USC football’s spring camp is set to begin next week. As part of our spring camp preview series, USCFootball.com identifies five players who need a big spring camp to lock down a starting role or spot on the two deep.
Tobias Raymond – Third-Year Sophomore Offensive Lineman
Raymond was USC’s first tackle off the bench last season. He played at right tackle in the regular season against Michigan and then started in USC’s bowl win over Texas A&M at the same spot. With Mason Murphy, last year’s right tackle, transferring to Auburn, Raymond is the logical successor to replace him. But Raymond will need to earn that job during spring and fall camp. Outside of an April transfer addition, Purdue transfer DJ Wingfield feels like the only player on the current roster who could push Raymond at right tackle.
Wingfield has played right tackle in his career, but he played right guard last season at Purdue, so he may not even end up competing with Raymond in spring camp. The only other two players on the current roster who may compete with Raymond are second-year freshman Justin Tauanuu and early enrollee freshmen Aaron Dunn. USC’s right tackle job feels like it’s Raymond’s to lose, and he can lock it up, if he performs well this spring.
We know USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn likes to rotate his defensive backs. At the safety position last season, Kamari Ramsey and Akili Arnold were the starters, but Bryson Shaw and Zion Branch played roles too. Arnold, Shaw and Branch are all no longer on the roster. USC has added one safety from the transfer portal to help fill the void in Bishop Fitzgerald. That means Pierce is in line to play more than ever on defense.
Pierce has logged 117 defensive snaps in his two years at USC so far. That number should at least double if not triple in 2025. Looking at the safety depth chart, the only players Pierce will be competing with for the No. 3 safety spot are first- or second-year players who have virtually no experience. The time has come for Pierce to play a role on defense, but he’ll need a strong spring camp to secure that role.
Braylan Shelby – Third-Year Junior Defensive End
Shelby played 431 defensive snaps last season and made 28 tackles with three sacks. He led USC with 20 quarterback pressures but wasn’t too productive overall. With Anthony Lucas returning from injury, Kameryn Fountain back for his second season, and Jahkeem Stewart entering the defensive line room, there’s more high-level competition at edge rusher than there was last season. Shelby will definitely have a role in the fall, but how big that role is will depend on how he performs in spring camp.
Prophet Brown – Fifth-Year Senior Defensive Back
Brown may play corner or nickel in his senior season, and he may end up playing a lot. With USC graduating Jaylin Smith, Jacobe Covington, John Humphrey and Greedy Vance, spots in the Trojan defensive backfield are up for grabs. Brown’s usage will likely come down to how the USC staff views Marcelles Williams. Right now, the plan with Williams is for him to play cornerback instead of nickel, according to a source.
That means Brown could take over for Vance at nickel, a position Brown learned last season, if he isn’t used at corner. USC doesn’t have a ton of depth at nickel right now, which should bode well for Brown. He’s going to get plenty of reps to show he can be a Game 1 starter, which he’s never been at USC. In his career, Brown has played in 21 career games on defense with only two starts.
Jay Fair – Fourth-Year Senior Wide Receiver
Fair disappeared down the stretch last season after catching three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in USC’s loss to Michigan in September. From that point on, Fair caught only three more passes all year. With so much turnover in USC’s receiver room this offseason, Fair will have a chance to be the Trojans’ No. 2 slot receiver behind Makai Lemon. He should get plenty of reps with the first-team offense this spring due to competing with inexperienced wideouts like Xavier Jordan and Josiah Zamora. Will Fair make the most of those reps?
