USC brought in the No. 1 recruiting class in college football last December, and one of the biggest names from that haul is already drawing attention before the season even gets going.
ESPN’s Billy Tucker recently named 51 true freshmen who are best positioned to help right away this fall, and USC offensive lineman Keenyi Pepe made the cut. Tucker’s evaluation was glowing, pointing to Pepe’s blend of size, movement and polish as reasons he could factor early for the Trojans.
“Pepe is USC's best offensive tackle recruit since ESPN introduced the rankings in 2006 and the highest-graded offensive tackle to reach campus since Chuma Edoga in 2015,” Tucker wrote. “Pepe has excellent size at 6-7, 330 pounds, light feet and savvy technique for being 19 years old.
Those are the building blocks for a long-term cornerstone left tackle. USC threw him into the fire in spring ball, getting Pepe reps at both tackle positions, and he could push for early playing time as a swing tackle.”
The path to snaps won’t be simple. USC returns its entire starting offensive line from last season, which makes it tough for any true freshman to break through at the position in 2026. But the picture shifted a bit with the season-ending injury to center Kilian O’Connor, which opened a starting job.
That leaves Pepe’s role worth watching closely this fall. The talent is there, and USC has already put him through work at both tackle spots. Now the question is how quickly that translates once the games start.
In Other News...
USC Practice Just Raised Two Big Questions About This Team
USCs 12th practice of camp came with the kind of energy Lincoln Riley has been looking for, but it also brought a few reminders that August is about more than just tempo and competition. The Trojans spent the day working at a high intensity, and one of the more notable developments was the arrival of a new crowd-noise setup on the practice fields, designed to mimic game-day conditions and force cleaner communication. Riley also pointed to the running game and the defensive front seven as areas worth watching, with the defense drawing praise for how it showed up in practice.
Kilian OConnors season-ending injury remains part of the conversation, though he is still around the program in a leadership and mentoring role. The other issue that will keep drawing attention is the kicking battle, where Ryon Sayeri and Caden Chittenden continue to compete for the job as USC sorts out the details heading into the season. Special teams often gets settled quietly, but for a team trying to eliminate mistakes in a louder, more demanding practice environment, those reps can matter just as much as anything else on the field. [Read more 🡒]
USC Receiver Battle Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Anyone Expected
USCs receiver room has been one of the more interesting spots in fall camp, and not just because of the usual August churn. The Trojans have mixed in transfer addition Terrell Anderson from NC State with a wave of freshmen, including Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley, Boobie Feaster and Tron Baker, and coaches have already had plenty to evaluate as they sort out who fits where in the offense. There has been enough early promise from the newcomers to suggest this is more than a depth exercise, especially for a group that is still trying to define its pecking order.
The intrigue only grows because the Trojans are still waiting on clarity with sophomore Tanook Hines as the opener approaches, which keeps the competition from feeling settled. With several young receivers flashing and roles still in flux, this has become one of those camp battles that can change a depth chart quickly and shape how USC wants to attack early in the season. Even before a snap is played, the room already feels like it could matter more than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]