Experienced CB freshman Chasen Johnson commits to USC as a transfer

It may have taken something of a detour, but Chasen Johnson is now going to be a part of the USC program. Last season, Johnson played cornerback for UCF. Their head coaching change saw him opt for the transfer portal.

About to be a sophomore, the defensive back had once committed to the Trojans, pivoted to SMU, only to return to the Knights. Those past moments of indecision, however, can now be put in the rearview mirror as On3's Hayes Fawcett shared on X that the DB would once again be making his way to Los Angeles to join forces with coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn.

Viewed as one of the best available freshmen talents in the portal, it's easy to see why programs are so interested in adding Johnson to their cornerback room. The converted wide receiver has length and range. He, additionally, has strong ball skills and an ability to cover opposing receivers at a high level.

In terms of trusting an underclassman to hold his own and execute his assignments, Johnson checks those boxes. Yes, he's coming off his true freshman year. With UCF, however, he showed that he is ahead of his contemporaries and is already able to take the field and make life difficult for the other team's offensive threats.

Part of the plan and approach for USC

Johnson has the toolset to not only cover large areas of the field but then does a solid job of finishing the play. In a room that lost pieces to the NFL, he will likely have a lot asked of him early when the 2025 season rolls around. His time at UCF should indicate, however, that he is ready for the challenge.

For a lot of talk about how much the upcoming classes will look, this is a move that will help the Trojans on the field this year. Whether coach Riley is recruiting for 2027 or otherwise, the approach is the same and is leading to results for USC in the recruiting department.