Skyler Jones

Biography

Skyler Jones, who has both NFL and collegiate coaching experience, enters his third season at USC and first as defensive tackles coach in 2026. Jones has been with USC since 2024, previously serving as a defensive analyst under former Co-Defensive Coordinator / Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach, Eric Henderson. In 2025, the Trojans went 9-4 and 7-2 in USC’s sophomore season in the Big Ten. Jones coached defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart who had a stellar collegiate debut making an immediate impact on the Trojan defensive line by decorating his stat sheet with 18 tackles, including 7.5 for loss of 27 yards (with 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards), 1 INT returned for 4 yards, 1 fumble recovery returned for 22 yards and 1 QB hurry. Stewart was named an FWAA Freshman All-American and a PFF Freshman All-American, and he was selected to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List. FOX Sports named Stewart to the nation’s Top 10 impact freshmen ahead of the 2025 college football season. Jones also coached All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Phil Steele All-Big Ten Fourth Team members, defensive tackle Devan Thompkins. Thompkins tallied 31 tackles, including 6.5 for loss of 40 yards (with 3 sacks for minus 23 yards), 2 PBUs, 1 QH hurry and 1 forced fumble. In 2024, Jones joined the Trojan defense and contributed to its significant improvement. USC held opponents to an average of just 24.1 points per game, improving from 34.4 in 2023. The Trojans finished the 2024 seas