USC’s fall camp is starting to sharpen the picture, and the biggest takeaway is clear: the Trojans are not waiting around for the season opener against San José State on Aug. 29 to sort out who matters. Veterans are settling into place, the freshman class is already forcing its way into the conversation, and a few position battles still have plenty of life left in them.
Up front, the offensive line has taken on a different shape after Kilian O’Connor’s season-ending injury. USC had been preparing to bring back all five starters from last season, but Tobias Raymond has now moved permanently to center.
Raymond, who started 13 games last year at guard and left tackle, had already been getting extended work at center in the spring while O’Connor recovered from the season-ending injury he suffered last season. Early in camp, Raymond took reps at both guard and center, but the switch to center is now locked in.
That fits the approach offensive line coach Zach Hanson has been pushing: build flexibility, keep the best five on the field, and make the group as deep as possible. The Trojans have the talent to make that work.
Hayden Treter, who opened last season at offensive tackle before making his first career start at guard in the bowl game, is moving toward a starting job in his third year. He’s lining up next to two-year starter Alani Noa, while Elijah Paige and Justin Tauanuu remain at left and right tackle, respectively.
Paige is a two-year starter, and Tauanuu started all 13 games last season.
That experience matters for quarterback Jayden Maiava, who was sacked just 15 times last season, third fewest in the Big Ten. It also matters for a run game that brings back its two leading rushers in Waymond Jordan and King Miller. Hanson has repeatedly said he wants his line to become a bully in the Big Ten, and if the Trojans stay healthy, that kind of group could show up in 2026.
There’s also help behind the starters. Elijah Vaikona has kept building on the momentum he created in the spring and now looks like a backup USC can trust at either tackle spot.
The freshman class is not being treated like decoration, either. USC will not rely only on first-year players, but several are already shaping the lineup, especially on offense.
Trent Mosley flashed immediately in spring and is expected to open as the slot receiver. He and fellow Trinity League receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt bring the kind of playmaking ability that can change a game quickly.
Dixon-Wyatt has continued to trend upward in fall camp and could crack the starting lineup in week 0, depending on sophomore Tanook Hines’ status.
At tight end, Dixon-Wyatt’s Mater Dei teammate Mark Bowman is already set for a day one starting role. Bowman has missed time in camp, but he is expected to be ready for the opener.
USC sees him as an athletic weapon who can be a security blanket for Maiava while also stressing defenses. Running back Deshonne Redeaux and guard Breck Kolojay, who has also missed time, add more important depth.
On defense, five-star end Luke Wafle has arrived with the kind of reputation that usually comes with being the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class, and he’s lived up to it so far. He’s pushing a pair of veterans for a starting job and should at least be a major part of the rotation. Inside, Tomuhini “TomTom” Topui has been one of camp’s biggest risers and is on track to play a meaningful rotational role.
Topui shares a high school background with Dixon-Wyatt and Bowman, and along with Mosley, they’ve become proof of how much USC is leaning on Trinity League recruiting.
Linebacker Talanoa Ili, who starred in the Trinity League for three seasons, drew strong reviews from Mike Ekeler in the spring and kept earning praise from veterans in fall camp. Ili is expected to be a key reserve behind returning starters Desman Stephens and Jadyn Walker.
The secondary is still sorting itself out, but there’s movement there too. Safety Madden Riordan stood out early in spring practice and has kept building on that momentum after adding 25 pounds since arriving on campus. Cornerback Elbert “Rock” Hill continues to rise as well and is a player to watch once the games begin.
Prophet Brown was supposed to start at nickel last season before a season-ending injury struck early in camp. He is back for his sixth season, looks noticeably stronger, and is building a case to start opposite Christian Pierce at safety.
Kennedy Urlacher, who started the final three games at safety in 2025, is shifting toward more nickel work this season. He’s competing with Alex Graham, who started the final three games at nickel last season, and both have also been working at safety.
There’s even a path for them to be on the field together in different packages.
At corner, Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams looks like a sure thing to start at one spot, while Chasen Johnson is trending toward the other after both returned from season-ending knee injuries last year. Marcelles Williams started 11 games last season and is still fighting to keep his role.
Hill, the No. 1 cornerback in the 2026 class, sits behind Williams on the depth chart and should get his chance early. RJ Sermons is also in the mix after showing flashes in camp.
The cornerback competition is far from settled, and it may not be resolved when the season starts.
In Other News...
USC Just Added A Big Ten Edge Fans Will Notice
USCs latest offseason upgrade is no longer just a rendering or a talking point. The Trojans officially opened the three-story Bloom Football Performance Center, a $225 million addition built to give the program a sharper edge in player performance and recovery, with fall camp already offering a first look at how the space can change the daily routine around the team.
Inside, the facility leans hard into the modern football arms race, with float beds, infrared therapy beds and AI-powered massage chairs among the recovery tools now available to players. It also gives media and recruits better practice viewing areas, and early feedback from players and coaches has been positive, with the new setup already drawing attention for the way it supports training and recovery. [Read more 🡒]
USC May Have A New Secondary Piece Gary Patterson Loves
Gary Patterson has built a reputation for bringing along defensive backs, and USC is again giving him a young piece with plenty to work with. True freshman Graham has been getting reps at both nickel and safety, a sign the staff sees more than just a depth option, and he has also been learning alongside veteran safeties Prophet Brown and Christian Pierce as he continues settling into the program.
The bigger picture for USC is the way Grahams growth fits into the secondary picture heading into his second year. He is already in the mix for the starting nickel role, while also helping the Trojans bring along the 2026 recruiting class, which says plenty about how quickly he has earned trust inside the room. For a defense looking to keep building under Patterson, his progression is one of those small but meaningful developments worth watching. [Read more 🡒]