USC Trojans Promote Key Staff Member to Boost Linebacker Group

Defensive analyst/assistant linebackers coach AJ Howard has been promoted to outside linebackers coach.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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As USC continues to finalize its coaching staff for the 2026 season, defensive analyst/assistant linebackers coach AJ Howard has been promoted to outside linebackers coach. Howard just wrapped up his first season on the Trojans staff after coming over from Appalachian State, where he was the outside linebackers coach for two seasons.

Why it matters

The front seven as a whole has to improve in 2026, if the defense is going to take the next step. The most recent promotion of Howard indicates USC has fully invested into upgrading the second level of its defense.

The details

Howard was a standout linebacker for the Mountaineers and played two seasons with the New England Patriots, where he won a Super Bowl. He was a grad assistant for one season at Louisville in 2020 and then spent two seasons as a scout for the Patriots, before moving back to the coaching ranks. USC has three full-time coaches committed to its linebacker room, including Mike Ekeler and Rob Ryan.

  • Howard just wrapped up his first season on the Trojans staff.
  • Howard was the outside linebackers coach for two seasons at Appalachian State.

The players

AJ Howard

A former standout linebacker for Appalachian State who played two seasons with the New England Patriots, where he won a Super Bowl. He was a grad assistant for one season at Louisville in 2020 and then spent two seasons as a scout for the Patriots, before moving back to the coaching ranks.

Mike Ekeler

Has an abundance of experience at the collegiate level. He comes over from Nebraska, where he was their special teams coordinator in 2025. Prior to that, Ekeler was the outside linebackers coach for four seasons at Tennessee.

Rob Ryan

Just completed his first season on the USC staff.

Desman Stephens

Started all 13 games at MIKE linebacker this past season, after primarily being a special teams contributor during his freshman season in 2024. The ultra-athletic linebacker had an up and down year but the expectation is the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Stephens can take the next step and be more consistent.

Jadyn Walker

Missed almost the entirety of his true freshman season with a shoulder injury and showed glimpses in 2025 of what could be solid linebacker in the Big Ten. He is the favorite to start alongside Stephens next season.

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The takeaway

The promotion of AJ Howard to outside linebackers coach indicates USC is fully invested in upgrading the second level of its defense, which will be crucial for the Trojans to take the next step in 2026.