Last updated June 1 at 4:43 p.m. PST
After USC football’s disappointing 7-5 record in the regular season, head coach Lincoln Riley is looking to revamp the Trojan roster through a variety of means. There were 19 different high school players who signed to play for USC during the Early Signing Period, but the best way to quickly rebuild a roster these days is through the transfer portal.
So far, USC has lost more players than they have brought in, but the Trojans have some momentum building as they look to compete in the Big Ten conference next season.
Follow along with Annenberg Media’s live tracker of everyone who has transferred in and out of USC. Authored by Thomas Johnson, Terence Holton, Suzanne Schofield, Crash Collier and Jude Reynolds Ocañas.
USC’s Transfer Portal rankings, as of June 1
On3 (Factors transfers in and transfers out): 28th
247Sports (Just factors transfers in): 19th
Transfers In
Charles Ross: Wide Receiver
Previous School: San José State
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: N/A (N/A out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: May 28
Collier: The transfer from San José State gives USC more depth in the receiver room. Ross played the past three seasons with the Spartans after starting his collegiate career with Nevada. During his time at San José State, Ross appeared in 27 games, starting 17 of them, where he had 65 receptions for 856 yards.
The addition of Ross to the USC roster helps replenish a position that was heavily depleted after the Trojans’ 2023 regular season ended and the transfer portal opened. Ross will look to compete for playing time against the returning young core of receivers that includes sophomores Duce Robinson and Makai Lemon, as well as experienced transfers like Kyle Ford and Jay Fair.
Gavin Meyer: Defensive Lineman
Previous School: Wyoming
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (N/A out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: May 22
Schofield: The 6-foot-4, 285-pound redshirt senior brings valuable experience to the Trojans, slotting in at nose tackle for the Cowboys. Over the past two seasons, Meyer appeared in 26 games, recording 66 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Despite starting six games in 2022, he was primarily a rotational player in 2023, logging 351 defensive snaps.
Meyer’s addition addresses USC’s critical need for depth on the defensive line, a concern Riley has frequently highlighted. However, some critics note that Meyer’s performance, while solid, has not necessarily stood out. Some have questioned his ability to consistently dominate at a higher level of competition. Despite interest from schools like Cal, Wisconsin and Illinois, Meyer will need to elevate his game if he wants to become a key contributor for the Trojans.
Michael Lantz: Kicker
Previous school: Georgia Southern
Class for 2024: Graduate
On3 ranking: N/A (N/A out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (two star out of high school)
Committed: April 29
Johnson: Lantz provides an extra leg to compete with redshirt freshman Tyler Robles and redshirt junior Denis Lynch this upcoming fall. While Lantz was 23-for-28 on field-goal attempts with the Eagles last season, Lynch was 10-for-14 with USC in 2023. Lynch certainly has a leg on him — with a career long of 53 yards — but his inconsistencies between 30 and 39 yards was concerning; he went 5-for-8 between that range this past season.
Lantz, comparatively, does not have the strongest leg in the world with a career-long kick of 48 yards. But he has been much more consistent at shorter ranges, knocking home 10 of 11 attempts in 2023 from the same range that Lynch went 62.5% from last year.
Jay Fair: Wide Receiver
Previous school: Auburn
Class for 2024: Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: April 28
Johnson: A seemingly inexperienced receiver room has gained a whole lot of experience recently. Fair played in 23 games across two seasons with the Auburn Tigers, snatching 324 yards — which was second on the team — and two touchdowns this past season.
Fair was most dangerous for his ability after the catch and will add more speed for USC. The former Tiger did compile 149 of his 324 yards against UMass and Samford, creating questions about whether he is effective against stiffer opponents. Entering his third in college, Fair will now have the chance to answer those questions with the Trojans.
Kyle Ford: Wide Receiver
Previous school: UCLA
Class for 2024: Graduate
On3 ranking: Three star (N/A out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (five star out of high school)
Committed: April 23
Johnson: Yes, this is the same Ford that transferred to UCLA from USC last offseason, but he is back, according to On3′s Hayes Fawcett. “My fault I was trippin’,” Ford said to Fawcett when he announced his transfer back to the Trojans. The veteran wide receiver was only with the Bruins for one season, compiling 236 yards across 12 games, and entered the portal after Chip Kelly resigned from UCLA’s head coaching position to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
While his UCLA numbers might not show it, Ford is a big addition to the wide receiver room. The 6-foot-3 pass catcher was much more productive in his final seasons with the Trojans, notching 365 yards in 2022 and 252 yards in 2021. The once and future Trojan will suit up in the cardinal and gold again in 2024, and immediately becomes one of the most experienced receivers in the room.
