Christian Pierce
Christian Pierce
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. He has spent three seasons in the USC secondary. One game to point at: 9 tackles against Oregon — Week 13, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Lincoln Riley.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lincoln Riley
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR06 · Starter
Starter. Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 12 · 2025
W 26–21
vs Iowa
3 SOLO · 7 TOT
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 5 at home.
How he plays
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
USC
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Safety · USC
Returning around him
- 3 USC players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -13 net (9 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
USC · Last season: 9-4 (AP #16) · Talent rank #17 · 2026 recruiting class #1
DNA match
Player DNA
Box Safety
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Quinn Schulte’s 2023 season.
Matches Quinn on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Marcus Ratcliffe's junior season at Texas A&M (2025).
Matches Marcus on
Background
CAREER: Through his three-year career, Pierce has recorded 79 tackles, including 2.5 for loss of 12 yards (with 1 sack for minus 10 yards), 3 PBUs, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble while appearing in 36 games with 9 starts. 2026: Pierce will return as an integral piece of the Trojan secondary as a senio...