No. 14 USC’s updated depth chart for its Sept. 12 matchup with Louisiana did more than sort out the Trojans’ Week 2 rotation. It also put a couple of players in the spotlight, with their roles - and maybe their futures in the program - tied to how they handle the next stretch of snaps.
At tight end, the picture is crowded. USC listed four players for Week 2: Mark Bowman, Tucker Ashcraft, Carson Tabaracci and Taniela Tupou. Ashcraft and Tabaracci are tied with an “OR” designation for TE2 work, and Walter Matthews is the notable name left off the chart.
That omission stands out because Matthews arrived at Southern Cal with real recruiting juice. He was a four-star prospect, ranked by ESPN as the No. 2 tight end in the country, while Rivals had him at No. 11 and 247Sports slotted him No.
- At Hiram High School in Georgia, he put together a decorated prep career, earning First-Team honors three years in a row and finishing with 57 catches, 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.
His first two seasons haven’t produced much of a footprint on offense. Matthews didn’t play as a freshman in 2024, then appeared in 11 games in 2025 mostly on special teams. He was off the Week 1 and Week 0 lists as well, though he did get onto the field against Fresno State and came away with one catch for 12 yards.
What makes Matthews interesting is the body type. He’s listed at 6-6 and 305 pounds, a build that looks more like an offensive lineman than a traditional tight end.
But the athleticism is there, along with the kind of traits that can create problems for smaller defenders: separation, strong hands and the ability to win at the top of the catch point. He also earned second-team all-county honors on the basketball court.
A move away from tight end does not appear to be in the cards, especially with USC continuing to bring in high-end offensive line talent. For Matthews, the path is pretty clear: be a better blocker, because that’s part of what pushed Bowman ahead, and keep making something happen whenever he gets a chance as a receiver.
Ashcraft’s return, along with his extra year of eligibility, only makes the fight for snaps tougher. Depending on how the game unfolds, Matthews might only see a half or even a quarter.
Jadyn Walker is in a different battle, but the pressure is similar. His position group is getting deeper and more competitive, and Penn State transfer redshirt junior Ta’Mere Robinson is also in the mix for reps. Walker is not splitting starting work with a crowd, though - just one player.
His USC career has been about gradual growth. He didn’t play as a freshman, but Lincoln Riley spoke highly of him heading into his second year.
In 2025, Walker was on the field for all 13 games and started five of them, finishing with 33 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. That production came in a thinner linebacker room, which gave him room to expand his role.
This season is a different story.
Washington transfer Deven Bryant beat him out for the first two games, largely because of his experience and production. Against Fresno State, Bryant logged 46 defensive snaps and had four tackles, while Walker played 41 snaps and recorded two tackles.
The snap count itself is encouraging. Now Walker has to turn those chances into impact plays - tackles for loss, pressures and clean coverage reps.
If he starts stacking those kinds of snaps, USC will have a harder time keeping him out of every-down work. If he doesn’t separate, the Trojans have other options waiting, including freshmen Talanoa Ili, Shaun Scott and Taylor Johnson.
There’s also the possibility that Bryant and Desman Stephens II, the other starting backer, could decide to return for another year.
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