USC Trojans Transfer Portal Tracker

With a ton of movement expected this offseason via the transfer portal, WeAreSC is keeping a running list of the players going into the portal from USC and joining the program from other schools.

Departures

Jamar Sekona

Defensive lineman Jamar Sekona was the first Trojan into the transfer portal this offseason, entering on November 19. Sekona wasn’t on the Trojans’ roster this fall but will leave as a USC graduate. Sekona played in one game in 2020 as a true freshman. The 2021 season was his most productive, with eight tackles in 10 games played. He played in five games in 2022 and had one sack.

Xamarion Gordon

Safety Xamarion Gordon spent three seasons at USC after signing as a four-star prospect in the class of 2021 out of Downey (Cal.) Warren. He arrived at USC alongside current Trojan safeties Calen Bullock, Jaylin Smith, and Anthony Beavers.

Gordon redshirted, playing three games, in 2021 before appearing in 14 games in 2022, primarily on special teams with a limited role in the defensive secondary. He totaled 10 total tackles and one interception as a Trojan. He did not appear in a game in the 2023 season. Gordon went into the portal as a graduate transfer on November 28.

Darwin Barlow

Running back Darwin Barlow went into the portal on November 30 as a grad transfer. In 2021, Barlow rushed 62 times for 289 yards and two touchdowns. He had 16 carries for 96 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. And this year, he rushed for 81 yards and a score on just eight carries.

Jude Wolfe

Tight end Jude Wolfe went into the portal on December 1 as a grad transfer. He finishes his USC career with 12 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown while battling injuries throughout several seasons. But he was consistently healthy throughout the 2023 season and will be a valuable addition to a roster and a locker room in 2024.

Matt Colombo

Walk-on running back Matt Colombo entered the portal on Dec. 1. The grad transfer contributed mostly on special teams but did receive the first carry of his career against San Jose State in the season-opener this season.

Chris Thompson Jr.

Linebacker Chris Thompson Jr. entered the transfer portal on December 3 as a grad transfer. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder arrived at USC as a safety ahead of the 2021 season as a transfer from Auburn. He saw action in five games, starting twice, and finished the season with 11 tackles. Thompson played safety, nickel and was impactful on special teams that season.

Ahead of the 2022 season, Thompson moved to inside linebacker. There, he could never quite push forward to make the same kind of impact. He played in just four games and made one tackle in 2022. This past fall, he played in all 12 games and made eight tackles, with most of his impact coming on special teams.

Raleek Brown

Wide receiver/running back Raleek Brown announced he would enter the portal in late November and officially went in the morning of December 4.

Following a promising true freshman season in 2022, Brown had a surprisingly quiet (but not uneventful) 2023 campaign. He was used sparingly in the season opener while true freshman Zachariah Branch became an instant star. Following that game, Brown moved to the scout team and did not appear on the sideline of the next several USC games.

He eventually returned to the field against Washington, catching two passes for four yards and rushing three times for 16 yards and a touchdown. But he sat out the following two games. He finished the 2023 season with just three rushing attempts and three receptions in two games played. As a true freshman in 2022, Brown rushed 42 times for 227 yards and three scores, plus caught 16 passes for 175 yards and three more touchdowns.

De’jon Benton

De’jon Benton entered the portal on December 4. He saw time in nine games this season and recorded the first sack of his career against Nevada and added a half sack at Colorado. But Benton did not see the field against Oregon or UCLA to end the season, following the dismissal of defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and USC going to linebackers coach Brian Odom and defensive line coach Shaun Nua as co-coordinators. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining at his transfer destination.

Michael Jackson III

Michael Jackson III came to USC as a four-star wide receiver prospect in the 2021 class and made an impact as a true freshman. He caught 12 passes for 116 yards while playing in eight games that season. He made a bigger impact the following year, grabbing 17 passes for 236 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 72 yards rushing on two carries, and returned 11 punts for 70 yards. Jackson did that while battling injuries throughout the season that forced him to miss five regular season games as well as the conference championship game against Utah.