Greedy Vance Jr.: Defensive Back
Previous school: Florida State
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: April 21
Johnson: More than anything, Vance Jr. brings experience to the USC cornerback room as he becomes USC’s first commit in the spring transfer window. The Florida State transfer has appeared in 44 games across four seasons between the Seminoles and Louisville Cardinals. While he appeared in all 14 games for the 2023 ACC champions, Vance Jr. only made five starts, notching 18 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups this past season.
After losing Tre’Quon Fegans to the transfer portal April 21 — see more in the Transfers Out section — cornerback became a position of need for the Trojans. Playing time will come at a premium for Vance Jr., though, after strong defensive back performances at USC’s annual spring game. Redshirt senior DeCarlos Nicholson, redshirt junior Prophet Brown and freshman Marcelles Williams excelled at cornerback for USC this past weekend as the trio all nabbed interceptions.
Jayden Maiava: Quarterback
Previous school: UNLV
Class for 2024: Redshirt sophomore
On3 ranking: Four star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (three star out of high school)
Committed: January 9
Holton: After a whirlwind recruitment campaign the past two days, where Maiava initially committed to Georgia, he has flipped his commitment to USC and head coach Lincoln Riley.
As a redshirt freshman at UNLV, Maiava took the Rebels to its first-ever Mountain West championship game, as well as throwing for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns to win Mountain West Freshman of the Year. In the Guaranteed Rate Bowl — a game where the Rebels scored 36 points — Maiava threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns.
Maiava will provide much needed depth to the Trojan quarterback room while also getting the privilege to learn under the QB whisperer — Lincoln Riley. Maiava likely won’t take redshirt sophomore Miller Moss’s starting job after Moss’s six touchdown performance in the Holiday Bowl, but Maiava should get some snaps behind Moss and gain much needed experience.
Isaiah Raikes: Defensive Lineman
Previous school: Texas A&M
Class for 2024: Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (N/A out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
Committed: January 9
Johnson: The most eye-popping thing about Raikes is his size, coming in at 320 pounds. That weight would be tied for heaviest on the defensive line for USC this past season, adding some beef to the defensive front for the Trojans. His stats don’t necessarily stand out, recording only 17 tackles this past season, but that is not uncommon for a hefty player who plays in the middle of the defensive line. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyon Barrs only recorded 18 tackles this year for USC, so Raikes will likely fill a similar role as Barrs did this past season. However, Raikes is listed as 30 pounds heavier than Barrs and should help with stopping the run, a key for a defense that gave up 186.5 rushing yards per game in 2023.
Update: Raikes has since re-entered the transfer portal as of April 12. Find more information below in the Transfers Out section.
Jaden Richardson: Wide Receiver
Previous school: Tufts
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (unranked out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (unranked out of high school)
Committed: January 2
Holton: Richardson played nine games this past season for the Tufts Jumbos, where he racked up an impressive 830 yards, 13 touchdowns and 46 receptions. Richardson played three years at Tufts where he totalled 1,564 yards and 20 touchdowns, the majority of which came across the last two seasons.
Originally from San Mateo, California, Richardson’s homecoming to the Golden State will provide needed experience to a young, yet talented, USC wide receiver corps.
John Humphrey: Defensive Back
Previous school: UCLA
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
Committed: December 21
Johnson: Humphrey started in 11 of UCLA’s 12 regular season games, notching 31 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups. The UCLA defense this past season — coached by USC’s new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn — was third in the Pac-12 in passing yards per game and second in interceptions. The Trojans, in comparison, were seventh and tied for 10th in those respective stats this past season. Humphrey can help Lynn and new secondary coach Doug Belk turn around USC’s passing defense.
