USC's defense, long a point of concern, may be on the verge of a significant turnaround under new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. Coach Lincoln Riley expressed confidence in the team's depth and talent across all defensive levels, suggesting the unit has the playmakers necessary to compete for a College Football Playoff spot.

Riley stated that the defensive line possesses the best depth and talent since his arrival, with similar optimism for the linebackers and secondary. "I feel like we’ve got some [standouts] at all levels," Riley said. "I think it’s just going to be more about our group just continuing to come together to play great team defense to complement one another."

Despite the loss of defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart due to a foot injury, which will sideline him for at least the season opener against San Jose State, his absence is expected to provide opportunities for other players to emerge.

Key Defensive Playmakers

Linebacker Desman Stephens II has transitioned from a question mark to a potential strength. After starting every game as a sophomore and recording 89 tackles, Stephens could become an impactful force at middle linebacker. Riley noted his improved physicality and football intelligence, stating, "He’s much more physical at the point of attack than he was last year; you kind of feel that on how he’s taking on blocks, how he’s disengaging." Riley added, "I think he’s a smarter player than he was at any point last year, and his ability to diagnose what the offense is doing and what we need to do to stop it has been pretty impressive."

Defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett, a 6-foot-5, 360-pound redshirt junior, presents a formidable presence. After shedding some weight from the previous season, Jarrett is expected to create significant challenges for opposing offensive lines. "Everything about him is so much better than at any point last year, which is exciting," Riley said. With Stewart sidelined, Jarrett is positioned for an early-season breakthrough.

Cornerback Jontez Williams, a transfer from Iowa State, is anticipated to regain and potentially surpass his previous form. After an injury-affected 2025 season, Williams could recapture the playmaking ability that earned him second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors in 2024, when he recorded four interceptions. "As he gets further and further away from the injury, his playmaking ability and experience is [evident] — you just feel that, you can tell this guy’s played a lot of ball, you can tell he’s made a lot of plays already at this level, and his ability to adapt to our scheme pretty quickly has definitely been a part" of his success, according to Riley. His addition could provide USC with a strong second cornerback to complement Chasen Johnson.

Safety Christian Pierce, who made nine starts last season, is set to take on an even larger role in 2026. Pierce commented on how Patterson's scheme, proven successful at TCU, can be adapted to USC's talent. "Coming from TCU, you might not see the players you have at TCU over here," Pierce said. "So I feel like being able to bring that scheme over here and still dominating where he was at and bring it over here and use the skill and athleticism of all these players, and to bring it to a great scheme, and a great defense, I feel like it helps a lot."

Linebacker Talanoa Ili, a highly-touted freshman who enrolled early, has impressed during spring practice. Riley identified Ili as one of the young players who could contribute to Patterson's defensive unit, even amidst a deep and veteran linebacker group.

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