“I Am Going Back”: Heartbreaking Captain Jonah Monheim Announces His Return to USC Trojans Football Due to His…

LOS ANGELES – USC offensive lineman Jonah Monheim was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the fifth pick of the seventh round (221^st overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Monheim is USC’s 533^rd all-time draftee. USC is second behind Notre Dame’s 538 for most NFL Draft picks all time.

Monheim is the 13^th Trojan offensive lineman drafted since 2010.

He is the first Trojan picked by the Jaguars since Jay Tufele was selected in the fourth round with the 106^th overall pick in 2021.

Monheim, the leader of the Trojan offensive line, was a steady presence for USC throughout the last 5 seasons (2020-24). He appeared in 52 games in his career, with 46 starts (18 games at right tackle, 12 games at left tackle, 12 at center, and 4 times at right guard).  He has 1 career tackle.

In 2024, Monheim transitioned to center and appeared in 12 games (all but Texas A&M), starting in all of them as a redshirt senior. Monheim’s performance at center earned him All-Big Ten Third Team honors. He was crucial to the success of the USC offense this season. USC finished the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation in passing offense (291.9) and No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the nation in total offense (437.2) and second in the Big Ten.

In 2023, Monheim started all 13 games on the offensive line as a redshirt junior. He started 12 times at left tackle and 1 time at right guard. He was named to the AP All-Pac-12 Second Team and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Fourth Team. Monheim’s offensive line was part of an offense that was ranked No. 3 in the nation in scoring offense (41.8) and No. 10 in the nation in total offense (467.6). The unit’s protection allowed quarterback Caleb Williams to rank in the top 10 in the nation in 8 different statistical categories.

Monheim started all 14 games on the offensive line as a redshirt sophomore in 2022. He started 11 times at right tackle and 3 times at right guard. He was named an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. He helped the Trojan offensive line unit to be selected as a Joe Moore Award Semifinalist. Per PFF, he was the No. 9 graded tackle in the nation in 2022. His pass blocking was a crucial piece of Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams’ outstanding performance to allow him to go 333-for-500 (.666) for 4,537 yards and 42 TDs in 2022. His run blocking allowed 5 different Trojans to score a total of 30 rushing TDs during the season.

In 2021, he saw action in all 12 games on the offensive line and on special teams as a redshirt freshman, starting the first 7 contests at right tackle (San Jose State, Stanford, Washington State, Oregon State, Colorado, Utah, Notre Dame).  He had 1 tackle (versus Oregon State).  When he and Courtland Ford both started against San Jose State in 2021, it marked the first time since at least 1984 when complete records are available that USC started freshmen at both tackle spots.

Monheim appeared in 1 game (seeing significant action against Washington State at right guard) as an offensive lineman as a first-year freshman in 2020.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in in Business Administration and a certificate in Gerontology at USC.  He earned placement on the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll.  In the spring of 2024, he was recognized as a David X. Marks Scholar for graduating with either a GPA of 3.0 or higher or having a GPA in the top 10% of his team and recording a cumulative 2.75 GPA or higher.

USC has a rich NFL Draft history. USC and Michigan are the only schools with an NFL draftee every year since 1939. USC has the longest active streak (24 years) with a player drafted in the Top 3 Rounds. USC has the most picks in the common draft era (1967), with 365 (next is Ohio State with 359 and Notre Dame with 324). USC’s 86 first round NFL draft picks are second most behind Ohio State’s 95.

Earlier today, running back Woddy Marks was selected by the Houston Texans as the 14^th pick of the fourth round (116^th overall). On Friday (April 25), USC cornerback Jaylin Smith was selected by the Houston Texans as the 33^rd pick of the third round (97^th overall).

The 2025 NFL Draft continues with the seventh round and final round on Saturday (April 26).