USC freshman receiver Tron Baker has already found out how fast college football can hit back.
The No. 18 Trojans are trying to reset in Week 5 against Washington on Oct. 3 after falling to No.
18 Oregon, 41-27, in Week 4. Baker, who spoke with Trojans Live during game week, said the response starts with keeping the past where it belongs.
“You know, gotta get back up and just keep going. No matter what happens, you gotta get up, dust yourself off and look for the next battle up ahead. Because if you keep looking to the one that’s behind you, then you know, its no good,” Baker said.
For Baker, the first month of college ball has been a mix of gratitude, adjustment and a few hard lessons. Through five games, he has eight catches for 111 yards, and while his role has been modest, he has still flashed as a dependable target and a willing blocker.
“Overall, its been pretty awesome. No complaints here. Just grateful that I’m able to go out on the field and perform everyday.
"Coming in and working hard every single day,” Baker said about seeing the field as a true freshman. “You know, putting my best foot forward, believing myself and, you know, trusting my team.”
He also pointed to the speed and physicality as the biggest change from where he was before.
“It took a little bit to adjust. You know the speed, the size,” Baker said about the adjustment to college ball.
“Just the fact that you’re playing college football now, you take all those things... You know sometimes, it can get a little ahead of you, it takes a little bit [of time].”
And if there was one true “welcome to college football” moment, Baker didn’t hesitate.
“In the weight room, I’ll definitely say my first R.I.P. leg day. Yeah, that was something.
My legs felt like I couldn’t walk for a minute,” Baker said. “As far as on the field, I’ll say a practice.
We had this practice, one play I ran a route, safety came down - pow - got me. It was crazy.”
Baker also said the freshmen have benefited from the veterans around them, both in the receiver room and elsewhere on the roster.
“Honestly just having a good, supportive group of guys around you. Not just in the receiver room but overall great teammates.
Guys like Kilian O’Conner, guys like [Jayden Maiava]. Having a group of guys surround us to where they know that they believe in us and we believe in ourselves.
It definitely just helps and amplifies things.”
That youth movement has already shown up in USC’s passing game. From the 2026 recruiting class, Trent Mosley has become the top target with 13 receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns.
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has filled in during Mosley’s absence with 25 catches for 372 yards and three touchowns. Tight end Mark Bowman started slower as a receiver, but his blocking stood out early, and he now has 21 receptions for 204 yards and two scores.
Baker said the Trojans’ offensive approach can demand a lot behind the scenes, especially on the trick-play side.
“It kind of varies. But I mean as far as the reps, the amount of times we practice, its a lot, Baker said about his trick play versus Oregon.
"We got to get timing down, spacing, things like that. We got to talk about it.
So there’s definitely a lot that goes into it.”
When the ball comes his way, Baker says his biggest asset is the ability to line up in different spots and handle different jobs.
“As my strength I’ll probably say versatility. Versatility in being able to be put at this spot, be put at that spot, run this route, run this route. Just different things.”
His nickname has a bigger story behind it too. Baker’s full name is Ja'Myron Baker, but “Tron” came from a string of nicknames tied to his size and style.
“I got my nickname from Megatron [Calvin Johnson],” Baker said. “My first year playing tackle football I wore No.
- I had a coach...first he called my ‘Megatron,’ then he called by ‘RoboCop,’ then it was ‘Robo-Tron.’
Once I got older and the nickname was carrying so long, I just cut it short to ‘Tron.’”
As for his future, Baker isn’t ruling out a single-digit jersey number.
“I think I’m going to get a single digit. I’m not sure, I’m not sure. We’ll see.”
He also talked about a documentary idea he came up with alongside his mom, centered on the youth football team he played on in seventh and eighth grade.
“Something I came up with my mom. Its about my old youth football team that I played with seventh and eighth grade.
Kind of just follows the lives of the kids and what really goes into it. ‘Cause I mean, they’re an awesome youth football team.
They travel all across the country, play all these different teams. Really just follow and see what goes along with that.”
“One day, I think it was like Christmas break or something. I was walking down the stairs, talking with my mom and I was like ‘You know what mom, let’s do a documentary about it.
I feel like its pretty interesting. We ain’t got nothing else to do.’”
Off the field, Baker is studying journalism at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and he says he’s enjoying the classroom side too.
“Its good pretty good. Got some awesome teachers, teaching me some awesome things.
I’m excited to go to class everyday. Its pretty cool.”
And after football? Baker already has a plan.
“We’re going broadcaster,” Baker said about his post-football career.
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