USC’s freshmen kept flashing against Fresno State, and the Trojans are already getting real production out of the 2026 recruiting class. Some of these true freshmen are looking less like future pieces and more like players who belong in the conversation right now.
On offense, the biggest sparks came from the skill guys. Trent Mosley continued to look like Jayden Maiava’s go-to option, finishing with 4 catches for 104 yards and helping fuel 2 touchdowns.
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt matched that kind of impact too, going for 6 catches and 102 yards while turning in what looked like a catch-of-the-week type of grab. The trust between Maiava and Wyatt is building fast, and it showed.
Jonas Williams also had a clean outing at quarterback, going 6-for-6 for 63 yards. It was a sharper, more polished showing for the freshman, who seems to be trending the right way in his development.
The backfield freshmen each had limited work, but both still made their presence felt. Deshonne Redeaux got only 2 carries, finishing with 7 yards, but he still used his speed to run away from defenders and reach the end zone. Shahn Alston was productive on a small sample too, logging 4 carries for 20 yards and a 5.0 yards-per-carry average.
There were smaller moments, but they still mattered. Tron Baker caught his lone target for 27 yards, showing again that he can make something happen when the ball comes his way. Ethan Feaster had a quieter night with 1 catch for 4 yards, though he continues to do the things USC needs even when the numbers stay modest.
At tight end, Mark Bowman saw a little more involvement and finished with 3 catches for 30 yards. He showed more after the catch and gave USC a reminder that he brings more than just blocking to the table.
On the defensive side, USC kept rotating its freshmen in and letting them grow into the game. Tomuhini Topui had 1 tackle as he picked up valuable experience in the interior.
Luke Wafle posted 2 total tackles and kept flashing disruption even without his first sack of the season. Simote Katoanga added 1 tackle and continues to stand out as a long, intriguing piece on the defensive line.
Talanoa Ili chipped in 3 total tackles and remains a reliable presence, especially on special teams.
The freshman class is not just filling space. Week after week, it keeps showing why USC fans have plenty to watch.
In Other News...
USC Is In The Mix For A Five-Star Receiver Battle
Braylon Clarks recruitment is already shaping up as one of the early national battles in the 2028 cycle, and USC has a real seat at the table. The five-star receiver from Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, trimmed his list to 12 schools, with the Trojans standing out as the only California program still in the mix. Ranked highly by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports, Clark has the kind of profile that can shift how a future receiver room looks in a hurry.
USC is hardly alone in chasing him, though, and that is what makes this one worth watching. Miami, Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana are all among the programs still involved, turning the pursuit into a cross-country fight for one of the classs marquee pass catchers. For the Trojans, landing Clark would not just be another recruiting win, it would be a clear statement about how far their national reach still extends. [Read more 🡒]
USC's Young Playmakers Are Emerging Fast Around Jayden Maiava
USCs second game of the 2026 season offered another look at how quickly Jayden Maiava is growing into the center of the offense, but it also showed how much help he is getting from a young supporting cast. The Trojans had useful performances across the roster, with Trent Mosley, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Jadyn Ramos all making their presence felt on offense, while Jide Abasiri, Kennedy Urlacher and Alex Graham added meaningful snaps and production on the other side of the ball.
For a team trying to establish an identity early, the encouraging part is how many first- and second-year contributors are already shaping games in different ways. Not every young Trojan had the same kind of impact, with Boobie Feaster and Tanook Hines quieter than some of their classmates, but the bigger picture is hard to miss: USC is getting faster development around Maiava, and that kind of balance can matter long before the schedule gets serious. [Read more 🡒]
USC Gets A Trickier Test Than Fans May Expect From Louisiana
Louisiana opened its 2026 season with a reminder that USC cannot simply treat this as a routine nonconference tuneup. The Cajuns rolled past Lamar, piled up 474 yards of total offense and did all of their scoring on the ground, a physical formula that says plenty about the challenge ahead for a Trojans defense trying to stay sharp early in the year. Quarterback Lunch Winfield and receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. headline a roster that also sent several players onto the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, giving the group more credibility than a typical lower-division warmup opponent.
The broader oddity in Louisiana's schedule only adds to the intrigue for USC, because the Cajuns are set to play at the Coliseum and later at Georgia State, making them the first NCAA football team to visit two Olympic stadiums in the same season. For the Trojans, the matchup is not just about avoiding a surprise, but about handling a disciplined, opportunistic team that already showed it can lean on the run game and make opponents pay when they lose control of the game. [Read more 🡒]