Skip to main content
USC
Join Now

USC safety Kamari Ramsey declares for 2026 NFL Draft

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney10 hours agoErikTMcKinney

USC Trojans veteran safety Kamari Ramsey is making himself eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, he announced on Monday.

The 6-foot, 205-pound safety was a leader in the defensive backfield from the moment he stepped on the USC campus following a transfer from UCLA ahead of the 2024 season. He missed three games due to illness and injury this season, finishing with 27 tackles and two pass deflections. In his two-year USC career, Ramsey tallied 87 tackles, including seven for loss and two sacks, one interception, seven pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

In his announcement, Ramsey thanks his parents, family, coaches, teammates and the Trojan family.

“Finally, to the Trojan Family – thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and making USC a place I will always call home. Wearing the cardinal and gold has been an honor I’ll never take lightly,” he said. “With gratitude for the journey and faith in what’s ahead, I’m excited for the next chapter.”

Ramsey showed his willingness to put the team first this season as he moved into the slot for a majority of his snaps following preseason injuries to USC top two options at nickel. He still finished with the No. 3 PFF overall defensive grade among USC defenders this season and played the 10th most snaps despite missing the game against Illinois due to food poisoning and being forced out of the second half of the Iowa game and both the Oregon and UCLA games due to injury.

At this time, Ramsey is viewed by ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper as the No. 6 safety available in the upcoming draft. He was thought to be a top-three round pick last season and represented a huge win in coming back for his redshirt junior season. It will be interesting to see what a year spent playing mostly in the slot (251 of his 483 total defensive snaps) does for his NFL prospects.

You may also like

Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz