USC got the ball rolling in its 2028 class with Frisco (Texas) Lone Star three-star quarterback Trey Wright, who announced his commitment to the Trojans on social media.
Wright picked USC over Oregon, Kentucky, SMU and Arizona, and he made the moment feel personal in his own words: "All glory to God. Blessed beyond words to be in this position.
The next chapter starts now. USC Nation, let's get to it.
Fight On!!!"
Lincoln Riley and USC made Wright a priority early. He was the only quarterback the Trojans offered in the 2028 class after Riley extended the scholarship on Aug. 8, a continuation of how carefully the staff has handled quarterback recruiting.
That approach has been consistent. USC also offered only one quarterback in the 2027 class, and Wright was the clear target in 2028.
Wright’s production as a sophomore was impossible to ignore. In 2025, he piled up a nation-leading 5,826 total yards while helping his team reach the Class 5A UIL state championship game.
He passed for 4,062 yards and 43 touchdowns, and added 1,798 rushing yards with 16 more scores. Those numbers earned him MaxPreps Sophomore first team All-American honors.
At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Wright brings a style that draws a Kyler Murray comparison, especially since Murray was another Texas native who won a Heisman Trophy under Riley at Oklahoma in 2018. Wright has the arm talent to attack deep, and he does it with accuracy and touch. He can work from the pocket or extend plays when things break down, which fits the kind of improvisation Riley has leaned on before.
He’s more than just a quarterback, too. Wright is one of the best pure athletes in his class regardless of position, and he also stands out on the basketball court with Division I offers.
For now, he’s still rated as a three-star heading into his junior year, but another big season in Texas could keep pushing his recruiting stock upward.
USC already signed four-star quarterback Jonas Williams in the 2026 class and will not take a quarterback in 2027.
Beyond Wright, the Trojans are also tracking a few local names. Mater Dei four-star safety Ace Leutele and Corona Centennial three-star running back Malaki Davis are both worth watching.
Leutele has long been connected to USC. He grew up tailgating and attending games at the Coliseum while watching older cousins play, and he has remained a regular on campus over the last few years. That familiarity has helped him build strong relationships with staff members, especially Coach Dogg, Aaron Amaama, who has an older brother complex with all the Polynesian players.
USC has also reestablished a strong link with Mater Dei. Four freshmen on the roster come from the national powerhouse, the Trojans have a commitment from 2027 four-star cornerback Danny Lang, and IMG Academy four-star cornerback commit Aaryn Washington previously starred at Mater Dei before transferring earlier this year. Leutele was part of that same group that won a national championship in 2024.
He has been open about his interest in USC and the idea of joining former teammates in Los Angeles, and being close to home matters as well.
That same factor is in play for Davis. He has visited USC at least four times this year, and the Trojans were the only school he saw in the summer.
Running back coach Anthony Jones has also been a steady presence, visiting Davis three times this year. Their relationship is strong, and Davis has noticed that Jones makes a point of connecting with his family, too.
Davis has spent time at the Coliseum for multiple games last season and plans to be back often this fall. He also recently connected with one of his idols, former USC Heisman Trophy winning running back Marcus Allen.
Another local recruit to keep on the radar is St. John Bosco four-star IOL Elisha Mueller.
In Other News...
USC Practice Just Raised Two Big Questions About This Team
USCs 12th practice of camp came with the kind of energy Lincoln Riley has been looking for, but it also brought a few reminders that August is about more than just tempo and competition. The Trojans spent the day working at a high intensity, and one of the more notable developments was the arrival of a new crowd-noise setup on the practice fields, designed to mimic game-day conditions and force cleaner communication. Riley also pointed to the running game and the defensive front seven as areas worth watching, with the defense drawing praise for how it showed up in practice.
Kilian OConnors season-ending injury remains part of the conversation, though he is still around the program in a leadership and mentoring role. The other issue that will keep drawing attention is the kicking battle, where Ryon Sayeri and Caden Chittenden continue to compete for the job as USC sorts out the details heading into the season. Special teams often gets settled quietly, but for a team trying to eliminate mistakes in a louder, more demanding practice environment, those reps can matter just as much as anything else on the field. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshman Keenyi Pepe Suddenly Has A Real Path To Early Snaps
USCs loaded signing class from last December was always going to create some chatter about who might get on the field early, and freshman offensive lineman Keenyi Pepe has suddenly moved into that conversation. ESPN analyst Billy Tucker recently put Pepe among the top true freshmen with a chance to make an impact this season, pointing to the kind of size and technique that can get a young lineman noticed quickly once camp and depth-chart battles begin.
The door to playing time has also widened at center, where a spot has opened up and changed the equation for the Trojans up front. For Pepe, that does not guarantee anything, but it does create a more realistic path than most freshmen have when they arrive in a room full of older bodies and established roles, and it is exactly the sort of development USC will be watching closely as fall approaches. [Read more 🡒]
USC Receiver Battle Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Anyone Expected
USCs receiver room has been one of the more interesting spots in fall camp, and not just because of the usual August churn. The Trojans have mixed in transfer addition Terrell Anderson from NC State with a wave of freshmen, including Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley, Boobie Feaster and Tron Baker, and coaches have already had plenty to evaluate as they sort out who fits where in the offense. There has been enough early promise from the newcomers to suggest this is more than a depth exercise, especially for a group that is still trying to define its pecking order.
The intrigue only grows because the Trojans are still waiting on clarity with sophomore Tanook Hines as the opener approaches, which keeps the competition from feeling settled. With several young receivers flashing and roles still in flux, this has become one of those camp battles that can change a depth chart quickly and shape how USC wants to attack early in the season. Even before a snap is played, the room already feels like it could matter more than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]