Kamari Ramsey: Defensive Back
Previous School: UCLA
Class for 2024: Redshirt sophomore
On3 ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Committed: December 21
Johnson: The Trojans seem to like taking two players from the same team, as Ramsey is one of two former Bruins to commit to USC. Ramsey, as of December 23, is the highest-rated player from the transfer portal to commit to USC, and for good reason. Ramsey did not allow a single touchdown across 369 coverage snaps, according to PFF. For a Trojan defense that allowed the second-most points in the Pac-12 this season, having a player like Ramsey will certainly help turn around the defense.
Lynn was able to turn around the UCLA defense in only one year. Bringing in Ramsey and Humphrey, who were part of UCLA’s turnaround, should hopefully have a similar effect on USC’s defense.
DeCarlos Nicholson: Cornerback
Previous School: Mississippi State
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of Junior College)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of Junior College)
Committed: December 20
Johnson: Nicholson, along with Humphrey, will provide the Trojans with two veterans with a lot of experience, something USC was lacking before adding these two transfers. Nicholson played in 25 games across the last two seasons for the Bulldogs.
The Trojans have had success bringing in veteran cornerbacks from the transfer portal. Nicholson and Humphrey could end up similar to both redshirt senior cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace and former-USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon. Roland-Wallace and Blackmon led Trojan cornerbacks in interceptions the respective year they transferred to USC.
Jo’Quavious Marks: Running Back
Previous School: Mississippi State
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Committed: December 20
Johnson: Marks finishes off the second of three duos that transferred to USC from the same school. The former Bulldog seems to be the heir apparent to junior running back MarShawn Lloyd and redshirt senior running back Austin Jones. Lloyd has declared for the NFL Draft and, assuming Jones does the same, it left USC’s roster with only three running backs: two current freshmen and one incoming freshman. Marks brings in four years of starting experience from the SEC, a good thing for a running back room with a lot of talent, but little experience.
Riley will likely start Marks — who rushed for 573 yards and four touchdowns across nine games this past season — out of the gate. It will be interesting, though, to see how many touches freshman running back Quinten Joyner receives in tandem with Marks, as Joyner showed out with limited touches this season, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
Akili Arnold: Safety
Previous School: Oregon State
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Four star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: December 17
Ocañas: Akili was one of two members of the Arnold family to switch and return home to Southern California. Out of Mission Viejo High School, Arnold was a three-star safety with quick speed and great hands. He was an all-around athlete from high school, taking snaps at both kick returner and receiver. While at Oregon State, Arnold progressed tremendously as a tackler, having a career season in 2023 with 60 tackles and he was tied for the team-high with two interceptions.
Riley’s emphasis this portal season was to boost the underperforming defense from the past two seasons. Adding Arnold gives new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn more depth at safety as All-American safety Calen Bullock looks to return for his senior year. And who knows, if the Trojans need more help at receiver, Arnold has some experience.
Update: Since initial publishing, Bullock has since declared for the NFL Draft and will not return for his senior year.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold: Inside Linebacker
Previous school: Oregon State
Class for 2024: Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Committed: December 16
Johnson: Mascarenas-Arnold is one of the better pickups for USC out of the portal. He earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors this season as he recorded 107 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. His 107 tackles led Oregon State by a very wide margin — the player with the second-most tackles had 44 fewer than Mascarenas-Arnold — and he would have led the Trojans this season as well by a whopping 30 tackles. Tackling has been a major problem for USC for the past two seasons and Mascarenas-Arnold will aim to help Lynn and newly-hired linebackers coach Matt Entz fix it.
Nate Clifton: Defensive End
Previous school: Vanderbilt
Class for 2024: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (three star out of high school)
Committed: December 10
Johnson: Clifton was a team captain this season for Vanderbilt, leading the team in sacks. USC only averaged 2.25 sacks per game through the regular season — tied for 45th in the country — so the Trojans hope Clifton can help improve those numbers. There was a stretch this past season where Clifton recorded at least .5 sacks in four straight games. UCLA averaged 3.42 sacks per game under Lynn — good for seventh in the country — so the combination of Clifton and Lynn should help USC’s pass rush.