Jackson again missed some time during the 2023 season but finished with 17 receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. He also would have had a punt return touchdown against Stanford if not for a holding penalty.

Fabian Ross

Fabian Ross entered the portal on Dec. 12. The 6-foot, 200-pound cornerback came to USC as a four-star recruit and the nation’s No. 295 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He saw very limited time with the Trojans, appearing in two games in 2022 and one in 2023. Ross did not record any statistics in those games.

Andrew Milek

Offensive lineman Andrew Milek entered the portal on Dec. 13. He signed with the Trojans as a three-star prospect out of Phoenix Brophy High in the 2020 recruiting class. He worked at center early in his career before shifting to guard this past spring. Milek played in one game at center as a true freshman in 2020, then saw most of his time come on special teams. He played in 12 games during both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Milek dealt with some early-season injuries in 2023, but played in 10 games this year, mostly on special teams. His one extended appearance on the offensive line came against Stanford.

Mario Williams

Wide receiver Mario Williams went into the transfer portal on Dec. 15. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound receiver was expected to be a major contributor for the Trojans this season, but did not see anything close to the production he had for USC in 2022. In 12 games this season, Williams caught 29 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns. And his opportunities decreased dramatically over the second half of the season, with just one reception combined against Cal, Oregon and UCLA.

Michael Tarquin

Offensive lineman Michael Tarquin entered the transfer portal on December 16. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman came to USC from Florida via the transfer portal this past offseason and was projected to be the answer at left tackle for the Trojans. He spent all spring ball there, but position coach Josh Henson flipped Tarquin to right tackle and Jonah Monheim to left tackle just ahead of fall camp.

Tarquin started the first seven games of the season at right tackle but the USC offensive line underwent a change following a poor performance at Notre Dame. With the change, Tarquin was removed in favor of fellow transfer Jarrett Kingston, who moved from right guard to right tackle. Tarquin saw just one snap against Utah and nine against Cal, then did not play against Washington or Oregon. He came back into the starting lineup against UCLA when Kingston missed the rivalry game due to injury.

Domani Jackson

Former Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Domani Jackson officially entered the transfer portal on December 18. Jackson dealt with injuries throughout his true freshman season in 2022 but became a regular starter for the Trojans in 2023. With Christian Roland-Wallace also leaving, the Trojans will now need to replace both corners. Jackson finished the 2023 season with 33 tackles and three pass deflections.

Tackett Curtis

True freshman Tackett Curtis entered the transfer portal on Dec. 18. The former four-star linebacker was a big recruiting win for the Trojans on the recruiting trail and became an immediate starter for USC. He started most of the season before moving into a backup role for the final few games. Curtis finished the season with 20 tackles, including two sacks, as well as two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Malachi Nelson

Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Malachi Nelson won’t be involved in USC’s quarterback battle next spring as he entered the transfer portal on Dec. 18. Nelson was an early enrollee but wasn’t fully healthy for spring ball as he recovered from an offseason surgery. He saw time in just one game this season, going 1-for-3 for zero yards in the opener against San Jose State.

Korey Foreman

Another former five-star recruit goes into the transfer portal from USC as defensive end Korey Foreman entered on Dec. 19. Foreman struggled to stay healthy and to stay on the field consistently in his three years at USC. He finishes his career with 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but had just one tackles for loss and zero sacks in 2022 and 2023, combined. This year, he played in the first three games but then sat out the rest of the season to preserve his redshirt.

Isaac Ward

Walk-on quarterback Isaac Ward entered the transfer portal in early January.

Andres Dewerk

The 6-foot-7, 330-pound lineman saw limited time in three early-season games for the Trojans in 2023. His first playing time came last season in one game against Colorado.

Dorian Singer

Wide receiver Dorian Singer is back into the portal after one year at USC. The former Arizona receiver did not make the same kind of impact he made at Arizona in 2022, when he caught 66 passes for 1,105 yards and six scores. In 13 games with the Trojans in 2023, he had 24 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

Romello Height

Defensive end Romello Height entered the transfer portal in mid-January. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Height finished the 2023 season with 21 tackles, including six for loss and four sacks. The four sacks ranked third on the team and the tackles for loss ranked fifth.

