Tag: Kamari Ramsey

USC safety Kamari Ramsey to return for 2025 season

Kamari Ramsey returning for 2025 is another hugely positive piece of roster news for USC.

After landing a big-time transfer commit in the morning, the USC defense got another piece of good news later on Wednesday when safety Kamari Ramsey announced that he will be returning to USC football in 2025.

“USC is a special place, and I’ve loved being a part of the Trojan Family,” Ramsey wrote on social media. “After much prayer and discussion, I’ve decided that there’s more I want to accomplish with my teammates. I’m excited to run out of the Coliseum tunnel again next season wearing the Cardinal and Gold.”

After transferring in from crosstown rival UCLA alongside defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, Ramsey was one of USC’s best defensive players in 2024. As a redshirt sophomore, he recorded 53 tackles, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

Had he declared for the NFL Draft, Ramsey likely would have been a mid-round pick. Instead, he will enter next season as one of the top safeties in the country with the opportunity to play himself into the first round conversation.

Ramsey and the Trojans will conclude the 2024 season in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M on December 27.

One fact shows why USC football fell short in the Big Ten this year

USC placed just one player on the Big Ten’s first team this year, and it was the punter. Few facts will tell a simpler story about the Trojans in 2024.

There are many indicators and telling facts which explain why USC football fell woefully short in Big Ten football competition this year. Earlier this week, the Big Ten announced its all-conference football teams for the 2024 season.

In a rather fitting development just one Trojans made the first team. Who was it, you ask? Why, that would be punter Eddie Czaplicki, of course.

Czaplicki being the lone Trojan to earn all-conference honors was a rather fitting microcosm of USC’s season. The Trojans struggled offensively throughout the year, with Czaplicki frequently needing to bail them out in terms of field position.

Two USC players did earn second team all-Big Ten honors: offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon and running back Woody Marks. The Trojans also had four players on the third team: offensive lineman Jonah Monheim, cornerback Jaylin Smith, long snapper Hank Pepper, and return specialist Makai Lemon.

In addition, Lemon was an all-conference honorable mention at wide receiver. Also earning honorable mention recognition were linebacker Easton Macarena’s-Arnold, offensive lineman Elijah Paige, tight end Lake McRee, safety Kmari Ramsey, and defensive lineman Gavin Meyer.

The Trojans finished the regular season 6-6, and await their bowl game destination.

Kamari Ramsey takes leading role on USC’s defense, teaching D’Anton Lynn’s scheme

Kamari Ramsey can become a difference-making player for USC, given his knowledge of the D’Anton Lynn system.

USC safety Kamari Ramsey joined Adam Breneman on a new episode of “Next Up.” Ramsey transferred to USC in the spring of 2024 from UCLA. Last season, he played for USC’s newly appointed defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn. Ramsey recorded 40 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, 5 pass breakups and 1 interception while starting in all 11 games he appeared in during the 2023 season.

USC has to hope that with multiple UCLA players on the USC defense this year, the process of teaching players will become a lot smoother. Ramsey and John Humphrey can share knowledge of Lynn’s system with their teammates and help the Trojans absorb knowledge more fully. This could lead to a big jump in defensive performance, which is a central key for the Men of Troy if they want to produce a successful season.

In this exclusive interview, Kamari Ramsey discusses his decision to transfer from UCLA to USC and how the adjustment has been so far. Kamari also sheds some light on what D’Anton Lynn’s defensive scheme will look like in 2024, embracing a leadership role for the Trojans on the field, and much more.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Lincoln Riley, USC players take high road at Big Ten media days

Miller Moss and his teammates are a credit to USC.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley and his players at Big Ten media days — Jonah Monheim, Miller Moss, and Kamari Ramsay — represented the Trojans in their first Big Ten media event in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, many of the questions USC coaches and players received at the large-scale gathering were based on West Coast and Los Angeles stereotypes. One of the continuous lines of questioning thrown toward Riley was the tired line about $110 million dollar barbecue skills, stemming from pictures of a brisket which has gained entirely too much attention from national reporters.

