USC is getting an early jump on one of the 2028 class’s more intriguing names, and the Trojans appear to have made a real impression already.
Four-star wide receiver Jayce Halasz, a Graham, Washington, standout, is drawing heavy attention across the country. He has 15 scholarship offers and counting, according to 247Sports, with multiple blue blood programs already in the mix. USC is among the schools that have jumped in, and the Trojans seem to have moved quickly into a strong position with the top-75 prospect.
Halasz told Collin Kennedy of 247Sports on July 29 that USC stood out to him right away.
"The Trojans are definitely special to me, too," Halasz said to Kennedy. "They can be pretty selective with who they recruit, if they recruit you they definitely want you for a reason."
That selectiveness is part of the appeal. USC wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons also left a strong mark on Halasz during his visit.
"I have a very good personal relationship with the receiver's coach over there. He's a great guy, and I like the way that he coaches.
I saw it my one time that I've been down there," Halasz told Kennedy. "The receiver development there, they just had a few receivers go to the NFL.
They definitely know what they're doing over there, and they develop your talent."
USC is looking ahead to a 2028 class that could mirror the strength of its 2026 group, and the Trojans have more scholarship distribution available for that cycle than they do for 2027. That means they can be aggressive early, and Halasz is already one of the names on the radar.
He’s more than just a receiver, too. At Graham-Kapowsin High last season, Halasz played 6-2 cornerback and broke up seven passes while grabbing one interception. On offense, though, he was the clear centerpiece: 64 catches, 1,019 yards and eight touchdowns.
The production matches the profile. Halasz has the kind of speed that can stretch a defense vertically, but he also shows strong body control and a second burst after the catch. He’s dangerous on screen passes, especially when he finds space and gets rolling.
That versatility gives USC options. The Trojans could target him as a yards-after-catch weapon in Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid attack, or even view him as a cornerback down the line if needed. Either way, he would bring value against future Big Ten wideouts such as Ohio State 2026 receiver commit Chris Henry Jr., Oregon five-star receiver signing Jalen Lott, and Indiana five-star commit Monshun Sales.
For now, though, the bigger draw is what Halasz can do on offense. USC seems to fit the style Riley likes, and if the Trojans make a serious push starting this fall, they could be in position to land an important early win in the Pacific Northwest.
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USCs defensive line looks a lot different this year, with returning pieces mixing alongside transfers and freshmen to create more depth and experience than the group had before. In that kind of setting, Abasiris blend of physicality and growing responsibility matters beyond his own snaps. The real question now is how much that expanded role can translate once the Trojans start leaning on this new-look front in games. [Read more 🡒]
