USC’s wide receiver room took a hit on Sept. 16, and now Lincoln Riley has to sort out the next man up.
True freshman Trent Mosley, who had looked ready-made from the jump, was listed as out on the Big Ten’s Availability Report ahead of the Trojans’ matchup with Rutgers. That comes after Mosley stacked three straight standout performances, including 100-yard games against San José State and Fresno State.
Riley didn’t sound like he was ruling anything out for the long haul, but he also wasn’t ready to give a firm timeline. “We'll just continue monitoring it.
Don't expect it to be extremely long-term, but still a little inconclusive at this time, depending on how he responds,” Riley said during his presser with reporters on Sept. 16.
With Mosley sidelined, USC will need production from somewhere else, especially with its first road trip of the 2026 season coming up as the Trojans try to climb in the top-25 rankings.
The most likely player to inherit a bigger role is Zacharyus Williams. He has been Mosley’s top backup through the first three games and already fought his way back from an injury to get onto USC’s two-deep for the 2026 roster.
Williams also has game experience from last season, when he played against Missouri State, Georgia Southern, Oregon, UCLA and in the Alamo Bowl against TCU. One of his biggest flashes came on a 61-yard catch against Georgia Southern and former USC coach Clay Helton.
At 6-2, Williams brings a bigger frame than Mosley, and he’s not short on reps either. The Carson native has already put together a pair of three-catch games this season against SJSU and Fresno State, and he added one reception for 44 yards on Sept. 12 against Louisiana. He looks like the first receiver USC will lean on as it heads to Piscataway, New Jersey.
Still, Williams isn’t the only option on the board. Riley has depth to work with, and Mosley’s absence opens the door for several other young receivers to see more of the field.
North Carolina State transfer Terrell Anderson is one name to watch. He was limited in the first two games because of his own ailment, then logged four snaps against Louisiana. USC expects him to stretch the field once he’s fully healthy, and his special teams value gives him another path to playing time while Mosley is out.
The Trojans could also turn to more freshmen. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is already one of the starting first-year wideouts, while Ethan “Boobie” Feaster and Tron Baker are both candidates to pick up extra snaps as well.
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