USC’s secondary may be the most unsettled part of the roster heading into 2026, but that uncertainty comes with a twist: the Trojans also have no shortage of options. That makes freshman cornerback Elbert Hill IV, better known as “Rock,” a fascinating piece of the puzzle. He’s already in the mix to help on defense and as a punt return option, and USC’s coaches clearly believe he can contribute sooner rather than later.
Hill, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound corner from Cleveland, Ohio, by way of Akron Archbishop Hoban, arrived in Los Angeles as a 4-star recruit in the 2026 class. He was ranked No. 90 nationally, No. 8 among cornerbacks and No. 4 in the state of Ohio by 247Sports.
On USC’s list of the Top 30 Most Important Trojans for 2026, he lands at No. 29.
During spring, Hill worked exclusively with Trovon Reed and the cornerbacks, even as USC cross-trained several defensive backs across the back end. Reed came away impressed.
"That kid showed up every day with a chip on his shoulder," Reed said this spring. "He's working his butt off like he was a two-star when he really was a five-star.
So that's all I can ask for. Man, the sky's the limit for that kid."
That kind of praise says plenty about how USC views Hill’s future. The coaches seem to believe he has the kind of upside that can matter beyond just this season, and they’ve already had conversations with him built around that expectation.
The bigger question for 2026 is how quickly that talent turns into reliable production. USC has veterans who should help keep the floor from dropping too far at cornerback, but Hill’s ceiling is what makes him stand out. He may not be the kind of player whose absence would break the roster, but if he becomes the consistent defender USC thinks he can be, he could raise the Trojans’ overall level in a meaningful way.
That matters for a team trying to push itself into the College Football Playoff. If Hill plays to his talent, USC’s chances improve.
Last year’s No. 29 on the list was kicker Caden Chittenden. He entered as the expected starter after a Freshman All-American season at UNLV, but he never got on the field for USC.
An injury in camp, a missed season opener and Ryon Sayeri’s strong grip on the job kept Chittenden sidelined, with Sayeri handling both field goals and kickoffs. Chittenden and Sayeri are now both third-year sophomores.
In Other News...
USC Just Got The Oregon Opening Lincoln Riley Cannot Waste
Oregons secondary is still sorting itself out as Chris Hampton settles in as defensive coordinator, and that kind of uncertainty is exactly the sort of opening USC has to be ready to press. The Ducks have multiple players in the mix for key jobs back there, which means the early shape of their defense is still being defined even before the season gets rolling.
For Lincoln Riley and the Trojans, the opportunity is obvious: make Oregon answer questions in coverage while USCs offense tries to get its own front settled enough to handle the Ducks defensive line. If the Trojans can win up front, they can force Oregon to show its hand in the back end, and the way those position battles shake out could wind up steering how aggressive Hampton can be with that secondary down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Headlines A Loaded All-USC NFL Dream Team
USCs NFL footprint has become so deep that building a dream team out of former Trojans is less a novelty than a reminder of how often the program has fed Sundays. The piece leans into that history by mixing the schools long draft track record with the production of its current and recent pros, then sorting through the names that have actually mattered at the next level. From the skill positions to the line, there is no shortage of candidates, which is part of what makes the exercise feel more like an argument than a gimmick.
Caleb Williams sits at the center of it, and not just because of his pedigree. The discussion around him is tied to how he has handled the jump to the NFL and how his postseason work has added another layer to his profile, while the rest of the roster debate stretches across a loaded backfield and a receiver group that reflects USCs ability to keep producing playmakers. Even the offensive line conversation has enough current and former Trojans in it to make the final choices feel crowded, which is exactly the kind of problem USC would want to have. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Gave Ronnie Lott A Rare Place In College Football History
Ronnie Lott has long been part of USCs defensive lore, and ESPNs college football writers have now put him in a rare historical lane by elevating him above every other player to wear No. 42. The former Trojan safety was a centerpiece of the 1978 national title team and helped USC win two Rose Bowls, building the kind of college rsum that still resonates whenever the programs all-time greats come up.
Lotts senior season only sharpened that legacy, as he finished by leading the country in interceptions and capped his USC career with a reputation for making game-changing plays. His college success was just the start of a career that carried into Canton-worthy territory with the San Francisco 49ers, but this latest nod is a reminder of how much of his legend was forged in cardinal and gold. [Read more 🡒]