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Skyler Jones Named USC Defensive Tackles Coach
February 17, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—Skyler Jones, who has both NFL and collegiate coaching experience, has been named USC defensive tackles coach, Head Coach Lincoln Riley announced, today (Feb. 17).Â
"We are thrilled for Skyler," said Riley. "He has earned this opportunity by consistently developing high-level performers, building meaningful relationships with our players, and demonstrating his commitment to the standard of excellence we expect in our program. He will continue to enhance our defensive line and elevate the talent in our room."
Jones has been with USC since 2024, previously serving as a defensive analyst under former Co-Defensive Coordinator / Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach, Eric Henderson.
In 2025, the Trojans went 9-4 and 7-2 in USC's sophomore season in the Big Ten. Jones coached defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart who had a stellar collegiate debut making an immediate impact on the Trojan defensive line by decorating his stat sheet with 18 tackles, including 7.5 for loss of 27 yards (with 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards), 1 INT returned for 4 yards, 1 fumble recovery returned for 22 yards and 1 QB hurry. Stewart was named an FWAA Freshman All-American and a PFF Freshman All-American, and he was selected to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List. FOX Sports named Stewart to the nation's Top 10 impact freshmen ahead of the 2025 college football season. Jones also coached All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Phil Steele All-Big Ten Fourth Team members, defensive tackle Devan Thompkins. Thompkins tallied 31 tackles, including 6.5 for loss of 40 yards (with 3 sacks for minus 23 yards), 2 PBUs, 1 QH hurry and 1 forced fumble.Â
In 2024, Jones joined the Trojan defense and contributed to its significant improvement. USC held opponents to an average of just 24.1 points per game, improving from 34.4 in 2023. The Trojans finished the 2024 season ranked No. 21 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.335), compared to ranking No. 106 (0.436) in 2023. In 2024, USC's defense improved in a variety of other statistical categories including  ranking No. 33 in passes intercepted (12) and No. 53 in rushing defense (141.2). The Trojan defense ranked No. 58 in turnovers gained by collecting 18 throughout the season and ranked No. 69 in red zone defense (0.830) in 2024. USC finished ranked No. 70 in team passing efficiency defense (132.50), improved to No. 77 in total defense (377.1) and was No. 86 in the nation in first downs defense (262) in 2024.
Jones spent the 2023 season as a defensive analyst for the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks led the Pac-12 and ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.5 points per game. Oregon gave up just 318.4 yards per game, which ranked second in the Pac-12 and 22nd nationally. Jones coached defensive end Brandon Dorlus, a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection and defensive end Jordan Burch, an All-Conference honoree. Both went on to become NFL Draft selections, with Dorlus being taken in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, and Burch being selected in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2025.
In 2022, Jones worked with Henderson as the assistant defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams. That season, the Rams rush defense ranked among the best in the NFL.  The defensive line helped the Rams finish third in fewest missed tackles on rush plays (51), eighth in percentage of opponent rushes that resulted in first downs (23.3%), ninth in defensive total rush EPA (42.97), ninth in opponent rushes for touchdowns (37.92), tied for 10th in total rushing touchdowns allowed (12) and finished 12th in total rushing first downs allowed (106). According to PFF, the Rams defense concluded the season with the highest grade against the rush (87.0) and only allowed two players to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark on the season. The Rams were one of four teams to enter Week 17 without allowing a 100- yard rusher due to strong performances on the defensive line. The Rams defense also finished 13th in total rush yards allowed (1,956), opponent rush yards per game (115.1) and successful play rate on defensive rushes (61.5%).
In 2021, Jones was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for Norfolk State. In 2021, the Spartans notched their first winning record (6-5) since 2007. The Spartan defense played a key role in the success, leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in sacks and interceptions while ranking third in total defense and rushing defense. He coached defensive end De'Shaan Dixon who earned First Team All-MEAC honors, led the MEAC in sacks in 2011 and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones also tutored fellow All-MEAC First Team honoree, defensive end Chris Myers.
From 2018-21, Jones was the defensive line coach at Southern University. Under the leadership of Jones, defensive end Jordan Lewis was a three-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honoree and was twice named an FCS All-American. During the spring 2021 season, he was named both the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and the winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the country, after leading the FCS in sacks and tackles for loss. Lewis also led the SWAC in sacks in 2018. Two other Jaguars earned All-SWAC honors under Jones' tutelage, Joe Davis in 2018 and Jalen Ivy in 2021.
Prior to being elevated to full-time assistant coach, Jones served three years as a graduate assistant coach at Southern from 2015-17 working with the defensive line.