Hank Pepper: Long Snapper
Previous school: Michigan State
Class for 2024: Redshirt junior
On3 ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (two star out of high school)
Committed: December 6
Johnson: Fans never know the name of the long snapper until the long snapper messes up. Trojans fans will hope they never have to learn Pepper’s name. He started as a freshman at Michigan State, and could do the same at USC. Pepper redshirted this season, so he should be a redshirt junior when he puts on a Trojan uniform for the first time.
Transfers Out
Ceyair Wright: Cornerback
New School: ???
Current class: Redshirt junior
On3 ranking: Three Star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 26
Johnson: This one was not much of a shocker, as Wright was not included on the spring roster for USC. The former four-star recruit had an interesting tenure with the Trojans, balancing football with an acting career. Wright is most known for playing the son of NBA superstar LeBron James in “Space Jam: A New Legacy.”
On the football side of things, Wright played 23 games in three years with USC and compiled 41 tackles and an interception. Wright saw his most playing time in 2022, competing in all of the Trojans’ 14 games, but he only saw the field in seven games in 2023.
As with many Trojan transfers, the talent is still evident with Wright, which is why 247Sports still rates him as a four-star transfer.
Deijon Laffitte: Defensive Lineman
New School: Fresno State
Current class: Redshirt freshman
On3 ranking: Three Star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 25
Johnson: Laffitte is another Trojan on the defensive front who will suit up for Fresno State next season (see Korey Foreman below). The redshirt freshman for the 2024 season did not get the chance to compete for the Trojans, not playing in a single game last season.
The Ontario, California native was one of three defensive players on the roster who weighed over 300 pounds, thinning out a front that is now in desperate need of size.
Cooper Lovelace: Offensive Lineman
New School: ???
Current class: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three Star (three star out of junior college)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of junior college)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 23
Johnson: Lovelace may have been the most flexible offensive lineman in football, but he did not see much time on the field for USC. The 6-foot-5 lineman only played in seven games between two years with the Trojans, and did not make it on the first-team offensive line during the spring game.
A transfer portal loss is a loss at the end of the day, but Lovelace would not have spent much time in the Big Ten’s trenches this upcoming season anyway.
Stanley Ta’ufo’ou: Defensive Lineman
New School: ???
Current class: Redshirt senior
On3 ranking: Three Star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 16
Holton: Ta’ufo’ou was one of the longest-tenured players on the Trojan defense, and will now seek a change of scenery with his last year of eligibility. Ta’ufo’ou totaled 55 tackles and one sack in his four-year career for USC, with his best year coming in 2022 when he tallied 27 tackles.
With talented defensive linemen like junior Bear Alexander and redshirt senior Nate Clifton on the USC roster, Ta’ufo’ou will look for more opportunity elsewhere.
Out of high school, Ta’ufo’ou held offers from notable programs such as UCLA, Iowa State, Kansas State and Utah.
Isaiah Raikes: Defensive Lineman
New School: Auburn
Current class: Senior
On3 ranking: N/A (N/A out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 12
Johnson: The Trojans are lucky the Bear Alexander rumors proved to be unfounded. Raikes was one of the major additions of this past offseason out of the transfer portal, as explained above, but did not even make it through spring ball before re-entering the portal. The former Texas A&M Aggie was in line to help USC turn around its defensive line, but Henderson will need to look to others in his first year as the Trojan defensive line coach.
Tre’Quon Fegans: Cornerback
New School: University of Central Florida
Current class: Redshirt Sophomore
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (four star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 12
Johnson: In his one year with the Trojans after transferring from Alabama, Fegans only mustered nine tackles across six games. His playing time was not likely to increase in this upcoming season given the additions of veteran cornerbacks Nicholson and Humphrey out of the portal, and the assurgent of play of redshirt junior cornerback Prophet Brown in the Holiday Bowl. But this loss is still important, as there are now only seven cornerbacks left on the roster.
The Fegans transfer is also important given his younger brother, safety Anquon Fegans, is a four-star recruit in the 2025 class. The younger Fegans brother was once verbally committed to USC, but withdrew his pledge on August 23, 2023. There is no saying how this will effect Anquon’s recruitment, but it now even more unlikely that he will sign with the Trojans.
Jason Zandamela: Offensive Lineman
New School: University of Florida
Current class: Freshman
On3 ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: April 11
Johnson: He didn’t even make it through one semester. Zandamela was one of USC’s top-rated recruits in the class of 2024, but plans to enter the transfer portal, according to On3, after enrolling with the Trojans in January. The freshman was one of the best interior lineman in the class, with 247Sports ranking him as the best at the position.
