Jide Abasiri arrived at USC as the kind of player programs dream about developing, and now he’s walking into a much bigger spotlight.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Minnesota native, whose parents are from Nigeria, has gone from a developmental signee in the class of 2024 to one of the most important voices in the Trojans’ defensive line room. He led all returning USC defensive linemen with 432 defensive snaps last season, and with Devan Thompkins gone through the transfer portal, Abasiri has become the veteran presence in a group that needs one.
Lincoln Riley made that point clear Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
"[He] was a developmental player that has worked his tail off to become one of the best defensive linemen in our league," Riley said at Tuesday's Big Ten Media Days event. "A very, very versatile player.
He's a guy that does everything right in our program. He's always on time.
He never misses anything. He has just stayed steady throughout his entire career, and he's a great example to a lot of guys out there that maybe you don't have that dream season right away in the beginning, but you just stay with it and stay steady, and that's what he's done, and that's why he's here representing us today."
That versatility is now being tested in a new way. Abasiri said he has spent a good portion of the offseason working more on the outside, and he’s been getting reps at defensive end while preparing to play all over the line. He’s been working closely with defensive ends coach Shaun Nua on the edge, a shift that gives USC a bigger body and more depth where it needed it.
"I stepped into a bigger leadership role," Abasiri said. "I'm obviously playing more snaps on the outside this year than inside.
Just being able to play all over the line is where I've excelled at, and that's what coach [Gary] Patterson has been doing. It's fun.
It's good.
"It's hard to go from a d-tackle back to end. Especially with dropping and all that stuff.
I didn't do that in high school at all. I know a lot of defenses in college now have defensive ends dropping, and taking the running back and all that stuff."
The adjustment isn’t just about alignment. Abasiri said the work changes his training, too, from the footwork to the way he sees the game unfold.
"I would just say it's just a different way I train," Abasiri said. "Defensive tackle, you take shorter steps, and when you're on the outside, obviously your steps are longer and faster, and you get more time and everything to recognize plays.
I just be watching my guys like Braylan [Shelby], Kam[eryn Crawford]. I'll be going to them for advice.
They've been really helpful in helping me make that transition as well."
That edge depth matters for USC. Nua said after the spring that the 2025 season showed the Trojans needed more bodies coming off the edge, especially after three players handled most of the workload last year and the rush wore down as the season went on.
Shelby and Crawford are back, and freshman Luke Wafle arrived in January. Abasiri now adds another 295 pounds to that mix.
His message about the team’s mindset matched the way Riley described him.
"Every game is important," Abasiri said. "Every season matters.
Just this year, we've definitely raised the bar, raised the standard on how we do things and approach things, and we've integrated that into our culture. We have a lot of people buying into that now.
I would say just doing work outside of what's required. Getting trainers, getting more recovery and all that stuff.
People taking care of their bodies, taking care of their diet, all that stuff."
For USC, the details have become a central theme. If the Trojans have followed Abasiri’s example behind the scenes, he’s already made his presence felt before the first game. And if he can generate steady pressure from his new spot on the edge, Abasiri could become one of the most impactful players on the roster this season, and maybe one of the most impactful in Riley’s time at USC.
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