USC’s pipeline to the NFL is showing up everywhere right now, but the headline names are headed in very different directions.
On Thursday night, Atlanta Falcons receiver and former Trojans star Drake London put together the kind of performance that grabs attention fast, hauling in nine catches for 194 yards against Green Bay. He did it without a touchdown, but in the Falcons’ 35-14 win, London still looked every bit like a prime-time difference maker.
That kind of night only adds to the growing case for USC as receiver factory, especially with London now in the same conversation as Detroit Lions standout Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown has kept rolling through two games with 209 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr. gives the Trojans’ “Wide Receiver University” case another boost even as Pittsburgh’s offense has had trouble building momentum.
London’s surge comes after Atlanta got quarterback Michael Penix back, and that matters. The former Trojan had a slow start to the season while the Falcons were using quarterback Cooper Rush to run the offense. With Penix back in the lineup, London finally had a chance to show what he can do when the ball is coming his way with more consistency.
Not every USC name in the league is in that kind of spot. Baltimore Ravens rookie Ja'Kobi Lane is on injured reserve after breaking his wrist in his NFL debut. Philadelphia rookie Makai Lemon is also trying to establish himself, and through two games with Jalen Hurts, he has four catches for nine total yards.
Then there’s Caleb Williams, the most watched former Trojan of them all right now. The Chicago Bears quarterback drew plenty of online jokes after his hamstring injury was reported to be less serious than first expected. Williams suffered a non-contact lower-body injury in Week 2 and was in tears as he was carted off, though he still managed to give Bears fans in attendance a thumbs up on the way out.
What looked at first like a potential season-altering injury has since been framed as week-to-week, which changed the conversation quickly. Williams could still miss time, but Chicago at least avoided the worst-case outcome. The Bears may also choose to be careful with him, especially with backup Tyson Bagent expected to miss Week 3 after suffering a concussion.
Chicago enters Week 3 with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 28, and the Bears are still trying to build around the former USC star under second-year coach Ben Johnson. For now, the biggest relief is simple: Williams’ injury does not appear to be the kind that ends a season.
In Other News...
USC Has One Real Edge In Its Biggest Test Yet
USCs biggest test of the season comes with a familiar kind of pressure: a trip into a game where the margin may come down to what happens before the snap. The Trojans are preparing for Oregon with defensive coordinator Gary Patterson at the center of the conversation, and the matchup against Ducks offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer has the feel of a chess match that could shape the entire night.
Linebacker Tate Romney pointed to the value of recognizing Oregons offensive line tendencies, a small edge that can help USC anticipate what is coming and get aligned faster. For a Trojans defense looking for any clean advantage in a high-stakes game, the coaching matchup may be just as important as the players on the field, and it is the one part of this showdown USC can reasonably trust to travel with them. [Read more 🡒]
USC's Oregon Test Could Reopen Lincoln Riley's Biggest Problem
USC has started this season looking a lot like the version that put together a promising record in 2023, piling up early wins before the schedule began to ask harder questions. The offense has done enough to keep the Trojans on track, but the conversation around Lincoln Riley is familiar, because the defense still looks like the part of the roster that can drag everything back toward the same old discomfort.
Now comes Oregon, and with it a chance to find out whether this group is actually different or just better equipped to survive the opening stretch. UCLA Wire editor Dylan McNeill has pointed to the offense as the clear strength, but recent defensive struggles have kept USC from shaking the concern that has followed Riley for most of his tenure. If the Trojans stumble again in a game like this, the noise around the program is going to get a lot louder. [Read more 🡒]
USC Receiver Depth Suddenly Matters A Lot More Before Oregon
USCs receiving room is suddenly under a brighter spotlight heading into the Oregon game, with Trent Mosley sidelined and unavailable for the matchup. That puts even more attention on the rest of Lincoln Rileys group, especially with the Trojans facing a test that can punish any slow start or thin rotation at one of the most important positions on the field.
Terrell Anderson has also been working through an injury, though he has been limited in practice while recovering and is expected to keep trending in the right direction. Riley acknowledged Andersons progress and made clear how important it is for USC to come out sharp against Oregon, a reminder that the Trojans may need depth, health and early execution all at once to stay on schedule. [Read more 🡒]