Lincoln Riley had some good news to share before USC’s matchup with Louisiana, and it could start to change the look of the Trojans’ depth chart.
During his Sept. 10 press conference, Riley said several players are moving in the right direction and have a chance to get back on the field Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“I think the guys that are definitely trending well and have a shot to play Saturday. (Tucker) Ashcraft is going to have some shot to play today.
Jahkeem (Stewart)'s going to have a shot to play some Saturday. Peyton Dyer's going to have a chance to play some on Saturday.
He hasn't been quite ready, but he's getting close. Marquis Gallegos is going to have a chance to play some on Saturday, so we definitely got some guys back,” said Riley.
Stewart is the biggest name in that group. The 6-5 defender has been dealing with a lingering foot injury, which kept him out against San José State and even had him trying to warm up against Fresno State while still wearing a walking boot. USC chose to hold him out, and the Trojans still cruised to a 39-0 shutout.
Riley also offered an update on wide receiver Terrell Anderson, who has yet to make his USC debut after transferring from North Carolina State. Anderson is getting closer to seeing the field, and Riley said that could include some route work against Louisiana.
That would give USC another vertical threat in a receiver room that already has true freshman Trent Mosley emerging as a breakout player and Tanook Hines back in the mix for the Fresno State game. Anderson would also bring value on special teams as a return man.
Even with those injury developments, USC is not making wholesale changes at the top of the depth chart. Jayden Maiava remains the starting quarterback, while Mosley, fellow true freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Hines are listed as starters at receiver.
The offensive line also stays the same heading into the 8 p.m. PT kickoff on Saturday, Sept.
There were, however, a few changes in the two-deep. Gallegos is now listed as an “or” with freshman Madden Riordan at one of the safety spots. Riordan had already been serving as a backup for two positions in USC’s five-man defensive back look.
Another shift came on the edge, where veteran Braylan Shelby is now behind true freshman Luke Wafle. Shelby has not yet earned snaps this season.
On special teams, long snapper Dylan Black is no longer on the depth chart. Riley said Black has not been in full pads for the first two games because of a medical issue, which is why USC added transfer Caleb Moser after Labor Day for depth.
In Other News...
USC's Most Recognizable Tradition Takes More Work Than Fans Realize
Traveler XI is getting ready for another season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the famous USC entrance that fans know so well depends on far more than showmanship. Joanne Asman, who has cared for the Trojan horses for 24 years, spends months building trust and teaching each animal how to handle the noise, movement and unpredictability that come with game day. It is a behind-the-scenes routine that turns one of college footballs most recognizable traditions into a carefully managed piece of pageantry.
The Traveler program is sustained by an endowment from the Tilley family and relies on multiple horses who take part in different appearances and events, not just the Saturday spotlight. For USC, that means the tradition is both a symbol and a responsibility, with every new horse needing time, patience and the right kind of preparation before it can step into such a visible role. The payoff is the same iconic scene, even if the work to get there is anything but simple. [Read more 🡒]
Gary Patterson Has USC Defenders Believing In Something Different
Gary Pattersons arrival has given USCs defense a different kind of edge, one that linebacker Deven Bryant said starts with how the new defensive coordinator leads and communicates. For a unit trying to settle into a new standard, that kind of clarity matters, and Bryant pointed to the way Patterson has helped the Trojans feel more connected to what they are doing on every snap.
As USC gets ready for Louisiana, the focus is as much on cohesion as it is on talent. Bryant emphasized how important it is for everyone on the defense to understand their roles and trust the structure around them, a sign the Trojans believe their best football will come from collective buy-in rather than individual effort alone. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Run Game Has An Early Problem Lincoln Riley Cant Ignore
USCs ground game has already become a storyline in the first two weeks of the 2025 season, and not the kind Lincoln Riley wanted to be managing this early. Waymond Jordan and King Miller have both had trouble turning carries into the kind of steady, explosive production the Trojans need, even with an offensive line that has generally done its part. Riley pointed to small breakdowns in the run game rather than one major issue, which is often how these things show up in September before they snowball into something harder to fix.
For a team trying to hold up in the Big Ten, the concerns go beyond a few wasted snaps. Riley has been clear that USC needs balance to be effective in its new league, and the backfield has not yet given him that comfort. Freshman Deshonne Redeaux has flashed enough in limited work to make the picture a little more interesting, and his role could grow if the current mix keeps leaving yards on the field. [Read more 🡒]