USC’s offseason has been a wild ride through the transfer portal. The Trojans have now lost a total of 26 players, including key names like Zachariah Branch and Zion Branch. Meanwhile, they have welcomed only 15 new faces into the program, which is far from enough to fill the gaps left by those departures.
Their efforts to recruit new players are still ongoing, and in an attempt to strengthen their defense, USC secured UCF cornerback Chasen Johnson. However, despite these additions, their overall ranking continues to decline as the team faces significant roster gaps caused by outgoing transfers.
USC Adds a Key CB but Still Reeling from Mass Departures in Transfer Portal
This Sunday brought a bit of good news for USC fans, as the program secured a commitment from UCF cornerback Johnson, a promising young talent from the NCAA transfer portal. Johnson is rated as a 3-star recruit, ranked No. 811 nationally and No. 94 among cornerbacks.
BREAKING: UCF transfer CB Chasen Johnson has committed to USC, @Hayesfawcett3 reports✌️https://t.co/UfjUg2y51s pic.twitter.com/uNZQV8eMmn
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) May 4, 2025
Despite his lower ranking, he showed strong potential in 2024 as a true freshman. He logged 452 snaps, recorded 18 tackles, and defended two passes. His impressive performance indicates his readiness to advance, and for USC, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
However, Johnson’s transfer journey has been quite unpredictable. He initially committed to USC during the winter window, then flipped to SMU, returned to UCF, and has now officially landed back with the Trojans. With three years of eligibility left, he adds much-needed depth to a roster that’s currently in a major rebuilding phase.
Still, Johnson’s arrival isn’t enough to fix all of USC’s problems. The Trojans have lost 26 players through the portal while bringing in only 15 new faces, creating a significant talent gap. This imbalance has dragged their transfer ranking down to No. 60, according to On3.
To make matters worse, USC didn’t land a single five-star recruit this cycle. Instead, they lost several high-caliber players, including both four- and five-star talents. Johnson, while promising, remains a 3-star recruit.
His commitment is a positive step, especially for the defense, but the bigger concern is whether head coach Lincoln Riley can stop the bleeding. Key departures continue to raise questions about his ability to retain talent.
As the 2025 season draws near, the head coach and his team are under intense pressure to expedite the rebuilding process and provide the Trojans with a competitive opportunity.
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