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USC's Luke Wafle and Jide Abasiri led the reported defensive grades against Louisiana at 85.0 and 88.8. Wafle had seven tackles in 30 snaps with an 85.7 run-defense grade, while Abasiri generated four pressures in 15 pass-rush snaps and three defensive stops. Wafle's two pressures and 65.0 pass-rush grade show his run defense remains ahead of his rush production.
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USC linebacker Desman Stephens II posted five tackles in 40 snaps with an 82.4 tackling grade and allowed one eight-yard reception on two targets. Freshman Elbert Hill IV played 25 snaps, broke up a pass and allowed an 11-yard catch on third-and-12. The report identifies improved tackling for Stephens and a productive coverage outing for Hill.
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USC edge Zuriah Fisher produced the team's only sack, a fourth-quarter strip sack, and a 91.2 pass-rush grade, but his run-defense and tackling grades were 48.1 and 29.8. Kameryn Crawford added three pressures on 12 rush snaps and a 70.0 run-defense grade; his first missed tackle lowered his tackling grade to 47.0. Rush production did not eliminate tackling concerns.
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USC's Braylan Shelby returned from injury for 20 reserve snaps against Louisiana, earning a 43.5 overall grade. Safeties Madden Riordan and Isaiah Rubin again ranked in the bottom three at 44.1 and 38.7 in nine and 11 snaps; Rubin allowed a 24-yard catch on his only target. These are limited-snap warning signs, not an announced depth-chart change or proof Shelby is fully recovered.
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Louisiana's listed offensive grading leaders against USC were receiver Russell Babineaux (83.5), quarterback Lunch Winfield (81.0), tight end Teddy Gawlik (76.6), running back Anthony Reagan Jr. (75.9) and tight end Brock Chappell (75.6). These are the article's reported PFF grades from the 49-30 loss, not a forecast of equivalent production against the next opponent.