Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.
Today, we look at a future Hall of Famer in former USC offensive lineman Tyron Smith.
Position: Offensive line
Years played at USC: 2008-2010
Career highlights: Smith served as a backup offensive tackle as a true freshman in 2008. As a sophomore, he earned the starting right tackle job. During his junior season, Smith was named first-team All-Pac-12 and won the Morris Trophy as the top lineman in the conference.
After USC: Following his junior season, Smith declared for the 2011 NFL draft, where the Dallas Cowboys selected him with the ninth overall pick. Smith would go on to play 14 seasons in the league—13 with Dallas, and one with the New York Jets. During his career, Smith was named to eight Pro Bowls, and made either first or second-team All-Pro five times.
Smith announced his retirement from the NFL in April 2025. He is surely headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he is eligible.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans OL Tyron Smith
Reporting by Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire | USA TODAY Network
