USC football hopes that transfer portal additions will lead to spot in the CFP

With the 2026 transfer portal now closed, the USC Trojans were highly proactive, landing many of their early targets and securing elite talent to fill key positions of need.

From the start, it was obvious the Trojans were targeting transfer portal players with Power Four experience who could make a real impact. In the end, USC brought in nine transfers, with just two on offense. That says a lot about the confidence they have in their current offensive roster and what’s set to arrive in 2026. When combining these nine transfers with the No.1 high school recruiting class, the Trojans are set to welcome 44 new student athletes into the program.

The Big Three

The three major transfer portal pickups are cornerback Jontez Williams, wide receiver Terrell Anderson, and edge rusher Zuriah Fisher. All three prospects have a four-star portal ranking, with Williams holding the No. 1 spot among cornerbacks. This was a huge win for the Trojans, who desperately needed elite talent with plenty of playing experience in the secondary. Williams comes from Iowa State.

Anderson and Fisher mark a strong early run for the Trojans in the portal, with the tall pass catcher from North Carolina State bringing experience and stability to a group that will be much younger now that Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane are off to the NFL.

Fisher, coming from Penn State, would have been USC’s top pass rusher in 2025 if he’d already been on the roster. This addition is big, as Zuriah has the potential to be a day-one starter and make an immediate impact on defense. His time in the Big Ten could prove to be a huge asset.

Keeping It In Conference

A notable trend in USC’s portal pickups is their emphasis on snagging players from conference rivals. Four of their top six additions hail from former Big Ten schools, including Fisher, defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren (Michigan State), linebacker Deven Bryant (Washington), and tight end Ticker Ashcraft (Wisconsin), all heading to Southern California.

VanSumeren appears to be a huge addition, both literally and figuratively as the 300-pound defensive tackle could be exactly what the Trojans need to bolster their interior rush defense. Bryant is one of two players from California, joining Carrington Pierce in the class as the younger brother of Christian Pierce.

A product of St. John Bosco, Bryant is an athletic linebacker who adds depth to a key position in a tough, physical conference. Ashcraft also bolsters depth at tight end, with the starting role at the position currently Mark Bowman’s to lose.

The Trojans stuck to a strict budget during this portal window and weren’t willing to go beyond it. Experience and productivity were priorities, and it seems General Manager Chad Bowden and his staff moved quickly to secure the players they believed were essential for the football program’s success in 2026.