Top 10 NFL players from USC

The University of Southern California (USC) has one of the most prestigious footballing programs in college football. The USC Trojans have produced a number of players who have succeeded in the NFL, including many in the current crop.

Playing at the historic LA Memorial Coliseum, USC has won 17 national championships, with the most recent coming in 2017. Their success makes it difficult to narrow down the top 10 NFL players from USC.

Sam Darnold was heralded as the most talented quarterback to come through the USC system in recent years. However, he hasn’t yet been able to find a way to lead an NFL team to a championship.

There are 33 USC alumni currently playing in the NFL in 2022, with each having varying degrees of success. Below, we will take a look at the top 10 NFL players from USC who are currently plying their trade in the league.

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#1 JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

JuJu Smith-Schuster leads the list of top 10 NFL players from USC. He’s an exceptional wide receiver, but hasn’t yet been able to replicate the form he showed in his early NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As a new member of Kansas City’s fantastic offense, Smith-Schuster has been a consistent performer. He may have only caught for over 100 yards once in six games, however he has been steadily productive.

He burst onto the scene in Pittsburgh. He is the youngest receiver to reach 2,500 receiving yards and he set a Steelers’ record for the longest ever touchdown reception at 97 yards. He repeated this feat to become the first-ever NFL player to score two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards.

Whilst his youth may have been beneficial to his early success, there have been controversial episodes.

These have generally centered around him angering players from opposing teams by dancing on midfield logos belonging to other teams in away games.

#2 Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys

Since being drafted into the NFL back in 2011, Tyron Smith has been an ever-present on the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line and is one of the top 10 NFL players from USC.

He has enjoyed a tremendous career since then. Smith’s performances have seen him voted to eight Pro Bowls, as well as being a two-time First Team All-Pro player.

2013 was his finest year. He was simply unbeatable at the left tackle position. In 16 starts, he allowed just 1.5 sacks and gave up just four penalties.

Smith has struggled with injuries as his career has entered its latter stages, however he has also faced a difficult battle off the field as a young professional.

Looking to provide for his family is a goal shared by the majority of NFL players, yet Smith’s family took liberties and too much money from him. Smith had to wrestle back control of his finances by hiring a financial advisor who has worked with him ever since.

#3 Leonard Williams, DT, New York Giants

Leonard Williams has been a star defensive lineman since his USC career. He has spent his entire NFL career in New York, playing for both the Jets and now the Giants.

A dominant player off the line, Williams is a monster of a man. Standing at 6’5" and 302lbs, Williams is exactly the kind of pass rusher who terrifies the offensive line.

In 107 career games in the NFL, Williams has recorded 35.5 sacks and 204 solo tackles.

He made the Pro Bowl once in 2016, although his best season came in 2020 when he recorded 11.5 sacks, which included a game against the Seattle Seahawks where he claimed 2.5 sacks.

In more recent times, he has struggled. Injuries have kept him to just three appearances in 2022 and he registered no sacks and just six solo tackles.

After the Giants restructured his contract before the 2022 season, Williams will be a free-agent again in 2024 after earning at least $45 million in guaranteed money.

#4 Adoree’ Jackson, CB, New York Giants

Adoree’ Jackson is also a member of the New York Giants’ defense, having been drafted into the league by the Titans in 2017.

Whilst not an interception specialist in the backfield, Jackson has been a solid performer for both Tennessee and the Giants.

A talented kick-returner on special teams, Jackson is yet to truly set the NFL alight, but he is one of the most talented USC alumni around in 2022.

Jackson’s time with the Titans didn’t end harmoniously, as he missed 13 games in 2020. The official reason was a knee injury, although rumors have since emerged of a rift between the defender and coach Mike Vrabel, with Jackson admitting that the pair never gelled.

#5 Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers

Sam Darnold arrived into the NFL with a really difficult job in New York. The Jets drafted him as their next great quarterback, such was his prodigious career with USC.

However, accusations of physical frailty plagued him in the Big Apple and the media market ate him alive.

