​Countdown to kickoff is returning as USC prepares to begin its 2026 football season on August 29, with the Trojans hosting San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we’ll count down the days to the season opener by spotlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. With 48 days remaining, today’s focus is on former USC kicker Andre Heidari.
Position: Kicker
Years at USC: 2011-2014
Career highlights: Heidari joined USC in 2011 and won the starting kicking job as a true freshman, maintaining that role through his four-year tenure. His strongest statistical season came during his freshman year, when he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after converting 88.2% of his field goal attempts. Yet Heidari is most remembered for clutch, game-winning kicks against rival Stanford in both 2013 and 2014. In the 2013 home game at the Coliseum, he drilled a 47-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to give USC a 20-17 victory over the No. 4 Cardinal. The following year at Stanford Stadium, he delivered again, nailing a 53-yard field goal with 2:30 remaining to secure a 13-10 win in a top-15 showdown.
An additional fun fact about Heidari: He scored the first ever points in the Pac-12 Conference, opening USC’s 2011 game against Utah with a field goal.
After USC: Heidari went undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. Following a brief stint in the Arena Football League, he transitioned to the recruiting field, where he has helped high school football players gain visibility with colleges.
For updates on USC Trojan news, notes, and analysis, follow Trojans Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire as part of the USC countdown to kickoff series, highlighting Trojans kicker Andre Heidari for SEO purposes.