With Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season upon us, there’s no better time to catch up with some former USC football players across the league. From rookies trying to make a name for themselves, to former Pro Bowlers seeking to cement their legacies, to playmakers looking to adjust on a new team, there are plenty of storylines surrounding past Trojans to follow this year.
If you’d like to retrospectively scrutinize my list from the 2020 season (sorry in advance for not including Leonard Williams), you can do so here, though players’ rankings from last year’s article are also included below. Also, make sure to check out this list of all former USC players in the NFL, including those on the injured reserve and practice squad who didn’t make my rankings.
10. Ronald Jones, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 4)
Jones is coming off his best season yet, reaching career highs in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns and yards per attempt to go along with a Super Bowl ring. He will likely remain in a backfield committee with Leonard Fournette, though Jones has the potential to become a three-down back for the Buccaneers heading into the final year of his rookie contract.
9. Alijah Vera-Tucker, LG, New York Jets (Not Ranked)
As the No. 14 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Vera-Tucker steps into an immediate role in the Big Apple protecting quarterback Zach Wilson, who was taken 12 picks earlier. After starting at left tackle and receiving first-team All-Pac-12 honors for USC in 2020, Vera-Tucker will move back inside to left guard with the Jets, the position where he began his career for the Trojans.
8. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 1)
In a crowded room of pass catchers that included fellow wideouts Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson in addition to tight end Eric Ebron, Smith-Schuster still had a rebound season in 2020 that included a career-best nine touchdown receptions. While he wasn’t nearly as efficient as his 2018 Pro Bowl season, some of it can be attributed to his quarterback, as Ben Roethlisberger rarely threw the ball downfield and averaged just 6.3 yards per attempt.
7. Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers (NR)
After Melvin Ingram’s departure in the offseason for Pittsburgh, Nwosu will now be the starting outside linebacker opposite Joey Bosa in a talented defense under new head coach Brendan Staley. A second-round pick in 2018, the Los Angeles native has 10 sacks in his career, and he will have plenty of chances to add to that total simply thanks to Bosa’s disruptive presence.
6. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams (No. 3)
At this point in his career, we all know what to expect from Woods under Rams head coach Sean McVay’s creative offensive scheme. Each of the last three seasons, Woods has caught between 86 and 90 passes, rushed at least 17 times on end-around plays and tallied over 1,000 total yards from scrimmage. McVay enjoys the slot receiver’s versatility and uses him in diverse ways; expect more of the same in 2021.
5. Adoree’ Jackson, CB, New York Giants (NR)
Jackson struggled with a knee injury throughout last season, playing in just four games for the Tennessee Titans, including the postseason. After being released in March, the fifth-year cornerback signed with the New York Giants, where he will start alongside James Bradberry, who had a breakout 2020 campaign. The Giants were an underrated defense last year, ranking in the top 10 in the NFL in points allowed under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and Jackson should help this unit continue to progress.
4. Nelson Agholor, WR, New England Patriots (NR)
Like Jackson, Agholor will have to adapt to a new environment after departing for New England in free agency this offseason. As the Oakland Raiders’ top wide receiver in 2020, he set personal bests with 896 receiving yards on 18.7 yards per reception, the latter ranking No. 2 in the NFL. Agholor will likely be the top target for rookie quarterback Mac Jones in a revamped Patriots offense that also added receiver Kendrick Bourne and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry.
3. Leonard Williams, DT, New York Giants (NR)
With 11.5 sacks and 57 tackles in 2020 for the Giants, Williams reestablished himself as a premier interior pass rusher after a few down years since being named to the 2016 Pro Bowl with the Jets. That performance earned him a new three-year, $63 million contract that solidifies him as a cornerstone in the aforementioned up-and-coming Giants defense alongside fellow Trojan Adoree’ Jackson.
2. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts (No. 10)
In his rookie year, Pittman Jr. showed flashes of his high upside, including a 100-yard receiving game in Week 10 against the Titans, as well as five catches for 90 yards against the Bills in the playoffs. Leading receiver T.Y. Hilton will start the season on injured reserve, opening the door for Pittman to fill the team’s desperate need for a true No. 1 receiver to pair with new quarterback Carson Wentz.
1. Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers (No. 2)
Since becoming the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold has failed to live up to high expectations coming out of USC. However, I believe his lack of success was largely due to his environment as opposed to his talent. That’s why this make-or-break season is crucial for Darnold and his future in the NFL; in Carolina, he is surrounded by better weapons and a more adept offensive system under offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Still, it will not be easy for the young quarterback, as the Panthers play in an NFC South division that features some scary defenses in Tampa Bay and New Orleans.