Transfer Star Alex VanSumeren Raves About Stewart’s Power
Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeren is already gelling with USC’s revamped defense, highlighting defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart’s combination of size, intelligence, and tenacity. VanSumeren praises Stewart’s maturity, film-room savvy under coaches Skyler Jones and Shaun Nua, and their shared ability to clog running lanes. He also lauds the leadership of veteran edge rushers, linebackers, and defensive backs, and appreciates early reps together thanks to spring enrollment. Beyond the X’s and O’s, VanSumeren admires Gary Patterson’s infectious passion and the new Bloom Performance Center, all building toward a “relentless” defense in fall camp.
It’s comforting to know that USC’s defense has a motivational “football guy” in Gary Patterson and a transfer buddy who calls the locker room his second frat house. Who needs a social life when you have blue-chip freshmen, a year’s worth of spring practices, and a guided tour of the performance center? VanSumeren’s enthusiasm suggests he’s ready to turn the Coliseum into “Snapping Necks 101.” Defense, it seems, isn’t just about tackles—it’s about glaring at quarterbacks until they cough up the ball out of fear.
Hidden Weapon Simms Prepares to Break Out in Year Two
Sophomore receiver Corey Simms appeared in all 13 games for USC in 2025, mainly on special teams, logging 22 offensive snaps and one catch. Under veteran receivers coach Dennis Simmons, who has groomed Biletnikoff winners like Michael Crabtree and Marquise Brown, Simms is refining details of route running, release techniques, and field awareness. He benefits from mentorship by NFL talents Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane and faces stiff competition in fall camp from injured starter Tanook Hines, NC State transfer Terrell Anderson, and three incoming freshmen. Simms believes this deep receiver room will push everyone to excel.
Nothing screams “can’t wait for the season” like a guy whose sophomore highlight reel is a single six-yard catch and a top-notch special teams tackle. But don’t worry—under Coach Simmons’ microscopic dissection of finger placement on a route, Simms is one detailed breakdown away from superhero status. With freshmen names like Boobie Feaster in the mix, expect every practice to feel like a debutante ball where only the prettiest routes get a rose.
Trojans Shuffle O-Line After O’Connor’s Season-Ending Blow
USC center Kilian O’Connor suffered a non-contact injury in practice and underwent surgery, sidelining him for the 2025 season. Coach Lincoln Riley lamented the emotional and leadership void, though he’s confident in depth pieces like Tobias Raymond shifting to center. Interior backups Kaylon Miller, Micah Banuelos, Alani Noa, and Elijah Paige gained valuable spring experience. Fall camp will determine the optimal five-man front before the opener against San Jose State.
When your team’s emotional cornerstone goes down, the logical solution is to musical-chairs the entire offensive line and hope someone remembers how to snap the ball. Riley’s pep talk about “nothing guaranteed” sounds less like football wisdom and more like a fortune cookie after a seance. But hey, at least they have the shiny Bloom Performance Center to cry into—nothing heals a center-void heart like state-of-the-art weight machines.
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