With USC losing multiple veterans along the offensive line and with Zandamela’s high rating, he likely would have earned ample playing time as early as this upcoming season. There have been no reports as to why Zandamela left USC, but whichever school picks him up will get one of the best young interior offensive lineman in the country.
Bear Alexander: Defensive Lineman
New School: USC
Current class: Junior
On3 ranking: N/A (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (four star out of high school)
Committed: April 10
Johnson: Bear Alexander was USC’s best get out of the transfer portal last season, but is now on the move again after starting his collegiate career at Georgia. The 313-pounder racked up 6.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks for USC last season, but his presence in the middle of the defensive line was more important than the stat sheet suggests.
New defensive line coach Eric Henderson will need to find a replacement, with former USC defensive lineman Kyon Barrs also out after exhausting his eligibility. Luckily, the Trojans did already bring in Raikes and Clifton to give USC some experience on the defensive front.
Update: Despite multiple reports that Alexander entered the transfer portal on April 9, the junior defensive lineman announced on his personal social media accounts that he was staying at USC, stating, “I’m not crystal clear on all of the noise or what any of portal mess is about...I’m here to finish what I started and that’s chasing a natty here at USC with my teammates.”
Romello Height: Rush End
New School: Georgia Tech
Current class: Redshirt Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (unranked out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: January 19
Johnson: Height was one of the first transfers to commit to USC at the beginning of Riley’s head coaching tenure, coming over from Auburn. The redshirt junior never truly got the opportunity to make an impact after a season-ending shoulder injury cut his 2022 campaign short. Height did play in 12 games this past season, though, and recorded four sacks, good for the third-highest total on the team. With Height out the door, the Trojans are losing two of their top-three sackers from this past season, as redshirt senior rush end Solomon Byrd already declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Luckily for USC, redshirt senior rush end Jamil Muhammad, notching 6.5 sacks in 2023, announced he is returning next year to what will be a revamped pass rushing corps.
For Height, he will likely have to look to a Group of Five or lower-tier Power Five school as a transfer. He should still be able to contribute at a high level to his new team, with experience in both the Pac-12 and SEC.
Mario Williams: Wide Receiver
New School: Tulane
Current class: Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Committed: January 15
Johnson: A double transfer, Williams followed Riley from Oklahoma and has been with the Trojans for two seasons. Despite showing flashes of greatness, Williams never developed into a star and dealt with drop issues. He finished the season with 305 receiving yards, finishing fifth on the team in that category, notably behind two freshmen. Like the team as a whole, this was a regression from 2022 for Williams, who finished that season third on the team with 631 yards.
While this could be viewed as a small loss — given the fact he was only fifth on the team in receiving yards this season — Williams was a key contributor for the USC team that went 11-3 in 2022. He’s older than some teams would like, but it is still a surprise that Williams did not end up at a Power Five school.
Williams will now join up with a Tulane team that beat the Trojans in the 2023 Cotton Bowl that followed the 2022 season. He was the second wide receiver the Green Wave picked up from the transfer portal on January 15, also locking in a commitment from Alabama redshirt freshman Shazz Preston. Tulane is in prime position to take back the American Athletic Conference after finishing 11-3 this season.
Dorian Singer: Wide Receiver
New School: Utah
Current class: Junior
On3 ranking: Four star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: January 15
Ocañas: Singer transferred to USC last season from Arizona, looking for a “different opportunity” to shine his talents after an impressive sophomore year. Unfortunately for both parties, Singer never found his footing for the Trojans, reeling in only 24 catches in his 2023 campaign. In moments this season, Singer showed off his great hands and athleticism, yet the highly-touted transfer was never able to show the whole repertoire in his time at USC.
A year before, at Arizona, Singer was regarded as one of the best receivers in the Pac-12. At the end of his sophomore season, he was second in the conference with 1,105 receiver yards and was sixth in receptions with 66. Singers’ play in 2022 earned him second-team honors on the All-Pac-12 team. The second-time transfer will look for a new new opportunity in the portal.
