USC enters 2026 with no shortage of names that can move the needle, and Lincoln Riley has already made it clear he likes what he sees coming back. Jayden Maiava is back at quarterback, and experience returns everywhere else on offense, even after the departures of Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. Still, the Trojans have a handful of players who could lift the ceiling even higher if things click.
One of the biggest swing spots is up front, where redshirt senior Alani Noa Raymond is set to take on a bigger job. He may be the most versatile lineman in the group, having started at tackle before sliding inside to guard.
Now he’s expected to replace injured center Kilian O’Connor and hold down the middle. That means his timing with Maiava and the rest of the line matters even more.
Raymond told Lorenzo Reyna of USC Trojans on SI on Aug. 3 that he likes the challenge. "It's honestly fun to switch positions like that," Raymond said.
At receiver, Tanook Hines is expected to get more opportunities, but USC still needs someone who can help him threaten defenses down the field. Terrell Anderson, the North Carolina State transfer, fits that bill.
He arrives with an average of 16.1 yards per game from Raleigh and also brings value as a return man. Anderson has already seen plenty of high-end cornerback play, too, having faced future NFL defensive backs in Nohl Williams at Cal and Kansas City Chiefs, Avieon Terrell at Clemson and Atlanta Falcons, and former teammate Brandon Cisse before Cisse transferred to South Carolina and then landed with the Green Bay Packers.
The incoming freshman class also has a real chance to shape games all season long. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Ethan "Boobie" Feaster are both making noise at wideout, while running backs Deshonne Redeaux and Shahn Alston could give USC an early blend of speed and power.
But the newcomer with the best shot at piling up snaps may be five-star tight end Bowman. With Walker Lyons gone to BYU and Lake McCree gone to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the position needs a jolt.
Bowman, who drew comparisons to Arizona Cardinals tight end star Trey McBride before signing with USC, brings a 6-4 frame, strong footwork, sharp releases and run-after-catch ability. He can line up at wide receiver, too, and looks capable of leading the freshmen class in receptions.
Defensively, Riley has been upbeat about the depth at defensive tackle, saying the group can win plenty of one-on-one matchups and "have some of the mass to be able to anchor down against some of these bigger personnel groupings," as he said on Aug. 18.
Even so, Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeren stands out as the most important piece in that room. USC had trouble stopping the run last season, and the 6-2, 300-pound lineman appears to have been brought in to help fix that.
Riley’s confidence in him was clear when VanSumeren showed up at Big Ten Media Days in late July.
There’s also a big opportunity waiting at safety. With Bishop Fitzgerald gone, Urlacher has a chance to take over as the lead safety, even with Christian Pierce providing a more experienced presence.
Teams may avoid challenging Pierce, which could open the door for Urlacher to emerge as the coverage player and playmaker in the secondary. If that happens, USC will be showing it can reload at safety rather than rebuild.
In Other News...
USC Commit Quentin Hale Is Already Showing Why He Matters So Much
Quentin Hale wasted little time making his presence felt in the opening game of his senior season, turning seven catches into 159 yards and two touchdowns. The four-star wide receiver has already become one of the more important local commitments in USCs 2027 class, and his ranking as the No. 50 overall recruit and No. 8 receiver only adds to the buzz around what he can bring to the Trojans down the line.
For USC, Hales early-season outing is another reminder of why keeping top regional talent at home matters so much. He drew interest and offers from other programs before committing, and performances like this only strengthen the case that the Trojans have landed a player who can keep rising as the recruiting cycle unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
USC Fans Have Another Reason To Feel Proud Of Marqise Lee
Marqise Lee gave USC fans plenty to celebrate during his days in Cardinal and Gold, and now he has added something more enduring to his legacy. The former Trojans star, who played from 2011 to 2013, set school records and won the Biletnikoff Award in 2012 before moving on to the NFL, where the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him in 2014 and he spent six seasons.
Lee recently returned to campus in a different role, this time as a graduate instead of a playmaker. Completing his degree gives the USC community another reason to be proud of one of its most decorated alumni, a reminder that the programs biggest names can still finish what they started long after their final college game. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Polynesian Core Just Gave Fans Another Reason To Believe
USCs Polynesian pipeline is already drawing more attention this preseason, with quarterback Jayden Maiava and offensive linemen Alani Noa and Tauanuu landing on the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List. It is another sign of how much the Trojans are leaning on that group up front and behind center, and Maiavas inclusion comes with a little extra weight after he also showed up on several other preseason award lists and finished as a finalist for the Polynesian honor in 2025.
For USC, the watch list nod is less about ceremony than validation. Maiava enters the season with a growing national profile, while Noa and Tauanuu give the Trojans more representation on a list that recognizes Polynesian excellence across college football. The next checkpoint comes Dec. 8, when finalists will be announced, with the winner set to be revealed a week later on Dec. 15. [Read more 🡒]