USC football had an injury-plagued secondary in 2025. The group was inconsistent, suffering from the season-long injury to Prophet Brown and the occasional games missed by Kamari Ramsey. In 2026, USC needs newcomer Jontez Williams to come up big. ESPN has more on Williams:
“Need: With a mix of returning talent, such as Marcelles Williams, and talent that departed at the cornerback position from the likes of DeCarlos Nicholson and Braylon Conley, USC was in need of a player who could come in and be an effective pass defender. Besides the loaded recruiting class, USC brought in valuable players in the transfer portal, notably Williams.
“Value: A second-team All-Big 12 selection at Iowa State in 2024, Williams was looking to continue on that path in 2025 but suffered an ACL injury in late September in an attempt to break up a pass. When he is at full strength, he is an instinctive cover corner. He has very quick feet and transitions well out of his breaks. His closing speed allows him to be in position to make plays on the ball and contest the catch. As long as he is healthy, Williams will be a valuable players for a USC secondary that was ranked in the middle of the Big Ten last season.”
Jontez Williams gets to play for new USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. It will be essential for Patterson to use Williams properly and get the most out of his talent. The better the coordinator, the better USC’s defense will be, including in the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Jontez Williams’ mission is simple – upgrade the USC secondary
Reporting by Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire | USA TODAY Network
