USC spent the year setting up its 2026 recruiting class to hit the ground running, and now the Trojans are starting to see the payoff.
The staff believed it had landed one of the strongest recruiting cycles in recent memory, then doubled down by bringing in a new personnel group led by general manager Chad Bowden and several key assistant coaches. That push helped USC sign 34 recruits and finish with the No. 1 class.
The plan was never to let the newcomers drift into campus life cold. USC kept the class around the program throughout the spring and summer, bringing them back to campus repeatedly so they could get comfortable with the staff, the system and the future locker room.
Some even worked out with the coaches last summer. By the time they officially enrolled in January, the idea was for nothing to feel unfamiliar.
That approach was amplified by the sheer number of early arrivals. Thirty-two of USC’s 34 signees enrolled early, an unprecedented figure, and were able to take part in winter workouts under strength coach Trumain Carroll before moving into spring practice.
The group then went through another round of lifting and meetings before taking a break at the start of the summer. USC started spring practice the first week of March and wrapped it up on April 4, so the freshman class was already operating on an accelerated schedule well before fall camp opened.
Because college football now has only the single transfer portal window in January, the Trojans did not bring in any additional players after spring other than the two freshmen who enrolled in May. That has helped the roster stay tight-knit, and Riley said it showed once the team reconvened for fall camp.
“Guys really had a good summer. We came back in shape,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley.
“We’ve been able to push these guys. Probably go a little more the first couple of days than we have historically been able to do because of numbers and the condition they’re in.
Also, I think we’re feeling the effects of such a high percentage of our roster being here in the spring.
“It’s difficult for me to explain how different that is. Some of our coaches have coached a long time. We’ve never had anything close to the percentage of players that we had here in spring.”
USC signed the largest recruiting class in program history, and the real storyline now is how many of those freshmen can force their way onto the field right away. The Trojans return 15 starters and several important reserves, but this class was built with immediate help in mind.
At receiver, sophomore Tanook Hines is still out to open fall camp, which puts even more attention on freshmen Boobie Feaster, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Tron Baker. One of them could wind up starting. Trent Mosley is a strong candidate to open in the slot, while Mark Bowman is expected to be a day one starter at tight end.
Up front, USC brings back all five offensive line starters, but guard Breck Kolojay and tackle Keenyi Pepe are names to watch as camp unfolds. In the backfield, running backs Deshonne Redeaux and Shaun Alston add depth and are competing for early snaps.
Defensively, Luke Wafle has a real chance to start at defensive end from the outset. He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class, and defensive tackles Jaimeon Winfield and Tomuhini Topui are also positioned to be part of a deep rotation.
Two more freshmen worth tracking are linebacker Talanoa Ili and cornerback Elbert Hill, both of whom arrive with plenty of talent and veterans ahead of them but could still be difficult to keep off the field. Safety Madden Riordan has also turned heads after notable weight gain this summer.
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Lincoln Riley also gave Trojans fans a long-view glimpse they can file away for later, even as the present still feels very much under construction. The day covered the usual camp checkpoints, but the bigger takeaway was that USC is entering the season with a lot still to be answered, from how the roster fits together to which jobs are going to settle in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
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The challenge now is turning one breakout year into something more sustainable, especially with Waymond Jordan back healthy and ready to share the backfield. USC should have a real foundation up front, too, with all five starters back on an experienced offensive line, which gives the Trojans a chance to run the ball with more consistency than they have in a while. [Read more 🡒]