a player."
He also spent last season getting coached up by cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed instead of playing out his senior year of high school.
"He's developed me a lot. He's a great coach," Sermons said.
"He stays on me and we push to be perfect. That's really what I want, it allows me to grow and build confidence."
That growth comes at a time when the cornerback room is packed with competition. Sermons is battling veterans Jontez Wiliams, Chasen Johnson and Marcelles Williams, along with freshmen Elbert "Rock" Hill and Jayden Crowder.
The secondary, Sermons said, has developed into a tight group that leans on one another every day.
"We're all super connected. Coach P [Gary Patterson] keeps us up on communication and that brotherhood we have in there.
We all bring each other along. We all pour into each other in a positive way.
We're super connected like a family."
He’s also had plenty to absorb from the older players around him. Jontez Williams arrives from Iowa State in his fifth season, Marcelles Williams started 11 games for the Trojans in 2025, safety Prophet Brown is heading into his sixth season with USC, and safety Christian Pierce is in his fourth year and shares a high school with Sermons.
"The veterans are super savvy, super smart," Sermons said. "So just leaning into their mental side of the game and them giving me coaching points on stuff they've been through. It's very helpful and you also have somebody that you look up that's doing it at a high level, so it makes it a little bit easier."
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