It did not take long for Singer to find a new home at Utah, committing 12 days after entering the portal. The junior was always going to have multiple Power Five suitors with how explosive he was at Arizona. With his talent, it is not surprising Singer ended up at a school like Utah, which should compete for a Big 12 Championship in the Utes’ first season in their new conference.
Darwin Barlow: Running Back
New School: North Carolina
Current class: Redshirt Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: January 11
Johnson: Part of the reason Marks was a must-get transfer for USC was because Barlow entered the portal. Barlow, despite not racking up rushing yards in his time as a Trojan, put together a couple of productive games. One of Barlow’s best moments is when he scored the last USC touchdown in the Trojans’ 48-45 win over UCLA in 2022. Before Marks came in, Barlow was in line for an increased role next season, but he likely knew USC would bring in a transfer running back.
The Tar Heels are losing redshirt sophomore quarterback Drake Maye, a likely top-10 pick, to the NFL. Barlow will try, but likely not be able, to fully replace Maye’s offensive production of 3,608 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.
Korey Foreman: Defensive Lineman
New School: Fresno State
Current class: Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (five star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (five star out of high school)
Committed: January 11
Johnson/Holton: According to On3′s Industry rankings, Foreman was the No. 1-ranked recruit in the 2021 class. He never lived up to his potential at USC, falling to third in the depth chart for defensive end this season. Foreman only played in three games this season, totaling 26 games across his three years at USC.
Trojan fans will always remember Foreman fondly, though, after he secured the game-winning interception for USC against UCLA in 2022 at the Rose Bowl. Even though he did not pan out at USC, he was a five-star recruit for a reason.
Foreman has elected to play for Fresno State and head coach Jeff Tedford. Foreman will likely be an instant starter for a Bulldogs team that has never seen a recruit of this caliber ever before.
The defensive lineman will hope to make a strong impact for a Fresno State team that is looking to be atop the Mountain West again, coming off a 9-4 season.
Tackett Curtis: Linebacker
New School: Wisconsin
Current class: Freshman
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Committed: January 9
Johnson: Curtis is arguably the biggest transfer portal loss for USC, as of January 9. While he was not a five-star recruit like Jackson or Foreman, Curtis was only a freshman this year who gained a lot of valuable experience and has a lot of talent. He played in all 12 of USC’s regular season games, recording 40 tackles, four of which were for a loss. If he had stayed, there was a good chance Curtis would start at linebacker and make a big impact just next season as a true sophomore.
Wisconsin gains not only a young player with a lot of impressionable years left, but proven talent on top of that.
Chris Thompson Jr.: Inside Linebacker
New School: Tulsa
Current class: Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (unranked out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: December 7
Johnson: Thompson Jr. is another double transfer after starting his career at Auburn, one of the few who transferred to USC before Riley was the head coach. He did not do much for the Trojans this year, only seeing the field because of injuries to other linebackers. However, he did appear in all 12 regular-season games for USC. The Trojans might miss Thompson Jr. next season, but only as a depth piece.
Tulsa plays in the American Athletic Conference and is coming off a rough 4-8 season, but two of their losses came against Washington and Oklahoma. Thompson Jr., who has played at two Power Five schools, should shore up the Golden Hurricane defense next season.
Fabian Ross: Cornerback
New School: University of Hawai’i
Current class: Sophomore
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: December 13
Johnson: Ross committed to USC when Clay Helton was the head coach, but still signed with the Trojans after Riley came over from Oklahoma. While Ross did see some playing time, it was not enough to get onto the stat sheet in either of the last two seasons. Ross was not listed on the depth chart this past season, but still received interest from the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, a Mountain West team who finished this past season with a 5-8 record. Since he was only a sophomore this year, Ross has multiple years to develop into a star corner for the Rainbow Warriors.
Malachi Nelson: Quarterback
New School: Boise State
Current class: Freshman
On3 ranking: Four star (five star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (five star out of high school)
Committed: January 6
Johnson: Nelson is the third — and last, as of now — former five-star recruit in the transfer portal from the Trojans. Nelson was behind junior Caleb Williams and redshirt sophomore Miller Moss on the quarterback depth chart this season. With Moss’ saying he would be back in the Spring to compete for the starting role, there was little chance Nelson would start next year. The buzz between USC and Kansas State senior quarterback Will Howard, also in the transfer portal, only made that clearer.
