Madden Riordan came to USC as a kid living out a dream, and he’s already making himself hard to ignore in fall camp.
The freshman safety arrived on campus at about 155 pounds. By the start of camp, he had climbed to 180.
That added size has gone hand in hand with the kind of buzz that tends to follow a player who keeps showing up around the ball. Riordan is starting to look like one of those freshmen who can force his way into the conversation before anyone expected it.
At Sierra Canyon in Southern California, Riordan built his name over four seasons as a true ballhawk. His junior year stood out most, when he grabbed 10 interceptions against high-level competition. That knack for making plays has followed him to USC, where he has already turned heads in spring and now again in fall camp.
The momentum really picked up during a practice in the second week of spring, when Riordan forced multiple turnovers. Since then, the praise has kept coming.
He also stood out in the team’s scrimmage inside the Coliseum and benefited from extra reps in the spring because of injuries at safety. USC coach Lincoln Riley and safeties coach Paul Gonzales both came away impressed.
The Trojans recently highlighted him with a video of an interception in fall camp, another sign that the three-star recruit in the 2026 class has exceeded the label attached to him coming out of high school.
He may not be in line to start this season, but USC clearly sees value in what he brings. Riordan’s instincts and football IQ are the kind of traits that show up fast on Saturdays. He understands the game, processes quickly, and that allows him to play with confidence.
“He's a very smart player. For a young guy, he came in, he learned the scheme, and that's helped him to be able to play freely and play fast," said senior safety Christian Pierce.
"And of course, with that it creates plays. He showed that in the spring, and he's continuing to show that in the fall.
Looking for big things from him.”
Pierce is expected to be one of the safeties after taking over as a full-time starter last season, but the spot next to him remains one of the key questions in camp. Redshirt freshman Alex Graham and junior Kennedy Urlacher both kept their cards close to the vest at media day when asked about their positions for this season.
“Gonna have to wait first game to see,” Graham said.
Urlacher started at safety in the final three games last season, while Graham moved into nickel because of injuries at both spots. In the bowl game, Graham handled both nickel and safety duties. Based on coverage ability, safety would seem like the cleaner fit for Graham, especially with Pierce and Urlacher both better suited closer to the line of scrimmage than in a traditional deep role.
Still, USC won’t be handing out answers early. When the Trojans open the end of the month at home against San Jose State, the picture should become clearer. Prophet Brown is another name in the mix at nickel or safety, and redshirt sophomore Marquis Gallegos along with sophomore Dee Reddick will also be part of the depth at safety.
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Among them, the Notre Dame series still has a weight all its own, the kind of rivalry that refuses to lose its edge no matter how college football changes around it. USCs history with UCLA remains a defining West Coast measuring stick, especially through the Pete Carroll era, while Oregon has become a more current on-field annoyance. And then there is the NCAA, a rival in a very different sense, one that left its own mark on the program and still lingers in the background of how USC is remembered. [Read more 🡒]
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The timing makes the situation even more uncomfortable because the Trojans are heading toward a schedule that will demand answers quickly against strong defensive fronts. USC will have to sort through replacement options and settle the interior line before the pressure starts to rise, and the first real test of how ready that group is comes later in the month against Oregon. [Read more 🡒]