The USC Trojans kicked off their session of transfer portal on Thursday by earning the commitment of former UCF cornerback Chasen Johnson.
Johnson, a true freshman, made a significant impact for the UCF Knights in 2024. He appeared in several games, starting in four of the final five. In 452 snaps, he recorded 18 total tackles and two pass deflections. The 6 foot 1, 180-pounder played outside cornerback nearly exclusively at Central Florida.
Chasen Johnson Joins USC Trojans Via Portal
He announced his intent to enter the portal on December 2nd, saying “First off, I want to thank god for blessing me with a great freshman year, without him I am nothing,” Johnson said. “I have decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility left.”
Not long after USC hosted the former three-star Florida native on an official visit shortly before he made his decision to join the Trojans defense.
In addition to USC, Johnson considered offers from Baylor, South Carolina, SMU, and Auburn. Alabama and Miami were also making overtures to Johnson, although no official visits were scheduled.
The USC Trojans will have to do a lot rebuilding of the secondary, after potentially losing all starters to the NFL draft