Nelson committed to Boise State after visiting there in early January. The Broncos are coming off an 8-6 season where they won the Mountain West. Now, Boise State gets a quarterback ESPN ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in his class to build on a successful season. Given Nelson’s high ranking and his young age, it’s surprising he did not end up at another Power Five school though, even if the Broncos are one of the better Group of Five schools in the country.
Michael Tarquin: Offensive Lineman
New School: Oklahoma
Current class: Redshirt Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: January 6
Johnson: Tarquin is a double transfer, coming to USC last offseason from Florida. He started on the line for the Trojans, and is a big loss for the Trojans. USC is likely losing two other starters on the offensive line in redshirt seniors Jarrett Kingston and Justin Dedich. With Tarquin entering the transfer portal, USC will have to rely on multiple backups or inexperienced players next season.
The double transfer chose to take his talents to Oklahoma to help the Sooners make the transition to the SEC. After starting his career at Florida, Tarquin has plenty of SEC experience, but he likely will not get to match up against his former school next year, with the Gators not on Oklahoma’s regular season schedule.
Michael Jackson III: Wide Receiver
New School: Georgia
Current class: Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Committed: January 4
Johnson: Jackson III might be overlooked because of the Broadway show that portrays the life of the singer, but the musical should not overshadow the loss this is for the Trojans. The wide receiver was one of the streakiest players on the team, only bringing in 382 yards and five touchdowns across the last two seasons. However, 115 of those yards and two of the touchdowns came against Cal on November 5, 2022. While that electric performance never turned into consistency for Jackson III, he could have stepped into a larger role for a wide receiver room that is now dangerously thin with veterans heading into next season.
The fact Jackson III is transferring to Georgia proves how much talent he possesses. The most recent winners of the Orange Bowl will look to Jackson III to help replace the production of the unstoppable force that is junior tight end Brock Bowers, who recently declared for the NFL Draft and is likely destined to be a first-round pick.
Andres Dewerk: Offensive Lineman
New School: ???
Current class: Redshirt Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (unranked out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: January 3
Johnson: The USC offensive line is in a precarious position. The group is losing multiple starters because of the transfer portal and NFL Draft. However, young and talented players on the line, like freshman offensive linemen Elijah Paige and Alani Noa, saw a good chunk of playing time in their freshmen seasons. Paige even earned his first-career start in the Holiday Bowl. And, the team is bringing another good group of recruits heading into next season.
However, this is where Dewerk comes in. There is now a slight gap between seasoned veterans on the line and the young and talented players like Paige and Noa. While offensive linemen redshirt sophomore Jonah Monheim and junior Emmanuel Pregnon — both starters this past year — should return for next year, they might be the only two returning starters according to the official USC depth chart. While Dewerk was not featured on that depth chart — which goes two-deep at each offensive line spot — he still could have provided valuable veteran experience to an inexperienced group. There is no way to know on January 3 whether Noa and Paige will be ready to start as true sophomores next season. Losing Dewerk is likely not a huge loss, but veteran depth is sometimes more important than a three-star rating from all the way back in 2020 when Dewerk was in high school.
Domani Jackson: Cornerback
New School: Alabama
Current class: Sophomore
On3 ranking: Three star (five star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (five star out of high school)
Committed: December 28
Johnson: It was not much of a surprise when Jackson entered the portal, as it was well known how much of a factor USC’s former cornerbacks coach Donte Williams had in bringing Jackson to USC. Williams is now Georgia’s cornerbacks coach, which may have contributed to Jackson’s departure.
Jackson was highly rated out of high school, coming from nearby Mater Dei. He earned the starter role this season, but did not play up to his five star ranking. He is only a sophomore and has room to grow, but Jackson did little to help USC’s porous pass defense this season. However, similar to Foreman, Jackson was highly rated for a reason and a different team might be able to maximize his talents. Alabama came second to USC in Jackson’s initial recruitment, so it makes sense the cornerback would look to the Crimson Tide as his new home. Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban is arguably the greatest coach in college football history, so if anyone can develop Jackson into the star he was projected to be, it’s Saban.
The sophomore ends his USC career appearing in 18 games across two seasons, totaling 35 tackles, four pass breakups and no interceptions.
