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Thursday evening, former USC football quarterback Husan Longstreet announced that he will be entering the transfer portal with the intent of playing at a new school in 2026.
Trojan fans were hoping that Longstreet would stay, as he was positioned to take over for star QB Jayden Maiava as USC's next starting quarterback in 2026.
Now, USC has some questions at the quarterback position, in 2026 and beyond. Where do the Trojans go from here?
Let's explore all the potential ways USC will attempt to find its next quarterback after Maiava with Longstreet headed elsewhere.
USC does still have a very talented quarterback set to join next year's roster, four star quarterback Jonas Williams. Williams is the 9th ranked QB in the '26 class by 247 Sports out of Lincoln Way-East High School in Illinois.
USC could just trust the guy they have in the building, slotting Williams in as the backup in 2026 and focusing on getting him ready to be the starter in 2027. Rolling with a true freshman backup is what they did this season with Longstreet.
USC would likely need to get a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal, but that player could ultimately be a Sam Huard type, a journeyman guy who is comfortable serving as the third string (and maybe executing an epic fake punt play).
This wouldn't be a bad strategy at all. Williams is very talented and the quarterback development of Lincoln Riley and Luke Huard remains top notch.
But what if USC gets more creative? What if there's another very talented quarterback prospect, at a similar point in their career to Longstreet, that USC could scoop up and immediately slot in as their backup in 2026?
There really only seems to be one guy still available in the portal who fits that bill: former Auburn quarterback Deuce Knight.
Knight is a unique prospect. He was a top-10 quarterback in the 2026 class. He's a dual threat quarterback, but is otherwise very different from Longstreet because he's tall (6'4'') and left-handed. USC would have to adjust to having a very unique QB in its system and a very different one than Longstreet.
I don't really think USC has any ties to Knight, he's just an example of the type of quarterback USC would want to pursue if looking for a direct Longstreet replacement for 2026. There aren't many players like that.
All of the industry buzz indicates Knight is likely headed to Ole Miss, especially because as of today, Trinidad Chambliss has been denied 2026 eligibility by the NCAA.
Assuming he does head to the Rebels, picking up a backup QB via the portal doesn't seem to be USC's best bet. Other than Knight, I don't think there is anyone available who could clearly compete with Jonas Williams, and USC definitely doesn't seem to be in the market for a Sam Leavitt type, who would push Jayden Maiava for the starting job.
This shouldn't be USC's plan, the plan for the next 365 or so days should be to develop Jonas Williams and give him every resource he needs to become USC's next starting quarterback. But, this does need to be an option in USC's back pocket in case Williams doesn't pan out.
Plenty of top QB talent is always available in the portal every season, and all you have to do is look at this year's transfer class to clearly see that. Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby, DJ Lagway, Dylan Raiola, Rocco Becht, Josh Hoover, Aidan Chiles and many more are all seeking new homes in 2026. There will definitely be plenty of talented QBs on the market in 2027 as well, and if Jayden Maiava can be the latest Heisman candidate QB out of Lincoln Riley's system, they will only be more enticed to come to USC.
Crazier things have happened. A player entering the portal usually means they've made up their mind about leaving, but not always. I'm sure all of you have been following the Demond Williams situation.
Another random example that comes to my mind involves former Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener. Haener entered the portal following the 2021 season, then changed his mind and returned to the Bulldogs for his final collegiate season in 2022.
To be clear, I think that Longstreet has 100% made up his mind to leave, especially considering how long he took weighing the decision of whether to stay or go. But, I can't know what he's thinking 100%. Until he's committed to another school, this remains a possibility.
USC hasn't been linked to any of the top 2027 quarterback prospects, and I think I would still trust Jonas Williams with a year under his belt over a true freshman, unless they were a generational talent. Any QB in the 2027 class has another year of high school to separate themself, but I just don't see any generational talent type players in that class yet.
This conversation has a whole year to change as the quarterback ecosystem evolves. Hopefully, whatever happens turns out to be the best situation for both USC and Husan Longstreet.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Husan Longstreet announces he will transfer out of USC football
Continue reading...
