Star junior wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, known for his impressive hands and contested catch ability, and redshirt junior safety Kamari Ramsey, one of the bright spots on last year’s Trojan defense, announced in separate posts on Instagram on Monday that they have declared for the NFL Draft.

Neither will play in USC’s Dec. 30 bowl game, Head Coach Lincoln Riley said in a post-practice news conference Monday. Junior wide receiver Makai Lemon, redshirt senior tight end Lake McRee and redshirt senior linebacker Eric Gentry also opted out of the game. McRee already declared for the draft while Lemon and Gentry are likely to follow over the next few days. Gentry is also slated to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, a collegiate all-star game for seniors.

Redshirt senior safety Bishop Fitzgerald and senior defensive end Anthony Lucas want to play but are dealing with injuries that may keep them out, Riley said. Redshirt junior center Kilian O’Connor, redshirt sophomore left tackle Elijah Paige and freshman defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart will not play due to undergoing various surgeries, according to Riley.

With redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava not on Riley’s announced list of opt-outs, it suggests he could return to USC next season.

Lane was hurt at multiple points this season, causing him to miss one game, which limited his production slightly, but he still had 745 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 49 catches. After breaking out late last season, scoring six touchdowns and racking up over 150 receiving yards in USC’s final two games, Lane was expected to dominate this season, though he often played second fiddle to Lemon, who is expected to also declare for the draft.

While Lemon — ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s No. 3 wideout in the class — will almost certainly be an early first rounder, Lane’s status as Kiper’s No. 9 receiver may slot him in somewhere between the late first round and early second round.

“This will always be home,” Lane wrote in a social media post announcing his declaration Monday. “Since a young age, I dreamed of playing here, and the opportunities I’ve encountered here will take me further than football ever will.”

Ramsey, who was widely speculated to declare for the draft last season, is one of the premier safeties in the class, though he had more tackles, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and pass breakups in 2024 than he did this season. In 2025, Ramsey collected 27 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and two pass breakups. He is Kiper’s No. 6 safety in the class.

Fitzgerald, USC’s other starting safety this season, used the last of his eligibility this season.