From contracting Mono to his ‘seeing ghosts’ comment when he was mic’d up for a Monday Night Football game, Jets fans turned against Darnold.

In truth, he was okay as a rookie. He threw 17 touchdowns and beat that in year two with 19 touchdowns. However, the tide turned in New York and after a disappointing third season, he was traded to Carolina.

Panthers fans are yet to see the best of Darnold. He made just 11 starts in 2021 and threw just nine touchdowns. He played in a very poor team and has since lost his place to Baker Mayfield.

#6 Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Drake London left USC as one of the best available receiving prospects in 2022, but he is also now being regarded as one of the top 10 NFL players from USC.

The Atlanta Falcons selected him with the No. 8 overall pick and he has settled in well.

After five games in his rookie season, London scored two touchdowns and caught for 306 yards. The Falcons’ poor offense has limited the receiver’s ability to dominate as he did with USC, but the signs for the future are positive.

London is already the No.1 receiving option in Atlanta and will only develop through playing more NFL football. His frame is that of a tight end, but his athleticism doesn’t suffer as a result.

Once Atlanta have a better team around him, London will be a star.

#7 Robert Woods, WR, Tennessee Titans

Robert Woods has been a regular presence in the NFL since 2013. Drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills, Woods has racked up 7,281 receiving yards in the 10 seasons he has spent in the league.

As a second-round selection, Robert Woods has exceeded expectations as a functional NFL receiver. He has never managed more than six touchdowns in an individual season, but his receiving yards have been impressively consistent.

In 10 NFL seasons, Woods has never registered less than 550 yards. In 2022, he has started 4 of 5 games and already has 204 yards in his first season as a Titan, putting him well into the collection of top 10 NFL players from USC.

He is a brilliant foil for Derrick Henry in a run-heavy offense, and is on course for one of his best seasons in the league.

Unfortunately, his USC career was marred by a controversial concussion he suffered in a game against Utah in 2012, in which Woods collapsed face-first to the floor but was still allowed to play on.

#8 Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, New York Jets

The New York Jets got an absolute bargain with USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker. Despite being selected with the 14th pick of the 2021 draft, Vera-Tucker has already exceeded early expectations.

He was in the running to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2021, and his improvements in pass protection now see him considered a genuinely elite two-way guard.

Robert Saleh has praised him for his start in 2022, with the guard allowing just one sack in the opening two games. Whilst already in the Top 10 NFL players from USC, Vera-Tucker will rise up this list in the future.

In his rookie year, he allowed just two sacks all season, which was the lowest for all rookie linemen.

#9 Austin Jackson, OT, Miami Dolphins

No top 10 NFL players from USC list is complete without Austin Jackson. Miami have drafted a fantastically talented offensive tackle in him. Having protected Sam Darnold at USC, his stock was very high after a successful collegiate career.

Injuries limited his work at LT as a rookie in 2020, however a switch to LG in 2021 saw Jackson improve with the Dolphins. Potential is often difficult to fulfill and judge, but the Guard is one of the top 10 NFL players from USC.

The 2022 season has been painful for Jackson though. He was ready to be a starter for a Mike McDaniel offense, protecting Tua Tagovailoa. However, in the first game, he suffered an ankle injury and was placed on IR.

He needs to improve his work with regards to penalties, but the signs are good for Jackson.

#10 Michael Pittman Jr, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.

In three years in the NFL, Michael Pittman Jr. has registered 2,002 yards. He is a slot receiver who is mainly required to make short gains.

Indianapolis don’t see him as a home-run scorer. But that doesn’t diminish his contributions.

1,082 yards and six touchdowns was a great return in 2021 and Pittman is improving all the time. He is one of the top 10 NFL players from USC at the moment.

In 2022, he has 417 yards before Week 7, after playing five games, but has only managed to score one touchdown.

The Colts’ offense under Matt Ryan is yet to fully spark, but will rely on Pittman Jr. in the slot.