USC LB Raesjon Davis plans to redshirt, father confirms

LOS ANGELES — The list of holdovers from the Clay Helton era dwindle every year around USC’s campus, graduating or searching for opportunity elsewhere in the portal, and Raesjon Davis has long been the last man standing at middle linebacker.

In the offseason, it seemed as if the senior could carve out a role on USC’s defense, fighting for snaps for three years since arriving from Mater Dei High through a slew of bad luck. A new staff awaited, with new linebackers coach Matt Entz arriving after building a dynasty at FCS program North Dakota State. But Davis broke his hand in the spring, and was again pushed to the depths of USC’s depth chart through the early part of the season.

On Tuesday, as Davis was seen at the early portion of practice wearing a different number than his usual No. 9, Davis’ father Rashad confirmed in a text to the Southern California News Group that the linebacker is planning to redshirt his senior season at USC.

It’ll leave the Trojans without a potential depth piece to utilize at middle linebacker, as Davis showed flashes when granted a more expanded role in 2023, starting four games and racking up 18 tackles. He’d never seen a truly consistent role in the middle of USC’s defense, though, with spot appearances in 2021 and 2022. True freshman Desman Stephens II has earned more snaps (11) than Davis (nine) through four games this season.

Davis was a four-star recruit out of Mater Dei in 2021 and one of USC’s top gets in Helton’s last class. He’s totaled 31 tackles and one pass deflection in his four years at USC.