Eric Henderson is USC's most important assistant coach in 2026

On Sunday, we at Trojans Wire put it plainly: Rob Ryan needs to be dismissed as USC football linebacker coach. Of the other assistant coaches who are staying for 2026, which one is the most important? We think it's Eric Henderson. Coach Henny has a lot to prove, and he needs to be significantly better for this program to reach its ceiling, or at least come close to it. Let's dive deeper into this conversation:

Young players need to make the leap

In August, the general perception surrounding USC football was that the defensive line had more depth than a year earlier. The problem -- or limitation, pick your word -- with that line of analysis was that the depth was young, not proven. Depth without experience means little. In 2026, it will be up to Eric Henderson to develop the young guys who looked overmatched far too often in 2025. No assistant coach has a tougher or more significant challenge in developing his position group.

Why is the answer not Doug Belk?

Doug Belk faces a challenge similar to coach Henny, but with Prophet Brown hurt the whole season and multiple other players in the secondary missing multiple games, Belk at least can point to a lack of available bodies. The secondary certainly needs to take a big step forward in its own right, but attrition hit that position group harder than the defensive line.

Jahkeem Stewart

Having just talked about injuries in the secondary, it's worth pointing out that Jahkeem Stewart was playing through pain this year. He needs to get 100-percent healthy. Then Eric Henderson can really turn him into a true monster who changes games. This is another necessary USC football growth point in 2026. Stewart has to be a home-wrecker.

USC football history

When USC has a nasty defensive front, the program takes off. We saw this with the original Wild Bunch over 50 years ago and then Wild Bunch II under Pete Carroll two decades ago. The defensive line is the most important position group in 2026 at USC. Eric Henderson needs the dawgwork to have a massive effect.

Oklahoma under Brent Venables

Oklahoma is about to make the playoff because it has a dominant, overwhelming front four. USC can look to the Sooners for an example of how an elite defensive line changes the equation.

USC offensive line is no longer a crisis point

With Zach Hanson doing an amazing job -- he was USC's best assistant/position coach this year -- the offensive line is no longer a source of worry or frailty. Defensive line takes the baton from the offensive line as the most uncertain and critical position group.

Rob Ryan's replacement

Hiring a really good linebacker coach to replace Rob Ryan could help USC's defensive line and make that unit look better. Rob Ryan hasn't been fired yet, but one should expect the move to be made after the UCLA regular-season finale. Getting this piece of the puzzle in order will in turn help Eric Henderson and USC.

Notre Dame and Oregon

Notre Dame and Oregon both ran the ball right down USC's throat. The Trojans cannot expect to win big games, especially on the road, when their defensive line gets chewed up on that scale. Eric Henderson has to bring something much better to the table in 2026 if this struggling program is going to reach its full potential. That can't be denied.

Softness must end under Lincoln Riley

Lincoln Riley coaches soft football teams. Even the 2022 team was vulnerable on defense. The offense was tough, but the defense cratered in the second half of that season. The softness must end at USC. A transformation must start with Eric Henderson.

Trumain Carroll

Not to be ignored here, strength coach Trumain Carroll now gets a full offseason with USC players. His work must create stronger players who will step up for Eric Henderson and the rest of the staff in 2026. Henderson, though, is the position coach who has to elevate more than anyone else.

Aaron Donald's former coach and Super Bowl champion

Eric Henderson has achieved richly at the highest level of football, winning a Super Bowl and coaching a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, Aaron Donald. That standard is what coach Henny wants. It's what he came to USC to deliver. If he can do that in 2026, chances are USC will have an elite team. Now it's up to the man to come through.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Eric Henderson is the USC football assistant who must deliver in 2026