USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans DL Nick Figueroa

Adam Bradford, Trojans WireFri, Jul 10, 2026·1 min read

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.

Today marks day 50, meaning that we are now halfway through the countdown! Today, we look at former USC defensive lineman Nick Figueroa.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

Position: Defensive line

Years played at USC: 2019-2022

Career highlights: After redshirting at Cal Poly in 2017 and spending the 2018 season at the junior college level, Figueroa transferred to USC in 2019. He wore the No. 50 for his first three years at USC, before switching to the No. 99 ahead of his final season of eligibility in 2022. The number change proved to be effective, as Figueroa had a career year, recording 26 total tackles and 5.5 sacks.

For whatever reason, Figueroa loved playing against the Washington State Cougars. Of his 10 career sacks, five came in two games against Washington State. Wazzu fans were likely very happy when Figueroa graduated, as it mean that he would not be able to terrorize their quarterbacks anymore.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

After USC: Figueroa was not selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in real estate and subsequently pursued a master’s degree in finance while playing for the Trojans. Per his LindedIn, Figueroa currently works as an associate at Leonard Green & Partners.

Those who have been to USC know that one of the main entrances to campus is located on Figueroa Street. While we cannot confirm for certain, there does not appear to be any relation between Nick and the street.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans DL Nick Figueroa