USC’s 2026 NFL draft picture already has some shape to it after one game, and Week 0 against San Jose State gave a few Trojans a chance to help themselves while leaving others with work to do.
Jayden Maiava made the strongest opening statement. He opened the season with an impressive showing, and his ability to take command of a young USC offense matters for his pro outlook.
Maiava has the kind of arm strength and arm talent that jumps off the field, and he can run a pro-style offense. Right now, he looks like a late first-round or early second-round pick, though a Heisman-level season could push him higher in the quarterback rankings.
Waymond Jordan also came out of the opener with a profile that fits the NFL. He’s a physical runner with some burst, the sort of back who can keep pounding away for three downs.
The comparison to Ashton Jeanty is real, and if Jordan had been healthy last season, he likely would have entered the draft already. Even with a shared workload this year, he should produce, and at his best he projects as a third-round pick.
The lighter wear on his body could work in his favor if he finishes healthy.
On the offensive line, Elijah Paige still looks like one of USC’s best draft bets. He has the size and build to develop into a franchise left tackle, and when he’s healthy, he changes things for the Trojans.
He’s a good athlete and keeps Maiava protected at a steady rate. With a big season, Paige has first-round potential.
For now, he sits in that early Day 2 range.
Not every Trojan boosted his stock in the opener. Kam Crawford, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end, had a rough start.
He has the frame NFL teams want, but he needs the production to match it. Last season’s jump to 5.5 sacks showed what he can do, and he’ll need another step forward if he wants to climb beyond Day 2.
Otherwise, the UDFA conversation gets louder fast.
Jontez Williams is in a similar spot after Game 1. When he’s playing like he did in 2024, he has a real chance to go in the second or third round.
His ball skills and versatility give him a skill set NFL teams value, and the Texans would be eager to call if that version shows up. But if this season looks like his first game, he slides into Day 3 territory.
Christian Pierce at least got a busy first outing, finishing with 6 tackles total. He fits the mold of the kind of USC safety who can make it to the next level, and he brings a vocal veteran presence to the defense.
There’s still room to clean up parts of his game, but for now he profiles as a draft sleeper and a 7th-round prospect. If he breaks out, that ceiling can move into early Day 3.
Alex VanSumeren remains more of a sleeper than a sure thing. The Michigan State transfer needs more pass-rush production to get real traction, even though he already has value as a run defender.
If he can put together a strong stretch and finish with around 2 sacks, his stock could move from the 5th-7th round into something more interesting. As it stands, he’s being viewed in the 7th-round range, and the next few weeks will matter a lot.
USC has plenty of season left, but after one game, the draft board already has a few names worth watching closely.
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JuJu Watkins is back on the floor for USC after recovering from the ACL injury she sustained in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and that alone changes the conversation around the Trojans as they head into the new season. Her return gives USC its senior star back, but it also puts a spotlight on how the offense will look now that Watkins is rejoining a backcourt that learned to thrive without her.
Jazzy Davidson made the most of that window, putting together a standout freshman season and collecting multiple national awards along the way. Now the Trojans have two high-usage guards expected to share the court, which makes their fit one of the biggest questions on campus: how much the ball is in each players hands, how their styles complement each other, and whether USC can make both stars fully effective at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Former USC Staffer Brings A Real Coliseum Test For The Trojans
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USCs Opener Put A Young Trojan At The Center Of Attention
USCs 42-26 win over San Jose State in the season opener had plenty to unpack on offense, but one of the quieter subplots was how quickly Trent Mosley became impossible to ignore. Pro Football Focus individual grades painted a picture of a Trojans attack that had multiple contributors at the Coliseum, with quarterback Jayden Maiava among the players reviewed in detail, but Mosley landed at the top of the board.
The 90.7 grade attached to Mosley stands out not just because it was the highest mark on the offense, but because it came in a game where USC had enough production to spread the spotlight around. For a young Trojan, that kind of opening-night attention is often the first sign of a role expanding, and it gives the coaching staff something useful to sort through as the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]