USC’s defense has reached the point where the backups can’t stay hidden much longer.
After a shutout against Fresno State in Week 1, the No. 18 Trojans have been uneven under defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.
Through five games, USC sits No. 72 in points allowed per game at 26.4, No. 52 in yards allowed per game at 354.8 and No. 75 in sack percentage at 5.37. With several defenders now listed as “out” or “questionable” on the latest injury report, the rotation pieces and second-teamers are going to get a real chance to prove they belong when Washington comes to town on Oct.
If they don’t, the transfer portal questions are going to start hovering even louder.
At linebacker, the spotlight lands first on Jadyn Walker and Ta’Mere Robinson. Walker stepped in at backer after Desman Stephens II was ejected for targeting in Week 5, and the redshirt-sophomore had a rough night against Oregon’s big offensive line.
He had trouble holding his ground in the gaps and finished with three tackles, including two solo stops and one assist. In the Sept. 30 depth chart update, Walker is listed behind former Husky Deven Bryant.
Stephens won’t play because of a one-game suspension, which opens the door for Robinson to start at the second backer spot. The redshirt-junior has five tackles and a quarterback-hit across five appearances, while freshman Talanoa Ili, who has seven total tackles in five games, is set to back him up.
Robinson has already appeared on this list before, but the pressure is different now. At 6-3 and 230 pounds, he has the size and movement to work sideline to sideline, and that matters with Demond Williams Jr. able to hurt defenses with his legs.
If Patterson leans into more blitzing, Robinson looks like the best fit to come after the quarterback. He also brings coverage ability that could help a secondary that has been giving up big plays.
Walker still has a chance to change the conversation, but he can’t afford another step back. In four appearances, he has 10 tackles, and USC needs him to set a better tone early against Washington. A strong hit, better tackling and a cleaner showing against the Huskies’ rushing attack would go a long way toward strengthening his standing with a coaching staff that still believes in him.
Ili may need to be unleashed as well. Communication issues have been part of the problem, but the personnel may need a shakeup too. With 2026 recruits like Luke Wafle and Elbert Hill IV already stepping into starting roles and contributing, Ili could be next in line to make that kind of jump.
Up front, USC’s starting line of Luke Wafle, Jide Abasiri, Alex VanSumeren and Kameryn Crawford has usually started games well, but the production has faded hard by the second half. The group has only four quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks through five games, and that has pushed the trenches into the same conversation as linebacker: who’s ready for first-team work, and who’s still stuck in between?
Redshirt-sophomore Jadyn Ramos is a good example. He’s third on the depth chart behind senior Braylan Shelby and Wafle, but his production suggests he deserves more than a developmental label.
Ramos has five total tackles and two sacks in four appearances, and at 6-4, 250 pounds, he has the frame to attack off the edge. His high school résumé at Conroe High in Texas backs that up too, with 18 sacks and 36.5 tackles as a senior.
At some point, USC has to give him 10 to 15 reps and let him go after it.
Floyd Boucard fits the same mold. The sophomore has been mentioned here before, and while Jahkeem Stewart has flashed the kind of play that brought back memories of his freshman year, he still needs time to get back into game shape. Boucard needs more snaps so he can eat blocks, create pressure from the interior and help against the run.
Freshman Tomuhini “Tom Tom” Topui Jr. has already seen a small bump in playing time and should keep getting more. His fellow 2026 recruits are making noise, and it’s time for him to do the same. The four-star from Mater Dei in California was a true disruptor in the Trinity League, finishing his high school career with 86 total tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
If Topui delivers on that promise, the next names worth watching are Bradeon Jones and Jaimeon Winfield.
In Other News...
USC Is Still Watching A 5-Star RB Shut Down Flip Buzz
Kemon Spell remains one of the biggest names in the 2027 recruiting class, and USC is still in the mix as it keeps pressing for the top-ranked running back. Spell is already committed to Georgia, but the Trojans have continued to stay involved alongside Penn State and Virginia Tech, a sign that his recruitment still has a long way to go before it feels truly settled.
Spells path has already included one notable turn, going from a Penn State pledge to Georgia after a coaching change in Happy Valley. Even with the extra attention from USC and the other programs, he has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the Bulldogs, which leaves the Trojans watching closely as one of the classs most coveted backs keeps drawing the kind of national interest that usually doesnt fade quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Faces A Bigger Dante Moore Question Than Just His Injury
Oregons quarterback situation took a sharp turn after Dante Moore was hurt on a targeting play and taken to the hospital, but Dan Lannings update offered at least some immediate reassurance. Lanning said Moore is healthy and still being evaluated, though the Ducks have not announced any timetable for his return. In the meantime, the offense did not stall, with backup Dylan Raiola stepping in and helping lead Oregon to a win after the injury.
Now the bigger question is not only when Moore will be back, but how Oregon manages the next stretch if it has to plan around both quarterbacks. Raiola has already shown he can keep the Ducks moving, and the staff is preparing for upcoming games with that reality in mind. For a team with its sights set on staying on schedule, the uncertainty at quarterback is becoming more than a short-term injury update. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces One Big Problem Ahead Of Crucial Washington Game
The No. 18 Trojans return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 3 for a meeting with Washington that already carries a little extra weight, even at this point in the season. USC is 4-1 and favored by 8.5 points at DraftKings Sportsbook, but the matchup comes with a familiar kind of October concern: the health of the receiver room. Trent Mosley and Corey Simms are among the injury question marks, leaving the Trojans to sort through depth and timing as they prepare for a conference test on NBC.
Washington brings its own challenge in quarterback Demond Williams Jr., whose passing and rushing production have made the Huskies a difficult team to settle down. For USC, the issue is not just whether it can protect its home field, but whether it can do so while navigating a short-handed offense against a team capable of turning the game into a track meet. The Trojans have the edge on paper, but the next step in this season may depend on how much of their playmaking cast is actually available when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]