Trojans by position: USC safety room

The safety position for the 2025 USC Trojans begins and ends with redshirt junior Kamari Ramsey. One of the most experienced players on the roster, Ramsey chose to forgo the 2025 NFL Draft and return to USC, solidifying his role as a leader on defense. Before arriving in Los Angeles, the Palmdale native played at UCLA under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, both of whom made the high-profile switch from blue and gold to cardinal and gold ahead of the 2024 season.

Ramsey is expected to be more than just the leader of the safety room. He’s set to anchor the entire secondary, serving as both the architect and on-field intelligence hub for D’Anton Lynn and the USC coaching staff.

The All Big Ten Honorable mention safety a year ago, Ramsey contribute 60 tackles which was good for third on the team. Additionally, Ramsey was involved in two sacks and recorded a season high 10 tackles against Penn State. Ramsey is considered an elite NFL Draft propsect as PFF graded Ramsey's coverage grade at 88.1. That is good for top twelve amongst Power Four schools.

Last season for important USC player

It’s widely believed that USC offered a substantial NIL package to ensure Ramsey returned for another season, aiming to avoid losing both him and Jaylin Smith to the NFL Draft. That likely won’t be the case next year, as Ramsey is on track to be one of the highest-drafted Trojans in the 2026 NFL Draft.

With that kind of projection, expectations are high. USC’s defense will lean heavily on Ramsey to serve as both a coverage nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and a physical presence in run support. More than just his production, Ramsey is the cerebral core of the defense, tasked with making pre-snap adjustments, communicating coverages, and keeping the secondary aligned. If he thrives in that leadership role, the entire defense, especially the secondary, could elevate to another level in 2025.