If you’ve been breathlessly waiting, counting down the days, hours, minutes, seconds until the third annual installment of this article, then I am happy to share that the time has finally come. I’ll help you catch up with some of your favorite former Trojans, many of whom are in new uniforms, roles or even leagues in 2022, and share why you should be excited to watch them on Sundays this upcoming season.
If you’d like to get mad at either of my previous rankings, I’m happy to point you in the right direction (2020 and 2021). I also have players’ rankings from last year’s list included below. And here’s a nice, easy list of all former USC players currently with an NFL team, also including those on practice squads and injured reserve, ranging from Tyron Smith to Chris Steele to Matt Barkley.
10. Austin Jackson, RT, Miami Dolphins (Not Ranked)
Jackson has disappointed in his two years with the Dolphins since becoming the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has bounced between left guard and left tackle and now moves across the line to right tackle in his third year. Jackson needs to make a jump and live up to his draft status soon in a Miami offense that looks promising under new head coach Mike McDaniel.
9. Drake Jackson, DE, San Francisco 49ers (NR)
Ever since his standout freshman campaign for USC in 2019, Jackson was tabbed as a possible top-10 prospect in the 2022 Draft. However, rather disappointing sophomore and junior seasons made him fall to the end of the second round. Nevertheless, Jackson has garnered some significant hype in training camp due to his physical prowess, and he should contribute to an already stacked 49ers defensive line.
8. Alijah Vera-Tucker, RG, New York Jets (No. 9)
This will be Year 2 in the NFL for AVT, the No. 14 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft who started 16 of 17 games his rookie season. He will also be making a switch across the offensive line, from left guard to right guard, after the Jets signed Laken Tomlinson. Vera-Tucker will continue to be tasked with protecting the young, promising quarterback behind him, Zach Wilson.
7. Talanoa Hufanga, S, San Francisco 49ers (NR)
You might remember Hufanga from making this play in last year’s NFC divisional round:
WHAT A HEADS UP PLAY BY THE ROOK @TalanoaHufanga 🤙#SFvsGB on FOX/49ers App pic.twitter.com/yzP6NAqWgW
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 23, 2022
A season later, Hufanga appears to be slotted in as the 49ers’ strong safety, as San Francisco seems to have a thing for USC defensive prospects as of late. Hufanga mainly contributed on special teams in 2021, as seen above, but the 2020 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year is a breakout candidate in his expanded role this upcoming season.
6. Leonard Williams, DE, New York Giants (No. 3)
After 11.5 sacks in 2020 and a $63 million extension the following offseason, Williams regressed a bit last season, down to just 6.5 sacks on the year, including just one in the Giants’ final nine games. However, with New York changing its defensive scheme and adding talented rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux to the defensive line, Williams could see more sack chances open up in 2022.
5. Robert Woods, WR, Tennessee Titans (No. 6)
A torn ACL last season ended a consistent five-year stint from Woods with the Rams, and now he heads to Tennessee. With over 7,500 yards from scrimmage in his career, Woods will be a solid veteran option for quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The 10-year NFL veteran receiver will run routes alongside rookie Treylon Burks after the Titans lost both A.J. Brown and Julio Jones in the offseason.
4. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 8)
Smith-Schuster, everyone’s favorite TikToker, comes into a completely new scene after leaving Pittsburgh for a one-year deal in Kansas City. Smith-Schuster hasn’t gotten back to where he was during his 2018 Pro Bowl campaign, but he’ll be the top option for some guy named Patrick Mahomes in 2022, which could help him out a little. He’s no Tyreek Hill, but JuJu should get plenty of opportunities out of the slot opposite Travis Kelce.
3. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons (NR)
London was one of the most exciting players in college football in 2021 until his season-ending ankle injury. Still, he impressed enough in eight games to be taken at No. 8 overall in this year’s NFL Draft. Alongside fellow young target Kyle Pitts, Atlanta could have one heck of a one-two punch at pass-catcher for the foreseeable future. London might not get the same monster target share as he did with the Trojans, but expect him to be plenty involved in Arthur Smith’s Falcons offense.
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions (NR)
A fourth-round pick in 2021, St. Brown played like a first-round talent in his rookie season with Detroit. In his last six games, St. Brown had at least eight catches and 70 yards every game, and he had six total touchdowns in that span. He should be Jared Goff’s top option headed into his second season with a Lions team that appears to be trending in the right direction.
1. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts (No. 2)
Pittman asserted himself as the top receiver in Indianapolis in 2021, catching 88 passes for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns. Now, he gets an upgrade at quarterback — Matt Ryan — who will depend on Pittman given the Colts’ limited receiver options. The 2020 second-round pick could enter the conversation of being a top 10 receiver in the NFL in 2022 given his likely high target share.