Trojans Wire talked about how well the USC coaches and players carried themselves at Big Ten media days. Miller Moss at one point used the word “anomaly.” You don’t hear that word from most college athletes. Moss might have a future in college football commentary after his playing career ends. Regardless, Moss, Monheim and Ramsey showed themselves to be impressive young men who are a credit to USC regardless of what they do on the football field.

Here’s our segment at The Voice of College Football:

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

Trojan’s Wire loves USC players’ thoughts on D’Anton Lynn and his defense

We examine what USC players said about D’Anton Lynn at Big Ten media days.

The USC Trojans brought Kamari Ramsey, Miller Moss, and Jonah Monheim to Big Ten media days in Indianapolis. When these three USC football players sat down for a segment aired on Big Ten Network and hosted by former Pac-12 Network Ashley Adamson, they said a lot of interesting things about D’Anton Lynn and the new identity USC is trying to create on the defensive side of the ball.

USC football players drew a very clear contrast between D’Anton Lynn and Alex Grinch, in terms of the style of play, the attitude, and just about everything else one could possibly compare between any two defensive units. At the 50:39 mark of our recent show at The Voice of College Football, we talked about defense through the lens of Kamari Ramsey’s and Miller Moss’s comments at Big Ten media days. We go into Lynn’s philosophy of attacking the offense and dictating the game.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WIczn-l-zmw?si=n6VA3HZA8TrwSjiO&t=3039

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

Kamari Ramsey and Miller Moss explain the strengths of D’Anton Lynn’s defense

USC players are seeing how D’Anton Lynn is making them better and helping them grow.

D’Anton Lynn is USC’s new defensive coordinator, replacing Alex Grinch in 2024. Two players with unique perspectives on his defense chimed in on why it’s so effective. One played for Lynn on his previous team, UCLA, and the other is USC’s starting quarterback who spent the entire spring playing against his base 4-2-5 defense.

Kamari Ramsey is one of four UCLA Bruins to join the Trojans in 2024 (Lynn, Kyle Ford, and John Humphrey). He played safety last year for Lynn. Ramsey explained that Lynn has relied on him to be a coach on the field and help the Trojans digest the new defensive scheme installation more quickly. In an interview with Big Ten Network’s Ashley Adamson during Big Ten media days, he explained Lynn’s defensive philosophy:

“Very aggressive. He doesn’t let the offense dictate what we do. He dictates what the offense wants to do. I just like how aggressive he is. Not playing soft. Being aggressive, blitzing. He always has the right game plan.”

Miller Moss replaces Heisman Trophy\-winning quarterback Caleb Williams at USC in 2024. He credits Lynn’s defense with making him a more disciplined quarterback by making offenses pay for making mistakes. Here’s what he said when he joined the Cover 3 podcast:

“You kinda understand his NFL pedigree and background in going up against him, and that you have to continue to make the next right decision against whatever he presents you — because if you don’t, and you try to take risks and you try to gamble, he will make you pay for that.”

Moss was quick to emphasize that he is confident in the way this defense played together in the spring, but he won’t know how good the Trojans are until they begin play in September. If Lynn can come close to replicating in the fall what he was able to do last season, holding teams to only 4.5 yards per play (No. 8 nationally), USC would instantly become a serious College Football Playoff contender.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

USC safety Kamari Ramsey is sold on Trojans’ young wide receivers

Kamari Ramsey can see the talent in USC’s wide receiver room.

USC football took center stage at Big Ten media days on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Connor Morrissette of USC’s 247Sports site talked to USC safety Kamari Ramsey, one of three players who went to Indianapolis for the media event. Ramsey really likes what he sees from two of the USC players he has had to compete against in practice: Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon. Ramsey told Morrissette that those two receivers are being “slept on” in a larger context.

Lane and Lemon certainly made their presences felt in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville. It was just one game, and yet USC saw what the future could bring in Lincoln Riley’s offense. Lane and Lemon catching passes from Miller Moss could enable USC’s passing attack to produce a big season and ensure that the offense will maintain a very high standard one year after the departure of Caleb Williams. If USC can continue to score big, the defense would only have to make modest improvements to give USC a successful season.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

USC will take center stage on Day 2 of Big Ten media days

USC prepares to meet Big Ten media.

