USC announces DB Prophet Brown has re-signed to return to Trojans

USC defensive back Prophet Brown has re-signed to return in the 2026 season, the team announced Monday. It will mark his sixth season with the program.

Brown missed most of this season after suffering a non-contact injury in fall camp, playing in only one game on Nov. 1 against Nebraska. That allowed him to use this past year as a medical redshirt and keep his eligiblity for another season, which will be his final year of college football.

Since his arrival on campus in 2021, Brown has appeared in 40 games with one start for the Trojans. He has recorded 32 tackles and two passes defended for his career.

Prophet Brown played high school football at Monterey Trail in Elk Grove, California, where he was a four-star prospect in the 2021 class. He originally committed as a running back, ranking as the No. 10 player at the position and No. 150 overall according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

Brown’s experience will be a valuable asset for the Trojans secondary next season. Perhaps he can use the opportunity to bounce back from this year’s injury and end his college career on a high note.

USC is coming off of a 9-3 record in the record season this year and earned a trip to the Alamo Bowl. The Trojans ranked ninth in the Big Ten against the pass with 203.3 air yards allowed per game, so Brown’s return next year will be a boost to that group.

USC WR Makai Lemon wins 2025 Biletnikoff Award

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon has won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award. The honor goes to the best receiver in college football during the season.

Three players emerged as finalists for the award. Lemon, UConn star Skyler Bell and Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith were the three players who waited to see if their names were called during Friday’s College Football Awards show.

All three players were impressive during the 2025 season, emerging as some of the top playmakers in the country. That helped them wind up squarely in the mix for the Biletnikoff Award.

A crucial part of the USC offense this season, Lemon emerged as a top target for Jayden Maiava. His 1,156 receiving yards ranked fourth in the country while also adding 79 receptions and 11 touchdowns – ranking in the Top 10 in the nation in both categories.

It was a breakout year for Lemon, who continued to improve after a strong sophomore campaign in 2024. He hauled in 52 passes for 764 yards and three touchdowns as he became a bigger part of the offense.

Additionally, Lemon earned a spot in the On3 2025 College Football All-America Team for his efforts this year. His step forward helped make him one of the top receivers in college football along the way.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.