LOS ANGELES — Pass rushing came naturally for USC’s Bishop Fitzgerald, he said, even though he plays safety.
He made it look easy when the No. 20 Trojans blitzed Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn sending Fitzgerald streaking through the defensive line for a critical third-down sack.
“He usually lets other people go,” Fitzgerald said. “So that’s why it was a special moment for me. I finally went and got one.”
The result was a loss of 11 yards, which moved the Wolverines out of field goal range and forced them to punt.
“Coach Lynn said this week he was going to call it a little aggressive,” Fitzgerald told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “So I think that’s what he did and the pressure of the D-line executed and stopped well, and I was able to make a play. It was kind of just game plan.”
Fitzgerald, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound redshirt senior from Woodbridge, Virginia, left the Coliseum with a tackle for loss and two interceptions that night in addition to his first career sack, bringing his total number of picks this season to a team-leading five.
He’s proven to be another versatile component of the Trojans’ defense and although he hasn’t been used in blitz packages much until recently, Lynn has known the potential was there since fall training camp.
“It starts in practice,” Lynn said. “We obviously want to give as many guys the chance to rush as possible, but we give everyone the chance to do it in practice. And the guys that show that they can do it in practice, we allow them to do it in games.”
Fitzgerald is currently the top-rated safety in the Pro Football Focus rankings with a 91.7 grade. None of his grades in the individual three categories – run defense, pass rush and coverage – dip lower than 71.7.
He’s also been named a Midseason All-American by the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and was a second-team mention on The Athletic’s All-American lists.
USC’s defensive line had a bounce-back game against Michigan, although the pass rush still ranks 56th and the run defense is 62nd in Pro Football Focus’ rankings. The defense as a whole held the Wolverines to a season-low 109 rushing yards and 207 passing yards.
“It just feels great when we’re working as a unit,” defensive lineman Devan Thompkins said. “We got a defensive line, a linebacker group, a DB group, but I feel like everybody can make any play on the field, and that’s what makes it so special as a group. It was great seeing Bishop out there this weekend.”
The defense’s collaboration will be tested this weekend when USC (5-1 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) travels to face No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2).
Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love is one of the top running backs in the nation and he’s forced 29 missed tackles, too. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper has him as the second-highest ranked prospect on his 2026 NFL Draft Big Board.
“He has the ability to take the ball to the house every time he touches the ball,” Lynn said. “And he’s not just a threat on the ground. He’s a threat in the passing game, too, so he’s someone we have to know where he’s at at all times.”
RAMSEY ADDRESSES ILLINOIS ILLNESS
Safety Kamari Ramsey spoke with reporters for the first time since sitting out of the Week 5 road loss against Illinois due to food poisoning.
“I’m good now,” Ramsey said when asked about the illness. “Glad I’m back, but yeah, I’m OK now.”
Head coach Lincoln Riley said on the Tuesday following the game that multiple players did not feel well but did not go into greater detail.
“It’s just part of road ball man,” Riley said. “No excuses. We’re not an excuse-making program and I’m not going to start.”
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