Junior linebacker for USC. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 250 lb · Clarkston, MI · Clarkston HS
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
tackles · 2026
1 TFL
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, vs Louisiana
Statement game17 tackles · 1 TFLat Oregon (FBS) · L 27-42
Top 0.1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for USC. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Desman Stephens II
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. This is his third year in the same linebacker corps at USC. The receipt: 5 tackles against Louisiana — Week 2, 2026.
10 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He was on the field for 3 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Lincoln Riley.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Lincoln Riley — 19-10 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (10th percentile).
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lincoln Riley
Pass share
46.0%
97 pass / 114 run
Plays / game
70.3
3 games
Team sack rate
2.0%
102 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2025
Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Recognition
Production · CFB Index Score
Former four-star. Now #362 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #45 of 72 Big Ten LBs
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 49–30
vs Louisiana
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 42-26vs San José State | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 1 | W 39-0vs Fresno State | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 49-30vs Louisiana | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 10 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
Play style
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
USC
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · USC
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
USC · Last season: 9-4 (AP #16) · Talent rank #9 · 2026 recruiting class #1
Player DNA
Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jackson Sirmon’s 2021 season.
Matches Jackson on
Differs from Jackson on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Brian Asamoah's sophomore season at Oklahoma (2021).
Matches Brian on
Differs from Brian on
CAREER: Throughout his two-year career, he has recorded 102 tackles, including 4 for loss of 7 yards, with 2 forced fumbles, 2 QB hurries and 1 INT while appearing in 26 games with 13 starts. 2026: Stephens II returns as an experienced linebacker as a junior in 2026. 2025: Stephens II recorded 89...
8 more on the roster · USC team page