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Transfer cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson commits to USC

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinney•12/20/23•

ErikTMcKinney

NCAA Football: Mississippi State at Arizona
Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson (4) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

USC didn’t just officially add a class of high school prospects on Early National Signing Day. The Trojans also picked up a commitment from former Mississippi State cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson out of the transfer portal.

Nicholson played quarterback in high school and his first year at junior college before flipping to the defensive side of the ball.

The senior defensive back spent two years with the Bulldogs after signing with the program out of junior college in 2022. He’s coming off a breakout campaign that included 42 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups in ’23. His career totals sit at 47 tackles, 2.0 TFL and three PBUs.

Nicholson was one of the top-rated JUCO prospects prior to his time in Starkville, rated as the ninth-best player overall and third overall cornerback in the ’22 class. The former Petal (MS) High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast CC standout was rated as the No. 4 overall player from Mississippi out of JUCO.

Nicholson started seven times and played in all 12 games for the Bulldogs this season. His first career start came against LSU, a game in which he finished with a career-high ten tackles.

USC adds needed cornerback depth

USC was in big-time need of a cornerback addition out of the transfer portal this offseason. Christian Roland-Wallace exhausted his eligibility and fellow starter Domani Jackson is now in the transfer portal. Ceyair Wright was not with the team to finish the season and his eventual return appears to still be in doubt.

The Trojans have done really well with veteran cornerback additions from the portal the last two seasons. Mekhi Blackmon was outstanding in his one year after coming over from Colorado. This season, Roland-Wallace was the most reliable player in the USC secondary.

USC’s transfer portal haul so far

Richardson is commitment No. 5 for the Trojans out of the transfer portal. Previously, USC landed commitments from former Michigan State long snapper Hank Pepper, former Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nate Clifton and former Oregon State defenders (and brothers), linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and safety Akili Arnold.

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