On Monday, USC discovered a significant loss in the transfer portal with the loss of cornerback Kevin Longstreet, the older brother of backup quarterback Husan Longstreet. Longstreet wasn’t the only loss of the day, however, 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 last 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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However, Johnson converted to the position late in the season as USC dealt with injuries at running back. In the Alamo Bowl against TCU, he had two carries for -5 yards and four catches for 13 yards.
While Johnson has earned limited playing time for the Trojans in 2025 due to injury, it’s highly unlikely he’ll play a major role in 2026. Therefore, his loss shouldn’t be a huge loss for next season, but more about his potential going forward.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football’s James Johnson enters NCAA transfer portal