USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans safety Leon McQuay III

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Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.

With 22 days to go, today we look at former USC safety Leon McQuay III.

Position: Safety

Years played at USC: 2013-2016

Career highlights: McQuay saw significant playing time at safety in his first three seasons at USC, before emerging as a full-time starter as a senior in 2016. That year, he recorded 50 total tackles, six passes defended, two interceptions, and a sack.

McQuay saved by far his biggest moment as a Trojan for last. With under a minute remaining in the 2017 Rose Bowl—his final college football game—USC and Penn State were tied at 49. McQuay intercepted a pass thrown by Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley and returned it 32 yards, setting up the Trojans for the game-winning field goal to cap off an instant classic victory.

After USC: The Kansas City Chiefs selected McQuay in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent the next two years with the organization, splitting time between the active roster and the practice squad. McQuay appeared in one regular season game for Kansas City, recording three tackles and one pass defended.

McQuay is the grandson of Leon McQuay, who played running back in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League during the 1970s.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans safety Leon McQuay III

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