USC’s receiver room has already shown plenty of life, but it may still have another gear to hit.
The Trojans remain without promising transfer Terrell Anderson, and that absence has opened the door for younger players to make their case. One of the clearest beneficiaries so far has been Corey Simms, who looks capable of carving out a bigger role in an offense that already has plenty of options.
Simms was one of the players I flagged in a recent look at rising and falling stocks, and the reason is simple: he’s still getting overlooked. Even after a strong showing, he can slip under the radar because of the talent around him. But his skill set gives Jayden Maiava something valuable - a receiver with a big frame at 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. who can win contested catches and fight for extra yards.
That kind of profile matters in a room filled with smaller, faster receivers. Simms gives USC a different look, and that makes him a tough matchup for defenses.
He backed that up in Game 1, finishing with 4 catches for 42 yards. It wasn’t a one-off, either. He carried over the momentum from a strong camp and made the most of the chances that came his way.
The opportunity is there for him to keep climbing. Simms saw plenty of action in the opener, and he appears positioned to keep earning targets as Maiava continues building trust with the newer faces around him. With no clear timetable for Anderson’s return, Simms could end up becoming one of the quarterback’s top options.
For now, he’s a player on the rise, and another big game feels close.
In Other News...
Rutgers Fans Have One Bright Spot To Cling To After Week 1
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season produced an early leaderboard at receiver that already has a little of everything, from true freshmen making instant impressions to veteran targets reminding everyone how quickly an offense can tilt around one playmaker. Miami, USC, Rutgers and several other programs all showed up in the mix, giving the first rankings of the year a decidedly national feel and a good snapshot of which passing games already look ready to lean on their wideouts.
For USC, that early-company presence matters because it says something about the kind of offensive production the Trojans are trying to sustain right away, even as the week-one numbers also helped put Rutgers in an unexpectedly cheerful corner of the conversation. The Scarlet Knights at least have one bright spot to point to after the opening weekend, but the bigger question now is whether that early receiver buzz turns into something more durable once the schedule starts asking tougher questions. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Is Building Something USC May Need On The Road
Lincoln Riley has found a new sideline wrinkle at USC, and it is hard to miss. The Trojans have rolled out oversized red juice box props to help set the tone and keep the energy up during games, a quirky little touch that fits a team trying to build momentum early in the season. USC has opened with two wins and has continued to look comfortable at home, where the environment has generally matched the confidence the program has been trying to project.
The bigger test, of course, is away from the Coliseum, where the Trojans still need to prove that same edge travels. Jayden Maiavas recognition as Big Ten Player of the Week, along with the other honors he picked up after USCs shutout of Fresno State, only adds to the sense that the offense is settling in. The juice boxes may be a playful sideline detail, but they also hint at a team looking for anything that can help carry its identity beyond home field. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Maiava Is Raising USCs Ceiling Faster Than Anyone Expected
Jayden Maiavas start has given USC a jolt of momentum far earlier than many expected, and the early returns have been as efficient as they have been encouraging. Through the first two games, the quarterback has looked comfortable in Lincoln Rileys offense, and his sharp outing against Fresno State only added to the sense that the Trojans may have found a passing game that can stretch their ceiling.
Riley has already pointed to Maiavas grasp of the scheme and his arm talent as reasons for the quick rise, and the national attention is following along. FanDuel Sportsbook now has Maiava with the 10th-best Heisman odds, a sign of how quickly his profile is climbing even as USC settles into the season and tries to prove this fast start can hold up. [Read more 🡒]