Three Underrated Defensive Players Who Could Shift USC’s Trajectory

With the arrival of new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, these three USC Trojan defenders look to take a major step forward next season.

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stands on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans enter the 2026 season set to take a major step forward on defense. Following the departure of D’Anton Lynn to the Penn State Nittany Lions, USC coach Lincoln Riley brought in former TCU coach Gary Patterson as the Trojans new defensive coordinator. 

Patterson has the opportunity to bring a brand new identity and energy to USC’s defense as they look to navigate through what is expected to be a difficult 2026 schedule and make the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. 

Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley leads the Spirit of Troy marching band in a rendition of Tribute to Troy after teh game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While USC is set to return several top contributors to its defense next season and brought in a few key pieces in the transfer portal, these three defensive players enter 2026 flying under the radar for the Trojans.

Marcelles Williams, Cornerback 

Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Chrishon McCray (13) score a touchdown against Southern California Trojans cornerback Marcelles Williams (25) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

A critical part of the Trojans' secondary, the Carson, California native, cornerback Marcelles Williams looks to take a major step forward for USC next season. During his freshman season with the Trojans, Williams finished the year collecting 41 total tackles and four passes defended. 

Performance in pass coverage has also been a struggle for the Trojans in previous seasons under Riley, and Williams looks to help USC's secondary improve with a dominant showing during his sophomore year. 

Jadyn Walker, Defensive Tackle

Nov 1, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Southern California Trojans linebacker Jadyn Walker (31) reacts after a stop against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Last season, USC’s linebacker group was one of the most inexperienced on the Trojans roster. Entering the 2026 season, the group is also looking to take a step forward, and one of the players in the room who aims to benefit from that growth is linebacker Jadyn Walker. 

The Portage, Michigan native, Walker is coming off a freshman season in which he had 33 total tackles and one sack. Some of his best performances of the 2025 season came at home in ranked matchups against the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes, both wins for the Trojans. 

In those two wins for USC, Walker had an impact on defense for the Trojans, recording five sacks or more in both contests. Now entering a 2026 Big Ten schedule that is expected to feature several challenging matchups for the Trojans that will determine their fate in making the CFP, Walker looks to make an impact.   

Zuriah Fisher, EDGE

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Zuriah Fisher (36) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

One of USC’s 10 transfers added this offseason, former Penn State Edge rusher Zuriah Fisher, arrives in Los Angeles looking to be a difference-maker for the Trojans pass rush. In his four seasons with the Nittany Lions, Fisher recorded 42 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.

The 6-3, 259-pound edge rusher out of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, has the opportunity to earn quality reps on the Trojans' defensive line next season alongside top contributors Jahkeem Stewart and Braylan Shelby. 

Creating pressure on the quarterback is one of the areas Patterson looks to add to his defensive scheme in his first season with the Trojans, as making big third or fourth-down steps could be the difference in several of USC's marquee matchups on their 2026 schedule.

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