Trojan fans were hoping that Longstreet would stay, as he was positioned to take over for star QB Jayden Maiava as USC's next starting quarterback in 2026.
Fresh questions
Now, USC has some questions at the quarterback position, in 2026 and beyond. Where do the Trojans go from here?
Let's explore all the potential ways USC will attempt to find its next quarterback after Maiava with Longstreet headed elsewhere.
In Jonas Williams we trust?
USC does still have a very talented quarterback set to join next year's roster, four star quarterback Jonas Williams. Williams is the 9th ranked QB in the '26 class by 247 Sports out of Lincoln Way-East High School in Illinois.
USC could just trust the guy they have in the building, slotting Williams in as the backup in 2026 and focusing on getting him ready to be the starter in 2027. Rolling with a true freshman backup is what they did this season with Longstreet.
New options
USC would likely need to get a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal, but that player could ultimately be a Sam Huard type, a journeyman guy who is comfortable serving as the third string (and maybe executing an epic fake punt play).
This wouldn't be a bad strategy at all. Williams is very talented and the quarterback development of Lincoln Riley and Luke Huard remains top notch.
Are there any current transfer portal entrants USC could be interested in?
But what if USC gets more creative? What if there's another very talented quarterback prospect, at a similar point in their career to Longstreet, that USC could scoop up and immediately slot in as their backup in 2026?
There really only seems to be one guy still available in the portal who fits that bill: former Auburn quarterback Deuce Knight.
Something to think about
Knight is a unique prospect. He was a top-10 quarterback in the 2026 class. He's a dual threat quarterback, but is otherwise very different from Longstreet because he's tall (6'4'') and left-handed. USC would have to adjust to having a very unique QB in its system and a very different one than Longstreet.
I don't really think USC has any ties to Knight, he's just an example of the type of quarterback USC would want to pursue if looking for a direct Longstreet replacement for 2026. There aren't many players like that.
All of the industry buzz indicates Knight is likely headed to Ole Miss, especially because as of today, Trinidad Chambliss has been denied 2026 eligibility by the NCAA.
Assuming he does head to the Rebels, picking up a backup QB via the portal doesn't seem to be USC's best bet. Other than Knight, I don't think there is anyone available who could clearly compete with Jonas Williams, and USC definitely doesn't seem to be in the market for a Sam Leavitt type, who would push Jayden Maiava for the starting job.
What if USC plugs and plays a transfer in 2027?
This shouldn't be USC's plan, the plan for the next 365 or so days should be to develop Jonas Williams and give him every resource he needs to become USC's next starting quarterback. But, this does need to be an option in USC's back pocket in case Williams doesn't pan out.
Plenty of top QB talent is always available in the portal every season, and all you have to do is look at this year's transfer class to clearly see that. Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby, DJ Lagway, Dylan Raiola, Rocco Becht, Josh Hoover, Aidan Chiles and many more are all seeking new homes in 2026. There will definitely be plenty of talented QBs on the market in 2027 as well, and if Jayden Maiava can be the latest Heisman candidate QB out of Lincoln Riley's system, they will only be more enticed to come to USC.
Can USC still convince Longstreet to stay?
Crazier things have happened. A player entering the portal usually means they've made up their mind about leaving, but not always. I'm sure all of you have been following the Demond Williams situation.
Another random example that comes to my mind involves former Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener. Haener entered the portal following the 2021 season, then changed his mind and returned to the Bulldogs for his final collegiate season in 2022.
To be clear, I think that Longstreet has 100% made up his mind to leave, especially considering how long he took weighing the decision of whether to stay or go. But, I can't know what he's thinking 100%. Until he's committed to another school, this remains a possibility.
Could USC get a top 2027 freshman?
USC hasn't been linked to any of the top 2027 quarterback prospects, and I think I would still trust Jonas Williams with a year under his belt over a true freshman, unless they were a generational talent. Any QB in the 2027 class has another year of high school to separate themself, but I just don't see any generational talent type players in that class yet.
This conversation has a whole year to change as the quarterback ecosystem evolves. Hopefully, whatever happens turns out to be the best situation for both USC and Husan Longstreet.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Husan Longstreet announces he will transfer out of USC football
Continue reading...
