USC football just locked in a key piece for its 2026 defense - and it’s a name Trojan fans should get used to hearing: Alex Graham is back.
The true freshman defensive back has re-signed with USC and will return next season, according to a source familiar with the decision. It’s a significant move for a defense that’s looking to take a step forward, and Graham’s return gives the Trojans a versatile, high-upside option in the secondary. Whether it’s at nickelback or safety, he’s expected to be a major contributor in 2026.
Graham’s first year in cardinal and gold was a mix of promise and patience. He earned the starting nickel spot as a true freshman - a rare feat in itself - but a fall camp injury sidelined him for the first five games of the season. USC brought him back slowly, careful not to burn his redshirt eligibility, and by the end of the year, he was back in the starting lineup for the final two games against UCLA and TCU.
“It was unfortunate he had the injury when he did because he was trending towards playing a lot very early in the season,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said in November. “But he's done a good job, I think, just one getting his body back, and then mentally kind of hanging in there, because that was tough, where you think you're going to play and you kind of earn that right, and then all of a sudden, the rug gets pulled out from underneath you. So I've been impressed with his maturity and desire to get back.”
That maturity showed on the field. In just five appearances, Graham logged 137 defensive snaps and racked up 15 tackles - without missing a single one.
That kind of tackling efficiency is rare, especially for a freshman, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Pro Football Focus gave him an elite 87.0 tackling grade, along with a 79.6 run-defense grade.
While his overall defense (62.6) and coverage (58.7) grades suggest there’s still room to grow, the foundation is clearly there.
Graham’s return didn’t come without some drama. USC made a push to bring him back earlier in the offseason, but the Detroit native took his time evaluating his options before ultimately deciding to stick with the Trojans.
His journey to USC was already a twist-filled one. Originally committed to Colorado, Graham flipped to USC on signing day in December 2024.
Michigan - his home-state school - was also in the mix, but the Trojans ultimately landed the Cass Tech standout. Ranked No. 236 overall and the No. 27 cornerback in the 2025 class by 247Sports, Graham came in with high expectations, and despite the early setback, he’s shown flashes of why he was so highly regarded.
Now, with a full offseason to get healthy and build on his freshman experience, Graham is positioned to be a difference-maker in USC’s secondary. His ability to play both nickel and safety gives the Trojans flexibility in how they deploy him - and that versatility could be a game-changer for a defense looking to make noise in 2026.
Bottom line: USC kept a rising talent in-house, and that could pay big dividends this fall.