USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans WR Dwayne Jarrett
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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 eight days to go, today we look at former USC All-American wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett.
Position: Wide receiver
Years played at USC: 2004-2006
Career highlights: With star wide receiver Mike Williams ruled ineligible shortly prior to the start of the 2004 season, USC had an opening at the position, allowing the true freshman Jarrett to earn immediate playing time. For the next three years, he started for the Trojans, recording over 800 yards and at least 12 touchdowns in all three of his seasons in Cardinal and Gold. In 2005, Jarrett earned All-American honors after catching 91 passes for 1,274 yards and 16 scores.
Pehaps Jarrett’s signature moment at USC came at Notre Dame in 2005. Trailing 31-28 with under two minutes remaining, the Trojans faced a 4th and 9 from their own 26 yard-line. Jarrett caught the pass from quarterback Matt Leinart and took it 61 yards down the field, setting USC up in the red zone. The Trojans would go on to win the game on the iconic “Bush Push”, a play that would not have been possible if not for Jarrett’s heroics.
After USC: Following USC’s 2007 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan—in which he had a career-high 205 receiving yards and two touchdowns, earning offensive MVP honors—Jarrett declared for the 2007 NFL Draft. He was originally projected as a first round pick, but fell to the second round, where the Carolina Panthers selected him. Sadly, Jarrett’s NFL career was a massive disappointment. He lasted less than four years in the league, never going over 200 receiving yards in a season and catching just one career touchdown.
In October of 2010, Jarrett was released by Carolina following a DUI arrest. He had a brief offseason stint in the CFL in 2012, but never played in another competitive football game again.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans WR Dwayne Jarrett
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