Nathan Weneta

Walk-on long snapper Nathan Weneta entered the transfer portal on Feb. 1.

Additions

Hank Pepper

Long snapper Hank Pepper became USC’s first transfer portal commitment on December 6. He was a Day One starter at Michigan State in 2021 and a key part of the Spartans’ special teams until an injury cut his 2022 season short. This season, he served as the long snapper for the first four games before electing to sit out the rest of the season and use his redshirt year. Pepper has NFL potential as a long snapper and will have an opportunity to step in as USC’s starting snapper when he arrives on campus.

Nate Clifton

Former Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nate Clifton announced his commitment to USC on Sunday, December 10. Clifton spent all five years of his collegiate career at Vanderbilt and will have one year of eligibility remaining. He was named a team captain ahead of the 2023 season. Clifton finished his Vanderbilt career with 93 tackles, including 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.

Easton Mascarenas-Arnold

Former Oregon State linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold is headed back to Southern California, where he prepped at Mission Viejo. Mascarenas-Arnold committed to USC on Saturday, Dec. 16 following an official visit. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2023, recording 107 tackles for the Beaver defense. He brings four career sacks and three career interceptions with him to the Trojans for his final year of eligibility.

Akili Arnold

Safety Akili Arnold will join his brother with the Trojans, coming down from Oregon State as well. The talented safety was a first-team Pac-12 selection by PFF this season, finishing the regular season with 62 tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He also has one season of eligibility remaining. Arnold announced his commitment to USC on Dec. 17.

Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks

Jo’Quavious Marks becomes the first transfer portal addition on the offensive side as he makes the move from Mississippi State. He was effective as a runner and receiver for the Bulldogs in his career there. He finished with 1,883 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground and 214 receptions for 1,225 yards and five scores through the air.

DeCarlos Nicholson

Cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson is the second addition from Mississippi State for the USC Trojans this offseason. The junior college transfer finished the 2023 season with 42 tackles and three pass deflections for the Bulldogs.

Kamari Ramsey

Safety Kamari Ramsey announced his commitment to USC out of the transfer portal on Dec. 21. Over the last two seasons, the now-former Bruins defensive back amassed 45 total tackles, 4 passes defended and one interception. He’ll follow D’Anton Lynn from UCLA to USC and should be in position to take over as a starter for the Trojans in 2023.

John Humphrey

Cornerback John Humphrey became the second former UCLA Bruin to follow defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn across town. In 12 games played during the 2023 season, Humphrey recorded 31 tackles, forced two fumbles, and had two interceptions. The 6-foot-2 Humphrey adds another long cornerback to a USC position group with a lot of length. The Trojans lose starters Christian Roland-Wallace and Domani Jackson, so those two spots are wide open for next season.

Jaden Richardson

USC has another wide receiver in the mix as Division III standout Jaden Richardson committed to the Trojans out of Tufts. In four years at Tufts, Richardson caught 92 passes for 1,564 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver is a Northern California native and will bring a veteran presence to a young receiver room.

Isaiah Raikes

Big defensive tackle Isaiah Raikes is a significant addition for USC as a 300-pounder for the middle of the defensive line. He finished the 2023 season — his fourth year at Texas A&M — with 17 tackles, including three for loss and one sack. He also forced a fumble.

Jayden Maiava

USC has its transfer portal quarterback as Jayden Maiava ended a back-and-forth recruitment between Georgia and USC with a final commitment to the Trojans. Maiva was impressive as the starter for UNLV in 2023, finishing the year with 3,085 passing yards and 17 touchdowns on 63.5% completions. He also rushed for 277 yards and three scores. While he won’t be expected to take over as the starter in 2024, he has the ability to do so if needed and gives the quarterback room a boost following the loss of Malachi Nelson.