Trojans' defensive line is central to team's fate in 2026 season

One big area for improvement for the USC Trojans in 2026 must be their physicality, chiefly their ability to stop the run. This season, players have more experience after a rough 2025 campaign, and they added a transfer who is the talk of preseason camp. The Trojans' defensive tackle unit should enable this defense to be more stout against the run.

Here is how the interior defensive line is looking for the USC Trojans:

Abasiri is a freak athlete at defensive tackle, and he gives the Trojans' defensive line a ton of versatility. Last season, as a sophomore, he had a very impactful season. Jide Abasiri had 26 tackles, 4 for loss of 24 yards, and he finished the year with 3.5 sacks for minus 24 yards. Abasiri also finished the season with 2 QB hurries and 1 forced fumble. His impactful season was all at the hands of 9 starts last season, and he appeared in all 13 games as a whole. Abasiri brings a ton of experience to this defensive line, and he should be one of the leaders of the defense. The expectations are high for him this season, and the coaches believe in him big time. A big example of that is him being one of the players to speak at Media Day for the Big Ten.

VanSumeren may be a newer face on this team, but he is quickly becoming a leader. Many who have seen the practices for USC speak highly of the addition of VanSumeren. His best ability is stopping the run, and just like Abasiri, he can be one of the leaders on the team. He was also chosen to speak at the Big Ten Media Days on behalf of the Trojans defense. Last season, VanSumeren had 52 tackles with the Michigan Spartans and 2 tackles for a loss. It may not be his strong suit, but he still has the ability to wreak havoc on passing downs. He had 1.5 sacks and 2 quarterback hurries. He and Abasiri could be a very good duo in the interior, and both will make each other's jobs a lot easier.

Stewart is the young guy on the defensive line to be most excited about. Last season, Stewart showed flashes of being a dominant force up the middle. Last season, Stewart had 18 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. The big guy showed his athleticism as he also had 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery. Stewart will benefit from having two older veterans on this defensive line who can be leaders and get the best out of him. A player like VanSumeren next to him can unlock his game further. All of last season, Stewart played with a stress fracture and also showed his athleticism while showing his toughness. Now fully healthy, I expect a big season from the freshman All-American this season.

Jarrett was a promising interior presence from the Georgia Bulldogs, and he too showed flashes last year. Unfortunately, injuries would hinder his production last season, as he missed the majority of the second half of the year. He delivered Trojans fans and sports fans a stellar performance that earned him the nickname "thick six" vs Michigan State. His athleticism and how well he can move were on full display in his 70-yard interception return for a touchdown. Last season he managed just 3 tackles and 0.5 tackles for a loss. With more depth on the defensive line this season, Jarrett will get fresh legs, and he can be put in more situational scenarios, making him dangerous. The 6-foot-5, 360-pound defensive tackle is ready to make an impact this season, now healthy.

The true freshman Boucard did not shy away from showing his talent last season. He managed to get on the field for 10 games, and he finished the season with a stat line of 9 tackles, 2 for loss, and1 sack. Having that experience in year 1 will help him be an even more impactful part of the Trojans' defensive line rotation this season.

Winfield enters the Trojans rotation as a five-star recruit with a lot of excitement. Winfield is a potential game changer. He was an enforcer in high school, stopping the run, as he had 55 tackles, including 22 for loss. As a pass rusher, he managed to have 6 sacks and 14 quarterback hits. He can do it all, and I believe he will make his presence felt in a couple of games this season.

Another highly touted freshman, Topui Jr., should be in the thick of things as it pertains to the Trojans' defensive line rotation. He has all the makings of becoming a disruptor. It will be great to see him show flashes this season, just like last year's class of freshmen, and learn a lot from the older guys. He is a great example of just how deep this position group is and how versatile it can be.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Trojans' defensive line is central to team's fate in 2026 season