USC football will take center stage at Big Ten media days on July 24 at 12:15 p.m. Eastern time on the Big Ten Network. Head coach Lincoln Riley, redshirt senior offensive lineman Jonah Monheim, quarterback Miller Moss, and safety Kamari Ramsey will represent the Trojans at the event.

Riley is entering his third season at USC after leading Oklahoma to four consecutive Big 12 championships and three straight College Football Playoff appearances. He will discuss his expectations for the upcoming season and provide insights into the Trojans’ transition to the Big Ten.

Monheim is a 6-foot-5, 305-pound veteran of the USC offensive line with 34 starts in his career. He has played and excelled at both tackle positions and right guard. This year, he moves inside to center. Monheim is expected to anchor a talented but unproven offensive line that is positioned to have a breakout season in the Big Ten.

Moss is a junior quarterback who is expected to be the starter for the Trojans this season. He will discuss his development under Riley and his expectations for the upcoming season.

Ramsey is a redshirt sophomore who came over with defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn from UCLA in the offseason. Ramsey’s physical tools and his familiarity with Lynn’s defense make him an ideal candidate to play center field in this offense. It will be tough to fill the void left by three year free safety Calen Bullock on the field, but his experience last year with Lynn at UCLA will make him a coach on the field, flattening the learning curve for the Trojan defense in 2024. 

Perceptions of this 2024 Trojan team vary. They have a talented roster and a proven head coach, but depth concerns lurk until the younger players can emerge and prove they can provide that depth. USC fans are excited to see how the Trojans perform in their new conference.  Nobody is giving USC a chance to win the Big Ten, but few would argue the Trojans will factor into the conference race.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

USC’s Kamari Ramsey makes 2024 Lott Impact Trophy Watch List

Kamari Ramsey is getting preseason buzz at USC.

USC football player Kamari Ramsey will be expected to give Doug Belk, D’Anton Lynn, and the Trojans’ defense a lift in the secondary. Outside observers think he will do just that. Getting preseason recognition is a sign that football analysts take a player — and his potential — very seriously. Ramsey was named to the 42-man 2024 edition of the Lott Impact Trophy Watch List. It’s only the preseason, but it is still a notable turn of events, and a welcome one at that.

Per a recent USC athletics release, Kamari “Ramsey transferred to USC in the spring of 2024 from UCLA. Last season, he played for USC’s newly appointed defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn. Ramsey recorded 40 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, 5 PBUs and 1 INT while starting in all 11 games that he appeared in during the 2023 season.”

If Ramsey lives up to the advance billing and the preseason buzz, USC will take a crucial step toward creating a top-40 defense in the FBS. If the Trojans can reach that relatively modest standard of performance, they will have a very good team which will have a chance to do something special in 2024.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

Kamari Ramsey opens up on decision to leave UCLA for D’Anton Lynn, USC

Kamari Ramsey on leaving UCLA.

The UCLA Bruins saw a number of players leave their football program prior to the hire of DeShaun Foster. One of the biggest departures was Kamari Ramsey, who left UCLA to join the USC Trojans and D’Anton Lynn, who was the Bruins DC this past season.

With Spring football underway, Ramsey opened up and discussed his decision to join the Trojans, and it is all because of Lynn’s defense (h/t Erik McKinney of On3.)

“First things first, coach Lynn leaving. That was a big loss. After playing with him for one year, I loved his defense, NFL-style defense. I’ve always watched the Ravens play and that’s where a lot of his scheme came from. That played a major factor…It’s very aggressive and for my play style as a versatile safety, he puts me in many different positions to make plays, and he’s always playing to my strengths. As far as his scheme, he’s always going to put you in the best position to make plays.”

There have been a lot of changes for both LA schools this offseason. But, D’Anton Lynn going from UCLA to USC sure caused a ripple effect for some players.