USC’s transfer portal haul this offseason may not have turned heads at first glance, but the Trojans found something that matters just as much as splash: veteran presence.
Defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren and tight end Tucker Ashcraft arrived from the Big Ten and quickly became more than depth pieces. They’ve added experience to their position groups, sure, but the bigger impact has shown up in the locker room. Both players have brought an old-school edge and a steadying voice to a roster that has leaned on them fast.
VanSumeren, a two-year starter at Michigan State, is the kind of transfer who usually doesn’t get a turn on a big stage right away. Yet he represented USC at Media Days in Chicago late last month, a rare role for a first-year transfer who isn’t a quarterback. That alone says plenty about how quickly he has earned trust inside the program.
His teammates have noticed. Defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart put it plainly: “Alex is one of the ones you really got to pick his brain because he’s gonna give you the game. He knows a lot of football,” said defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart.
Kameryn Crawford pointed to VanSumeren when asked about what stands out in this year’s defensive line room compared with last season.
“We got a player like Alex VanSumeren,” Crawford said. “He’s a great leader, a great guy who has experience, who knows schemes.”
VanSumeren said the leadership role feels natural because he benefited from it himself at Michigan State.
“It's an honor to be in that position,” VanSumeren said at Big Ten Media Days. “I realize that there's a bunch of young guys on the team.
I had leaders in my past that helped me, so now I got to pay it forward to them. It goes along with being a good teammate.
I'm gonna give everything I got to this university and to my teammates and to the football program.”
Ashcraft has taken a different path into the same kind of influence. After three seasons at Wisconsin, he’s now in line to be USC’s No. 2 tight end behind five-star freshman Mark Bowman. The staff likes what it sees, and Ashcraft has been climbing during fall camp.
Chad Savage, who coaches tight ends and inside receivers, said Ashcraft has fit in with unusual ease for a transfer.
“I think for him to just jump in as a transfer with his level of comfort to show that he is a leader, just shows what kind of person he is,” said tight end/inside receivers coach Chad Savage.” He’s got the leadership capabilities.
“He’s showing that every single day, not just amongst the team but also our position group. Fortunate that he’s on our roster. He’s a great person, he has the physical attributes that you want in a tight end.”
Ashcraft’s own words match the throwback feel USC is getting from him.
“I just want to be a dominant tight end,” Ashcraft said. “I want to go hit people right in the face and catch the ball.”
USC’s portal strategy looked different this time around. Instead of chasing only the biggest names, the Trojans targeted proven production at the Power Four level. That approach brought in players expected to step in right away.
Former Iowa State cornerback Jontez Williams and NC State receiver Terrell Anderson are at the front of that group and are expected to be plug-and-play starters. Williams has bounced back after tearing his ACL last September and earned Preseason All-American recognition. He intercepted four passes in 2024, something USC’s secondary badly needs more of this season.
Anderson had a breakout sophomore season in 2025 and gives quarterback Jayden Maiava another seasoned target alongside returning starter Tanook Hines. Washington transfer Deven Bryant adds depth to the linebacker room and another player with Big Ten experience.
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