DeCarlos Nicholson, talented USC DB, withdraws name from transfer portal
DeCarlos Nicholson, a talented defensive back for USC, has officially withdrawn his name from the transfer portal.
The DB entered the portal on Jan. 19 and withdrew just 1 day later. Keeping Nicholson is a huge win for the Trojans, who have seen 21 players enter the portal this offseason.
Nicholson racked up 27 tackles and 5 pass deflections in 2024.
USC defensive back DeCarlos Nicholson, who entered the transfer portal yesterday, has now withdrawn his name from the portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned.
Nicholson, who transferred to USC from Mississippi State, posted 27 tackles and five pass breakups this year. pic.twitter.com/gcJdeot1Vf
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 21, 2025
Out of high school, Nicholson chose to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for 1 season. After the 2021 season, the 247Sports Composite ranking had Nicholson rated as a 3-star recruit and the No. 13 JUCO prospect.
Nicholson spent 2 seasons at Mississippi State before transferring to USC. In 25 games with the Bulldogs, Nicholson racked up 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 3 pass deflections.
After the 2022 season, Nicholson entered the portal and chose USC. The DB initially wanted to leave USC after 1 season, but has now reversed course and could be in for a larger role in 2025.
The Trojans saw DB Zion Branch leave via the portal, while Jaylin Smith, Jacobe Covington, and John Humphrey are all out of eligibility. This means Nicholson could see significantly more snaps on the Trojans’ defense next season.
The Trojans’ defense finished No. 77 in total defense in 2024, which was a big improvement over 2023 when the unit finished No. 119 in the same category.