The Most Important Trojans countdown moves inside the top 15 with a multi-year starter. Jaylin Smith has been a regular in the lineup the last two years, making 22 starts, and again looks primed to make a jump forward under new defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn.
*** Breakdown of Top 30 Most Important USC Players for 2024: Considerations for rankings take in a wide range of factors including depth, 2023 stats, overall talent, departures from last season, projected development and expectations. But the most important factor for placement on the list was if this player was lost, how detrimental would it be to the team and the overall success of the season.
JAYLIN SMITH PROFILE
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown: Palmdale(Calif.)
High School: Mission Hills(Calif.) Bishop Alemany
247Sports Composite HS ranking: 4-starathlete (2021)
- No. 323 nationally
- No. 20athlete
- No.28 in state of California
Top 30 Most Important 2023 Ranking:Unranked
2024 OUTLOOK
Smith is switching things up this year, changing his jersey number to No. 1, and he could prove to be one of the most important Trojan defenders in 2024. USC's starting nickelback for the last two years, Smith is one of the most experienced defensive players. The only player on the roster that has played more snaps in a USC uniform is fifth-year offensive lineman Jonah Monheim. Smithalso brings a versatile skill set to the field.
It will be interesting to see how Lynn and defensive backs coach Doug Belk choose to deploy the fourth-year senior. Smith has shined as the Trojans' nickelback, making 123 career tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also has forced two fumbles and recorded one interception. He also showed in the Holiday Bowl he could move back to a safety spot and excel. Hehad a game-high and career-best 12 tackles.
Perhaps most intriguing is the potential for Smith to take another step forward. He's taken strides forwardeach season at USC. Last year,Smith was USC's second-leading tackler despite spending most of the season as a 19-year old. (Former USC linebacker Tackett Curtis is older than Smith despite being two classes behind.) Smith played two gamesafter his 20th birthday and put up big stats in both. He had six tackles and his lone sack of the season against UCLA, and thenhis career outing against Louisville.
WHY NO. 14?
Smith could be placed higher as we have big expectations for the former star on the Netflix show Coach Snoop. However, his importance could take a hit because of a few factors. Unlike previous seasons, there isqualitydepth at the nickelback and safety positions. Smith is going to have to prove himself to the new coaching staff while potentially beating out the likes of fellow versatile defenders Akili Arnold and Greedy Vance Jr. to keep his stronghold on the nickelback spot. Arnold (87.1) and Vance (75.9) both received better coverage grades than Smith (65.2) last year.
Smith also needsto clean up his tackling after he was third on the team with 11 missed tackles last year.He is an attacking defender willing to fly into the mix from the second level, which makes hima dynamic weapon, but will that be something valued inthe Trojans' new defense? Where Smith fits in and how he will be used could determine his overall importance this season.
WHAT SAY YOU?
LAST YEAR'S NO. 14
Cornerback Ceyair Wright
Wright'simportance early in the season and after the season were polar opposites. He began the year as one of USC's starting cornerbacks and produced a solid, if unspectacular, 70.9 coverage grade. But after seeing his playing time in a rotation decline each of the first five weeks, Wright got bumped out of the starting lineup. He still was in the rotation the first week after his demotion with Domani Jackson injured and not playing, but the next week, Wright only played on special teams. He did not play the rest of the season, leaving the team. He ultimately headed into the transfer portal and landed at Nebraska.
Post Fall Camp Re-rank No. 14: Michael Tarquin
THE LIST
No. 15 - Cornerback John Humphrey
No. 16 - CornerbackJacobe Covington
No. 17 - Defensive endAnthony Lucas
No. 18 - Defensive endBraylan Shelby
No. 19 - Defensive backAkili Arnold
No. 20 - Defensive endJamil Muhammad
No. 21 - QuarterbackJayden Maiava
No. 22 - LinebackerMason Cobb
No. 23 - Wide receiverDuce Robinson
No. 24 - Defensive linemanGavin Meyer
No. 25 - Running backQuinten Joyner
No. 26 - CornerbackDeCarlos Nicholson
No. 27 - Defensive linemanElijah Hughes
No. 28 -Offensive linemanAlani Noa
No. 29 - Defensive backGreedy Vance Jr.
No. 30 -Offensive linemanGino QuinonesFirst Five Out
