When USC football took to social media for its first of many re-signing posts on Dec. 13, it showed an adaptability teams have needed to embrace in the modern era of transfer portalmania as well as name, image and likeness deals. It also wasn’t received positively.

The Trojans’ post announcing the return of junior running back Waymond Jordan marked a shift toward publicly celebrating every player making a team, choosing to return, committing out of high school or leaving a conference rival in the portal.

Comments on both X and Instagram included some praise and excitement, given that Jordan was at one point widely considered likely to declare for the NFL Draft; however, many more criticized the use of the term “re-signing,” claiming it shouldn’t be used in a college context. When asked a few days later, Head Coach Lincoln Riley couldn’t have disagreed with those commenters more.

“In this day and age, it’s almost more like an NFL team. It’s an accomplishment to be welcomed back,” Riley said in a post-practice news conference Dec. 15. “When you do have that option [to enter the transfer portal], it’s something that should be celebrated by a school or a program.”

With that altered outlook on roster construction in mind, USC football has highlighted almost every player set to be on the Trojan roster in the fall. Now, just three days remain until the transfer portal closes on Friday — outside of exceptions for National Championship-bound Indiana and Miami — so here is a look at some of USC’s key additions and losses in the transfer portal.

Longstreet, Lyons headline group of departures

For much of the re-signing period, speculation swirled around former five-star freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet. After redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava announced his return Dec. 16, attention shifted to whether Longstreet would wait out Maiava’s final year of eligibility and presumably start in 2027 or enter the portal. Longstreet opted for the latter Thursday, becoming USC’s marquee loss this January.

Without Longstreet, the Trojans will likely turn to four-star recruit Jonas Williams, a member of the incoming No. 1 recruiting class in the country, as their quarterback of the future; meanwhile, Longstreet has been tied to multiple schools, most notably LSU.

Another incoming Trojan who will likely need to contribute immediately after a key part of last year’s team left for the transfer portal is tight end Mark Bowman, a four-star recruit out of Mater Dei High School, a Santa Ana powerhouse. 

USC’s starting tight end last season, Lake McRee, declared for the NFL Draft after expending his final year of eligibility, while sophomore backup Walker Lyons, who contributed significantly with 20 catches for over 200 yards and two touchdowns, has committed to BYU. Redshirt freshman tight end Joey Olsen, a three-star transfer portal departure, is also on his way out.

The Trojans had other tight ends on their roster last season, including redshirt junior Carson Tabaracci, who caught a touchdown in USC’s season opener, but Bowman, as one of the key pieces of Riley’s top recruiting class, projects to make a big impact as a freshman.

Other notable losses impact defensive, offensive line

Outside of Longstreet and Lyons, USC’s three other four-star transfer portal losses per 247 Sports’ rankings are redshirt junior defensive tackle Devan Thompkins, redshirt junior safety Anthony Beavers Jr. and freshman offensive tackle Alex Payne.

Though the Trojan O-line was battered by injuries throughout last season, Payne, a former four-star recruit, saw no game action. Payne was joined by redshirt sophomore offensive guard Micah Banuelos in declaring for the portal after the entire starting line re-signed. 

Other young linemen, including the lone five-star of USC’s No. 1 recruiting class, offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe, redshirt freshman guard Kaylon Miller and freshman Elijah Vaikona will also likely factor into the line, taking away potential playing time from Payne and Banuelos had they stayed.

A majority of the transfer portal losses were on the defensive side of the ball, though none have yet committed to former Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s new program, Penn State.

Thompkins, as well as two re-signed freshman defensive tackles Jahkeem Stewart and Floyd Boucard, endorsed current co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Eric Henderson to be Lynn’s replacement in separate posts on X, prompting speculation that Henderson’s status may decide whether the trio of players would stay with the Trojans. However, with the DC position still unfilled, Thompkins has enrolled at Alabama, and both Stewart and Boucard remain committed to USC.

Cornerback, receiver were priorities in the portal

While USC lost two three-star cornerbacks to the portal in redshirt freshman Braylon Conley and freshman James Johnson, it also added a four-star and a three-star in return, searching for instant-impact newcomers to replace redshirt senior DeCarlos Nicholson and shore up a unit that struggled last season.

Redshirt junior Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams, USC’s second-highest ranked addition per 247 Sports, was the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the portal and will likely play a major role in the Trojan secondary. Williams played in five games last season due to an injury after playing at least 13 the two years prior, including a four-interception 2024 campaign. Sophomore three-star Oklahoma State transfer Carrington Pierce, USC’s first transfer portal commit this season, may also see some game time.

At receiver, USC added sophomore Terrell Anderson, a four-star NC State transfer and USC’s highest-ranked transfer per 247 Sports. Last season, Anderson caught 39 passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns.

With both star junior wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane declaring for the NFL Draft, Anderson will likely play a major role beside standout freshman wideout Tanook Hines, who is returning as the likely No. 1 option this season.

The Trojans also added four-star former Penn State defensive end Zuriah Fisher and three-star former Michigan State defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren to help support a unit that struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks late in the season. Former Washington linebacker Deven Bryant, a three-star portal commit, and punter Lachlan Carrigan round out USC’s current incoming portal group.

With three days still to go, the Trojans may make a few more additions as Riley prepares for a make-or-break fifth season, supported by a returning star quarterback, top recruiting class and 247 Sports’ No. 25 portal ranking.