As USC turned the page on a rollercoaster season, the practices leading up to the Alamo Bowl against TCU weren’t just about closing out the year. They were a reset button-a chance for young talent to step into the spotlight and for veterans to take one last ride with their teammates. For players like defensive end Braylan Shelby, it was about reconnecting with the basics while building chemistry with a new wave of Trojans.
“These practices mean everything,” Shelby said. “It allows us to take a step back, work our way back up as well and go back through the fundamentals of football but also learning to play fast with all the new guys that we have.”
That blend of reflection and preparation is going to be critical as USC’s defense undergoes a significant overhaul this offseason. The defensive line, in particular, will be at the heart of that transformation.
A Defense in Need of Reinvention
Let’s be real-USC’s defense had its struggles last season, especially against the run. The Trojans ranked 12th out of 18 Big Ten teams in rushing defense, allowing over 143 yards per game on the ground and giving up 15 rushing touchdowns. The pass defense held up slightly better, finishing ninth in the conference at 207.5 yards per game, but there’s no sugarcoating it: this unit needs to get tougher, faster, and more consistent.
The future of the defense hinges on who takes over as defensive coordinator after D’Anton Lynn’s departure. That decision could shape not just the scheme, but the entire identity of the defense moving forward.
One internal option is co-defensive coordinator Eric Henderson, who took the reins for the Alamo Bowl. Henderson’s resume leans heavily toward trench warfare-he served as USC’s defensive line coach and run game coordinator this season, and before that, held the same roles with the Rams from 2019 to 2023.
His final year in L.A. saw the Rams finish with a top-10 run defense, according to Pro Football Focus. If USC promotes him, expect a renewed focus on dominating the line of scrimmage.
On the other hand, there’s the possibility of a more dramatic shift if USC brings in Hall of Famer Gary Patterson. The longtime TCU head coach hasn’t been on a sideline in five years, but his defensive pedigree is undeniable.
Patterson cut his teeth as a defensive coordinator at New Mexico and TCU in the late '90s and built his reputation on aggressive, disciplined defenses. If he’s the pick, the Trojans could be in for a full-scale defensive reboot.
Regardless of who gets the job, they’ll inherit a group with plenty of returning talent and a few intriguing new faces. Let’s break down where things stand on the defensive line heading into spring.
Defensive Tackle: A Mix of Youth and Upside
Returning Players:
- Jamaal Jarrett (R-Soph.)
- Jahkeem Stewart (Fr.)
- Kash Amos (R-Jr.)
- Floyd Boucard (Fr.)
- Brendan Cho (R-Fr.)
- Jide Abasiri (Soph.)
- Cash Jacobson (Fr.)
Incoming:
- Jaimeon Winfield (Texas)
- Simote Katoanga (Santa Margarita)
- Jake Johnson (Texas)
- Malik Brooks (St. Pius X-St.
Matthias)
- Alex Van Sumeren (R-Jr., Transfer from Michigan State)
Departing:
- Keeshawn Silver (R-Sr., Eligibility)
- Kobe Pepe (R-Sr., Eligibility)
- Gus Cordova (Fr., Portal to Mississippi State)
- Devan Thompkins (R-Jr., Portal to Alabama)
- Carlon Jones (Soph., Portal, destination unknown)
There’s a lot to like about this group. Jahkeem Stewart headlines the returners, and even while battling through a stress fracture in his foot all season, he still managed to put up 7.5 tackles for loss, 18 total tackles, and 1.5 sacks in 11 games.
That kind of production from a freshman-on one foot, no less-is special. He was rewarded with a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-American team, making it three straight years a Trojan has earned the honor, following Elijah Paige and Zachariah Branch.
Now imagine what Stewart could do at full strength. With a full offseason under strength coach Trumain Carroll, the ceiling’s sky-high.
Jide Abasiri also showed flashes of disruption, finishing with 3.5 sacks and proving he can collapse the pocket from the interior. Add in the arrival of Alex Van Sumeren, a transfer from Michigan State with Big Ten experience, and there’s a solid foundation forming up front.
Defensive End/Edge Rusher: Time to Step Up
Returning Players:
- Kamryn Crawford (Soph.)
- Braylan Shelby (Jr.)
- Garrett Pomerantz (R-Jr.)
- Jadyn Ramos (Fr.)
Incoming:
- Luke Wafle (New Jersey)
- Andrew Williams (Fremont)
- Zuriah Fisher (Sr., Transfer from Penn State)
Departing:
- Anthony Lucas (Sr., Eligibility)
Kamryn Crawford led USC in sacks last season with 5.5, totaling 34 yards lost for opposing offenses. That kind of production off the edge is exactly what USC needs more of. Shelby wasn’t far behind, notching 4.5 sacks of his own and showing the kind of burst and bend that can give tackles fits.
The Trojans didn’t have a single dominant sack artist last season, but they did have depth-13 different players recorded at least one sack. That’s a good sign of a defense that can bring pressure from multiple spots, but ideally, someone steps up as the go-to disruptor.
Could it be Shelby? He’s got the tools.
Could it be a newcomer like Zuriah Fisher, who brings experience from Penn State? That’s a storyline worth watching as spring ball gets underway.
What Comes Next
The first transfer portal window has closed, and while there’s always the chance for late movement, USC’s defensive line is starting to take shape. The mix of returning experience, young talent, and new additions gives the Trojans a lot to work with-but also a lot to figure out.
The biggest questions still loom: Who’s going to coordinate this defense? Can Stewart become a true game-wrecker in the middle? And will someone on the edge emerge as the next great Trojan pass rusher?
Spring practices will begin to reveal those answers. But one thing’s clear: if USC wants to compete in the Big Ten, it starts in the trenches. And this defensive line has the pieces to build something formidable.