Jones was a defensive end at Bethany College (Kan.) from 2010-13, where he earned All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference honors and was a team captain. He earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Bethany College in 2014 and his Master's in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement from Southern in 2018.
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"We are thrilled for Skyler," said Riley. "He has earned this opportunity by consistently developing high-level performers, building meaningful relationships with our players, and demonstrating his commitment to the standard of excellence we expect in our program. He will continue to enhance our defensive line and elevate the talent in our room."
Jones has been with USC since 2024, previously serving as a defensive analyst under former Co-Defensive Coordinator / Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach, Eric Henderson.
In 2025, the Trojans went 9-4 and 7-2 in USC's sophomore season in the Big Ten. Jones coached defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart who had a stellar collegiate debut making an immediate impact on the Trojan defensive line by decorating his stat sheet with 18 tackles, including 7.5 for loss of 27 yards (with 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards), 1 INT returned for 4 yards, 1 fumble recovery returned for 22 yards and 1 QB hurry. Stewart was named an FWAA Freshman All-American and a PFF Freshman All-American, and he was selected to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List. FOX Sports named Stewart to the nation's Top 10 impact freshmen ahead of the 2025 college football season. Jones also coached All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Phil Steele All-Big Ten Fourth Team members, defensive tackle Devan Thompkins. Thompkins tallied 31 tackles, including 6.5 for loss of 40 yards (with 3 sacks for minus 23 yards), 2 PBUs, 1 QH hurry and 1 forced fumble.Â
In 2024, Jones joined the Trojan defense and contributed to its significant improvement. USC held opponents to an average of just 24.1 points per game, improving from 34.4 in 2023. The Trojans finished the 2024 season ranked No. 21 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.335), compared to ranking No. 106 (0.436) in 2023. In 2024, USC's defense improved in a variety of other statistical categories including  ranking No. 33 in passes intercepted (12) and No. 53 in rushing defense (141.2). The Trojan defense ranked No. 58 in turnovers gained by collecting 18 throughout the season and ranked No. 69 in red zone defense (0.830) in 2024. USC finished ranked No. 70 in team passing efficiency defense (132.50), improved to No. 77 in total defense (377.1) and was No. 86 in the nation in first downs defense (262) in 2024.
Jones spent the 2023 season as a defensive analyst for the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks led the Pac-12 and ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.5 points per game. Oregon gave up just 318.4 yards per game, which ranked second in the Pac-12 and 22nd nationally. Jones coached defensive end Brandon Dorlus, a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection and defensive end Jordan Burch, an All-Conference honoree. Both went on to become NFL Draft selections, with Dorlus being taken in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, and Burch being selected in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2025.
In 2022, Jones worked with Henderson as the assistant defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams. That season, the Rams rush defense ranked among the best in the NFL.  The defensive line helped the Rams finish third in fewest missed tackles on rush plays (51), eighth in percentage of opponent rushes that resulted in first downs (23.3%), ninth in defensive total rush EPA (42.97), ninth in opponent rushes for touchdowns (37.92), tied for 10th in total rushing touchdowns allowed (12) and finished 12th in total rushing first downs allowed (106). According to PFF, the Rams defense concluded the season with the highest grade against the rush (87.0) and only allowed two players to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark on the season. The Rams were one of four teams to enter Week 17 without allowing a 100- yard rusher due to strong performances on the defensive line. The Rams defense also finished 13th in total rush yards allowed (1,956), opponent rush yards per game (115.1) and successful play rate on defensive rushes (61.5%).
In 2021, Jones was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for Norfolk State. In 2021, the Spartans notched their first winning record (6-5) since 2007. The Spartan defense played a key role in the success, leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in sacks and interceptions while ranking third in total defense and rushing defense. He coached defensive end De'Shaan Dixon who earned First Team All-MEAC honors, led the MEAC in sacks in 2011 and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones also tutored fellow All-MEAC First Team honoree, defensive end Chris Myers.
From 2018-21, Jones was the defensive line coach at Southern University. Under the leadership of Jones, defensive end Jordan Lewis was a three-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honoree and was twice named an FCS All-American. During the spring 2021 season, he was named both the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and the winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the country, after leading the FCS in sacks and tackles for loss. Lewis also led the SWAC in sacks in 2018. Two other Jaguars earned All-SWAC honors under Jones' tutelage, Joe Davis in 2018 and Jalen Ivy in 2021.
Prior to being elevated to full-time assistant coach, Jones served three years as a graduate assistant coach at Southern from 2015-17 working with the defensive line.
Jones was a defensive end at Bethany College (Kan.) from 2010-13, where he earned All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference honors and was a team captain. He earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Bethany College in 2014 and his Master's in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement from Southern in 2018.
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