For USC, the clearest path to a sturdier defense in 2026 starts inside. After a rough 2025 season, the Trojans need more physicality, especially when it comes to slowing the run, and the defensive tackle group is the part of the roster that could change that conversation.
Jide Abasiri is at the center of it. The sophomore defensive tackle was one of USC’s most impactful players last season, finishing with 26 tackles, four tackles for loss of 24 yards, 3.5 sacks for minus 24 yards, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
He did that damage in nine starts and appeared in all 13 games. With that kind of production and versatility, he looks like one of the defensive leaders heading into 2026, and USC made that clear by having him speak at Big Ten Media Day.
Alex VanSumeren brings a different kind of value, but one that matters just as much. He’s a newer name in the program, yet he’s already drawing strong reviews from people who have watched USC practice.
His calling card is run defense, and he was also selected to speak for the Trojans defense at Big Ten Media Days. Last season with the Michigan Spartans, he posted 52 tackles and two tackles for loss, while also adding 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries.
Put him next to Abasiri, and USC has the look of an interior duo that can make life easier for everyone around them.
Then there’s Jahkeem Stewart, the young lineman who might have the highest ceiling of the group. Last season he flashed big-time potential with 18 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.
He also played through a stress fracture all year, which makes the production stand out even more. Now healthy, the freshman All-American should have a chance to take another step, especially with veteran help around him.
Jamaal Jarrett adds more size and more intrigue. The 6-foot-5, 360-pound tackle came to USC from Georgia and showed glimpses before injuries slowed him down and kept him out for most of the second half of the season.
His most memorable moment came against Michigan State, when his 70-yard interception return for a touchdown earned him the nickname “thick six.” Jarrett finished last season with three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, but with more depth in the rotation now, he should be fresher and can be used in more situational roles.
The depth behind those names is part of what makes this group interesting. Floyd Boucard, a true freshman last season, got on the field in 10 games and finished with nine tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. That kind of early experience should only help him in year two.
USC also has two more freshmen who could push into the rotation. Jaimeon Winfield arrives with five-star buzz and a track record of production in high school, where he had 55 tackles, including 22 for loss, along with six sacks and 14 quarterback hits.
Tomuhini “Tom Tom” Topui Jr. is another highly regarded freshman expected to be in the mix. Together, they give the Trojans a deep and varied interior group, one that could go a long way toward making the defense tougher in 2026.
In Other News...
USC Game Day Just Made A Coliseum Change Fans Will Notice
USC is making a noticeable change to its game-day presentation for the 2026 football season, bringing KTLA reporter Hayley Elwood on board as the new in-stadium host at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. She steps into a role long associated with DJ Mal-Ski, who has been a familiar presence around USC home dates and other university venues, helping set the tone for the crowd as fans filter into the building and settle in for kickoff.
The move comes as USC also rolls out new concessions and themed promotions for home games, another sign that the program is continuing to tweak the Coliseum experience beyond what happens on the field. Mal-Ski is expected to remain involved with the venue by handling the music, so while one part of the presentation is changing hands, another piece of the soundtrack that regulars have come to know is staying in place. [Read more 🡒]
USC Depth Chart Just Put Pressure On Two Young Trojans
USCs first depth chart for 2026 offered an early glimpse at how the staff is sorting through its young talent, and it put immediate focus on a pair of players who need to turn recruiting hype and offseason momentum into real roles. True freshman Trent Mosely opened as the No. 2 receiver, with redshirt-sophomore Zacharyus Williams right behind him after a turbulent start to his USC tenure that included a transfer from Utah in 2025 and an injury-shortened season.
The same theme showed up on the defensive side, where highly regarded defensive back RJ Sermons was listed third on the chart after not seeing the field in his freshman year. For both Williams and Sermons, the path to meaningful snaps may come from carving out something more specific than a standard backup job, and special teams could wind up being the quickest way to stay in the mix as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
USC Could Face A Real Roster Crunch If NCAA Vote Passes
The NCAAs latest set of proposed football rule changes could force USC to juggle its roster planning in a hurry this fall, with the biggest ripple coming from a shortened 10-day transfer portal window in January. Along with an out-of-season practice model that would allow two practice periods while keeping the overall limit at 21 practices, the proposal also pushes the season start earlier than Labor Day weekend, which would alter the rhythm of how Lincoln Riley and general manager Chad Bowden prepare the Trojans.
For USC, the timing matters almost as much as the substance. Recruiting, practice schedules and portal strategy would all need to be adjusted if the vote passes, and the Trojans would have less room for error in managing a roster that already demands constant attention. A final decision is expected between October 6-7, and until then the staff is left waiting to see whether the new calendar becomes the new reality. [Read more 🡒]