USC FOOTBALL TOP 20 MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS: NO. 20
USC Cornerback Chasen Johnson celebrating a pass breakup in fall camp
Every championship contender has a handful of players who can change the course of a season. For USC, that list extends well beyond the biggest names on the roster. This countdown ranks the 20 most important Trojans entering the 2026 season—not necessarily the best players, but the ones whose performance will have the greatest impact on USC's pursuit of a Big Ten title and a return to the College Football Playoff. From proven veterans to breakout candidates, each player on this list will play a pivotal role in determining how far the Trojans can go this fall.
Our Top 20 most important USC Football players will kickoff with Cornerback Chasen Johnson.
Class: R-Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 195 pounds
2025 Stats
GP: 2
Tackles: 1
At No. 20 on the list is cornerback Chasen Johnson, a player who has yet to make a major impact at USC but could become one of the Trojans' biggest X-factors this season. The 2025 season did not go as planned for Chasen Johnson. The UCF transfer was expected to open the year as a starter, but injuries derailed his season almost immediately. Johnson battled injuries after arriving in Los Angeles during the summer and continued to deal with setbacks throughout fall camp. He made his USC debut in Week 2 against Georgia Southern, recording one tackle. The following week against Purdue, Johnson appeared once again before suffering a season-ending injury.
Whats Expected In 2026
Now healthy, Johnson enters the 2026 season with something to prove. While he may not be one of the biggest names on USC's defense, he has the talent and experience to become an important piece of Garry Patterson's secondary. The Trojans will face several talented passing attacks throughout the Big Ten schedule, making quality depth at cornerback essential.
Johnson will compete with Marcelles Williams, Elbert Hill, RJ Sermons, and Prophet Brown for the No. 2 cornerback job. I expect that the position is Johnson's to lose if he can stay healthy. He already has experience at the Power Four level, understands the speed of college football, and has spent another offseason learning USC's defensive system. That familiarity should give him an advantage entering fall camp.
Even if Johnson doesn't lock down a starting role, he will almost certainly be part of USC's cornerback rotation. Injuries are inevitable over the course of a long season, and teams competing for conference championships need multiple defensive backs they can trust. Having another experienced option who can step in without a major drop-off is something every elite defense needs.
It was a tough decision to place Johnson at No. 20 because of how talented USC's roster is entering the season. However, if he can finally put his injury struggles behind him, he has the potential to outperform this ranking. Johnson may not receive the same attention as USC's biggest stars, but his development and availability could play a significant role in determining just how far the Trojans' defense can go in 2026.