Portal Watch: USC Emerges as Frontrunner for Kennedy Urlacher — Where Will the Star Safety Land?
In a surprise twist to the early spring transfer portal landscape, USC has quickly risen to the top of the list of suitors for Notre Dame sophomore safety Kennedy Urlacher. 247Sports national recruiting reporter Tom Loy hinted at the Trojans’ interest with a succinct “Watch out for USC here” post on X mere hours after Urlacher officially entered the portal with a “do not contact” designation. This endorsement from one of college football’s most respected evaluators has ignited a frenzy of speculation about where the son of NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher will continue his collegiate career.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound defensive back appeared in 14 games during his freshman campaign at Notre Dame, tallying 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery on special teams and in spot start duty. A three-star recruit out of Chandler (Ariz.) High School, Kennedy opted for the Irish over more than 20 scholarship offers, including heavy hitters like Miami, Penn State, Nebraska and his home-state schools Arizona and Arizona State. Despite limited starting opportunities, his physicality and ball-hawking instincts left many convinced he could flourish given the right scheme and opportunity.
Geographic ties and roster fits point to a diverse field of contenders. Programs in the Southwest—namely Arizona and Arizona State—offer proximity to home and familiarity with Urlacher’s high-school coaches, while Big Ten staples such as Michigan State, Illinois and Indiana present strong defensive cultures under long-tenured . Additionally, rising powerhouses like Kansas State, Miami, Penn State and TCU were among Urlacher’s finalists before he chose Notre Dame, suggesting his recruitment could once again draw national attention to programs beyond the traditional blue-bloods.
USC’s appeal extends beyond mere name recognition. Under head coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, the Trojans have aggressively revamped their secondary in both the portal and high-school ranks. USC’s 2025 class already features four-star cornerbacks and safeties, yet the position group remains a work in progress, with veteran safety Kamari Ramsey locked into one starting spot and transfers Bishop Fitzgerald and Christian Pierce vying for the other. A program accustomed to NFL-caliber defensive backs, USC could point to its track record of sending DBs to the next level as a selling point.
Nevertheless, Urlacher would face stiff competition for immediate playing time in Los Angeles. The Trojans’ depth chart currently lists two experienced starters—Ramsey and Fitzgerald—while third-year man Christian Pierce has shown growth in fall camp and spring ball alike. Breaking into that rotation could require Urlacher to excel in nickel packages or special teams early on; however, USC’s penchant for rotating defensive backs under Grinch could afford him meaningful snaps if he outperforms incumbents in practices and spring showcase events.
Beyond USC, other Power Five contenders remain in play. Kansas State and Miami both boast defensive-minded head coaches who could accelerate Urlacher’s development, while Penn State’s physical front seven and TCU’s up-tempo defense under Sonny Dykes present contrasting but intriguing fits. Even Notre Dame’s own conference rivals—Michigan State and Illinois—retain interest, eyeing a player whose lineage and production could bolster their secondary depth.
Several factors will influence Urlacher’s ultimate decision: the quality of defensive coaching, opportunity for playing time, proximity to family and the chance to further enhance his NFL prospects. Having applied the “do not contact” tag, Urlacher has given himself a brief window—aligned with the NCAA’s spring portal window, which runs from April 16 to April 25—to weigh offers and schedule official visits. Schools must adhere to a tight timeline if they hope to secure his commitment before the onset of summer conditioning programs.
As the portal clock ticks down, one question looms large: will Urlacher’s recruitment culminate in a blockbuster move to Lincoln Riley’s burgeoning Trojan program, or will he opt for a more understated landing spot where an immediate starting role awaits? With his pedigree, on-field potential and still three years of eligibility remaining, Kennedy Urlacher’s decision promises to be one of the spring’s most-watched transfer sagas—and it may very well reshape the defensive outlooks of whichever team ultimately captures his commitment.
