5 players USC football must retain for 2026 (not named Sellers, Stewart or Harbor)
South Carolina is rebuilding for 2026, but that doesn’t mean it has to get rid of everything and everyone from 2025.
The Gamecocks are in the middle of an offseason of major changes. USC will take the field in 2026 with a new offensive coordinator and other new staff, and a roster that is already undergoing transfer turnover.
Even with all the change, USC and its staff are trying to retain some key players from 2025. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, wide receiver Nyck Harbor and edge rusher Dylan Stewart are at the top of the Gamecocks’ priority list, but there are certainly other contributors USC would benefit from bringing back.
Here are five players not named Sellers, Harbor or Stewart that USC needs to bring back for 2026:
Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore, junior DBs
Cisse and Kilgore, the anchors of USC’s 2025 secondary, count as one player for one simple reason: It’s unlikely the Gamecocks get both DBs for next season.
Entering the 2025 season, it was expected this year could be Kilgore’s last with USC. He received first-round projections in preseason mock drafts after an SEC-best five interceptions in 2024 and was primed to dominate as the Gamecocks’ nickel corner.
Kilgore had a solid year, posting 55 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, but it wasn’t the dominant showing many had expected. He’s no longer a first-round pick, according to most mock drafts. However, a leaping interception in the season finale first Clemson showed he still possesses the athletic potential that drew attention from scouts in the first place.
If Kilgore feels strongly about wanting to be a first-round pick, he could stay another year at USC and try to restore his status as a top-end prospect.
Cisse, a transfer from N.C. State, came to USC and impressed right away. He was named the team’s 2025 Newcomer of the Spring and earned the nickname “Glitch” for his speed on the field. Cisse’s speed, as well as his five pass breakups and one interception in 2025, caught the eyes of analysts and scouts.
ESPN’s Matt Miller recently ranked Cisse as the 25th-best prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s is unlikely to pass up on an NFL Draft entry with first-round grades. If USC were to somehow retain Cisse, it would be a major indicator of his belief in the staff and the team’s 2026 outlook.
Matthew Fuller, redshirt freshman RB
A No. 2 running back on the SEC’s second-worst rushing offense doesn’t usually scream “bring me back,” but the context of USC’s RB situation is important for this scenario.
USC’s leading rusher from 2025, Rahsul Faison, as well as RB3 Oscar Adaway III, are both out of eligibility. The Gamecocks also didn’t sign a freshman back to its 2026 class. On top of that, USC fired position coach Marquel Blackwell after the season ended and are currently in search of his replacement.
Fuller is the Gamecocks’ only running back eligible for a return next season to record 15 or more carries in 2025. USC would be starting from scratch without him. While 2025’s rushing struggles might be a good reason to blow the whole room up and try again, retaining Fuller keeps the Gamecocks from starting at an absolute zero and relying solely on the portal for solutions.
Vandrevius Jacobs, redshirt sophomore WR
While Harbor is the highest on the list of receivers USC wants back, Jacobs is right up there with him. Jacobs was second to Harbor with 548 yards and four touchdowns, but he was first on the team with 32 receptions.
Jacobs began the year as USC’s leading receiver before Harbor broke his early slump against Oklahoma. The pair would be extremely promising if they both returned, but retaining Jacobs becomes even more important if Harbor chooses to enter the draft.
While also technically draft-eligible, there’s been little talk of Jacobs going pro early.
Fred ‘JayR’ Johnson, sophomore LB
Besides Fuller, Johnson is the only non-draft-eligible player to make this list. It’s critical the Gamecocks keep their defensive leader of the future out of the portal.
Johnson finished third on the team with 61 total tackles and posted a sack and an interception . He’d be one of the longest-tenured Gamecocks on defense next season, especially if draft-eligible players like Cisse and Kilgore opt to go pro early. Johnson could step into the leadership role some critics felt USC lacked in 2025.
Vicari Swain, redshirt sophomore DB
After being away from the team in the spring due to personal matters, Swain returned for the fall and made a big impact. He was arguably USC’s most dynamic playmaker in 2025.
Swain got extended time as a defensive back thanks to USC’s banged-up secondary, recording 28 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He also scored a program-record three return touchdowns and was a weapon on special teams all season.
While technically draft-eligible, it seems more likely Swain would leave USC by way of the portal rather than turning pro. A versatile and explosive player like Swain is not one the Gamecocks want to see fall in the hands of another team.
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM.
