2025 USC Football Roster
Roster
Sermons, RJ

Jersey Number 42
RJ Sermons
- Position:
- Cornerback
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- San Bernardino, Calif.
- High School:
- Rancho Cucamonga HS
Bio
2025: Sermons, who reclassified to forgo his senior year of high school, will compete for playing time at cornerback as a true freshman in 2025.
HIGH SCHOOL: Sermons, a four-star recruit, was ranked as the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 15 overall player in the nation as a five-star recruit per On3 as part of the 2026 recruiting class. Prior to reclassifying, ESPN ranked Sermons as the No. 2 cornerback in the nation and the No. 29 overall prospect. After reclassifying to the class of 2025, Sermons was ranked as the No. 6 player in the state of California by On3, No. 8 by Rivals and No. 9 by 247Sports. He was touted as the No. 10 cornerback in the country by On3, No. 12 by Rivals and No. 14 by 247Sports. He was rated as the No. 71 player in the nation by On3 and No. 105 by 247Sports and Rivals. Sermons was selected as a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star.
As a junior in 2024, he played in just six games due to injury, but rallied back late in the year and made an immediate impact on defense and in the return game. He finished the season with 34 tackles (including 1 sack) plus 384 yards in kick returns and 1 TD. He waws ranked the No. 20 overall player on the ESPN Jr. 300 list for the Class of 2026. He earned placement on the 2023 All-Baseline League Second Team.
As a sophomore in 2023, Sermons tallied 46 tackles, 5 PBUs and 1 INT.
Semons was also a talented sprinter who posted times of 10.30 in the 100m and 20.88 in the 200m as a junior in 2025. At the 2025 Baseline League Track Championships, Sermons placed first in the 100m with a 10.30 time and the 200m with a time of 20.88. Both times were the second-best mark in California in those respective races in the 2025 track season. Sermons also won the CIF Division 1 Championship in both events as well running a 10.36-100m and 20.96-200m.
As a sophomore in 2024, he recorded personal best times of 10.48-100-meters and 21.34-200m. Sermons finished fifth in the CIF Division1 Final with a time of 10.70-100m and sixth in the 200m with a 21.51 time.
As a freshman in 2023, Sermons ran a personal best time in the 100m of 10.85 and 22.60-200m. He also competed on the 4X100m relay team that finished seventh in the California State Championships with a 41.82 time, and he had season best time of 41.39.
PERSONAL: His father, Rodney Sermons, was a running back at USC from 1994-97. His older brother, Cameron, is also a freshman on the USC football team.
HIGH SCHOOL: Sermons, a four-star recruit, was ranked as the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 15 overall player in the nation as a five-star recruit per On3 as part of the 2026 recruiting class. Prior to reclassifying, ESPN ranked Sermons as the No. 2 cornerback in the nation and the No. 29 overall prospect. After reclassifying to the class of 2025, Sermons was ranked as the No. 6 player in the state of California by On3, No. 8 by Rivals and No. 9 by 247Sports. He was touted as the No. 10 cornerback in the country by On3, No. 12 by Rivals and No. 14 by 247Sports. He was rated as the No. 71 player in the nation by On3 and No. 105 by 247Sports and Rivals. Sermons was selected as a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star.
As a junior in 2024, he played in just six games due to injury, but rallied back late in the year and made an immediate impact on defense and in the return game. He finished the season with 34 tackles (including 1 sack) plus 384 yards in kick returns and 1 TD. He waws ranked the No. 20 overall player on the ESPN Jr. 300 list for the Class of 2026. He earned placement on the 2023 All-Baseline League Second Team.
As a sophomore in 2023, Sermons tallied 46 tackles, 5 PBUs and 1 INT.
Semons was also a talented sprinter who posted times of 10.30 in the 100m and 20.88 in the 200m as a junior in 2025. At the 2025 Baseline League Track Championships, Sermons placed first in the 100m with a 10.30 time and the 200m with a time of 20.88. Both times were the second-best mark in California in those respective races in the 2025 track season. Sermons also won the CIF Division 1 Championship in both events as well running a 10.36-100m and 20.96-200m.
As a sophomore in 2024, he recorded personal best times of 10.48-100-meters and 21.34-200m. Sermons finished fifth in the CIF Division1 Final with a time of 10.70-100m and sixth in the 200m with a 21.51 time.
As a freshman in 2023, Sermons ran a personal best time in the 100m of 10.85 and 22.60-200m. He also competed on the 4X100m relay team that finished seventh in the California State Championships with a 41.82 time, and he had season best time of 41.39.
PERSONAL: His father, Rodney Sermons, was a running back at USC from 1994-97. His older brother, Cameron, is also a freshman on the USC football team.
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