Jude Wolfe: Tight End
New School: San Diego State
Current class: Redshirt Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
Committed: December 28
Johnson: Tight end has been one of the weaker positions for the Trojans across the last two seasons, but USC has recruited the position well the last two cycles. Four stars Walker Lyons, Walter Matthews and Joey Olson are all joining the team next year. Lyons was originally in the class of 2023, but took a gap year to go on a mission in Norway as a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. As such, with all the talent coming in and redshirt freshman Lake McRee likely returning, Wolfe would not have seen the field much, if at all. This would have been a large loss before bringing in Lyons, Matthews and Olson, but now that those three are coming into the fold, Wolfe would fall down the depth chart.
Wolfe was one of a few Trojans in the transfer portal to dress for USC’s Holiday Bowl win, but he quickly announced his commitment to the Aztecs on December 28. San Diego State went 11-2 in 2021, but have regressed each of the last two seasons, most recently going 4-8 in 2023. The Aztecs will hope that the 6′5″ Wolfe can add a jolt to their offense in 2024.
Matt Colombo: Running Back
New School: University of San Diego
Current class: Redshirt Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (unranked out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (unranked out of high school)
Committed: December 22
Johnson: Colombo came to USC as a preferred walk-on, meaning he was never likely to get any meaningful touches. He had one carry this season for seven yards, good for 11th best on the roster in terms of rushing yards. As such, Colombo was used more as a practice player with USC, but has now transferred to San Diego, an FCS program in the Pioneer Football League.
Raleek Brown: Wide Receiver/Running Back
New School: Arizona State
Current class: Sophomore
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Four star (four star out of high school)
Committed: December 16
Johnson: Brown came to USC as a running back, but the coaches switched him to a wide receiver. This may have irked Brown, who redshirted this year. After entering the portal, Brown posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was a running back, not a wide receiver. He contributed more as a freshman than he did this season, and could be an explosive player for the Sun Devils as they move to the Big 12 Conference. Brown played in all 14 games for USC as a true freshman, rushing for 227 yards and three touchdowns. In his first-ever college game, Brown famously — or infamously — rushed for a touchdown and hit the Heisman Trophy pose. Now, Brown will look to carry his Heisman hopes to Tempe.
Andrew Milek: Offensive Lineman
New School: ???
Current class: Redshirt Junior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: December 13
Johnson: Milek transferred because he likely would not get any playing time next year. A Clay Helton-era recruit, Milek was not even listed on the depth chart this season, despite being a redshirt junior. The Trojans have brought in multiple high-level recruits on the offensive line who have jumped past Milek. This is not a huge loss for USC, except maybe for depth purposes. Even calling it a loss for depth purposes is a stretch though, as the Trojans have recruited 10 offensive lineman from high school across the last two cycles.
De’jon Benton: Defensive Lineman
New School: New Mexico State
Current class: Redshirt Senior
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: December 4
Johnson: Benton, another Helton-era recruit, was listed with the likes of sophomore defensive lineman Bear Alexander and redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyon Barrs on the depth chart, and as such, did not see the field very much. However, in his nine games of action, Benton was efficient, making five tackles for loss. While Alexander will still be the star on the defensive line next year, Benton could have been a valuable depth piece.
Xamarion Gordon: Safety
New School: Coastal Carolina University
Current class: Redshirt Sophomore
On3 ranking: Three star (four star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (four star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: November 28
Johnson: Despite coming to USC as a four-star recruit, Gordon has not produced much for the Trojans. He did not record any statistics this season and was not listed on the depth chart. However — similar to many players transferring out of USC — the Helton-era recruit was a four star because of his potential. Despite his age, another school might have interest in trying to tap that potential.
Jamar Sekona: Defensive Lineman
New School: ???
Current class: Not on roster in 2023
On3 ranking: Three star (three star out of high school)
247Sports ranking: N/A (three star out of high school)
Entered Transfer Portal: November 19
Johnson: Sekona was not on USC’s roster in 2023, making it an easy decision for him to transfer. He saw action in 10 games in 2021, but saw a much more limited role in Riley’s first year at the helm in 2022, appearing in only five games. Sekona finishes his USC career appearing in 16 games between 2020 and 2022.