USC has made it two Texas A&M transfers on the defensive line in two years. A year ago, the Trojans snagged edge rusher Anthony Lucas out of the transfer portal to help the pass rush. On Tuesday, USC landed a commitment from former A&M defensive tackle Isaiah Raikes.

The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Raikes comes to USC with one season of eligibility remaining and plugs a major hole in the middle of the Trojan defensive line heading into next season. Raikes will play nose tackle in the middle of new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s scheme.

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Raikes signed with Texas A&M as a 3-star recruit out of the 2020 class. During his four seasons with the Aggies, he appeared in a total of 42 games while recording 43 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.

After seeing only a handful of defensive snaps in 2020, Raikes played in all 36 games over his final three seasons with the program and made five spot starts. He was at his most disruptive in 2023, when he had three TFLs and his first career forced fumble. Among defensive linemen, he was Texas A&M’s highest-graded player against the run (per PFF).

Raikes becomes the second known defensive line transfer for USC during the winter cycle, joining former Vanderbilt defensive end Nate Clifton. He could very well step into a starting role alongside Bear Alexander in his final season of eligibility.