USC football safety Kamari Ramsey is a self-proclaimed homebody; he keeps to himself and lets his game speak for him.
“But after last year, just doing some reflecting — the best people don’t do that,” he told reporters at Big Ten Media Day. “They affect other people around them in good ways.”
Like Ramsey, the Trojans’ defense isn’t satisfied. The defensive side of the ball saw immense improvement under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn last season, and USC coach Lincoln Riley wants to see continued progress.
“How do you take that step from being one of the most improved to flat out being one of the best? That was the number one target for us,” Riley said in his opening remarks at Big Ten Media Day.
“We’ve got to really go make a big improvement here. I think we’ve done our part on the roster. And now, we’ve got to develop them and go put it on the field this fall.”
Ramsey, who prepped at Sierra Canyon School, could have chosen to declare for the NFL Draft, but instead chose to complete another season at USC. The decision could pay dividends, since he has not only become more of a vocal leader on the team but also because he has increased responsibility on the field.
He was given the green dot in spring, allowing him to communicate with Lynn through a radio in his helmet. Lynn doesn’t signal calls as much, leaving Ramsey to line up the defense.
“The main thing as a DB is getting in and out of breaks, working on my breaks,” Ramsey said. “My backpedal, staying low, getting out fast. Getting stronger, faster, things of that nature. And just keep diving into the playbook. You can never know something too well.”
Joining Ramsey in the secondary are junior cornerback Prophet Brown and Alex Graham, a freshman safety.
Brown had 11 tackles in 12 games with one pass breakup last season and Graham enrolled early at USC after being ranked as the No. 5 player in the state of Michigan by 247Sports.
Ramsey told reporters at Big Ten Media Day that he’s already impressed by Graham as well as by Kennedy Urlacher, a sophomore safety and Notre Dame transfer.
Former NFL coach Rob Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge to USC as the new assistant head coach for defense and linebackers coach. Ryan spent 24 years coaching in the NFL and won two Super Bowls while he was linebackers coach for the New England Patriots.
There is little veteran experience in the linebackers room — Eric Gentry and 6-foot-3, 231-pound Penn State transfer Ta’Mere Robinson are the only upperclassmen with significant experience.
The defensive line looks to be one of the strongest parts of the defense after adding two big pieces in four-star transfers Jamaal Jarrett (Georgia) and Keeshawn Silver (Kentucky). Both have size, with Jarrett at 6-foot-5, 350 pounds and Silver at 6-foot-4, 336 pounds.
Jahkeem Stewart re-classed and enrolled early at USC to get a jump on potentially becoming the future of the Trojans’ defense. Video has even surfaced on social media of the college defensive lineman working out with former NFL defensive great Aaron Donald.
The group is led by Eric Henderson, who is back for his second year coaching USC’s defensive line.
“D-line is going to be good,” Ramsey said. “They beefed up. Coach Henderson, he knows what he’s doing. We have a great defense, great players all around in the front and the back end and second level, so I’m excited to see next season.”
Ramsey added that there’s improved trust among the whole defense and heightened chemistry on the entire team.
“That’s the main thing — everyone is doing their job,” Ramsey said. “No one’s overcompensating, trying to do someone else’s job. Just trust that your brother’s going to be in the right spot and that’ll take care of itself.”