4 days ago
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On Monday, USC saw a noteworthy transfer portal loss in cornerback Kevin Longstreet—the older brother of backup quarterback Husan Longstreet. However, Longstreet was not the only loss of the day, as the Trojans also saw the departure of versatile true freshman James Johnson.
Johnson saw action in all three phases for the Trojans as a true freshman this past season. Originally recruited as a defensive back, he earned playing time on both defense and special teams early in the season.
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With USC dealing with injuries at running back, however, Johnson converted to the position late in the season. In the Alamo Bowl against TCU, he had two carries for -5 rushing yards as well as four receptions for 13 yards.
While Johnson earned limited playing time for the Trojans in 2025 due to injuries, he was highly unlikely to play a major role in 2026. Hence, his loss should not be a huge one for next season, but is more about his potential development down the line.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football's James Johnson enters NCAA transfer portal
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