National Analyst Expresses Confidence in USC Trojans’ New-Look Receiver Room

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava can have a brand new set of receivers in 2026 with Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane off for the NFL.

In the Trojans’ first depth chart launched on Wednesday night time, freshmen receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Trent Mosley are each listed as starters.

“When there’s frequency of Dixon-Wyatt, Mosley’s name keeps coming up, I’m gonna trust,” stated On3 faculty soccer analyst JD Pickell. “On one hand you say there’s not as much proven, but on the other you’re like, there’s a lot of names here, and Lincoln Riley’s got three Biletnikoff winners, I think he knows what he’s looking at.”

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Dixon-Wyatt, a Mater Dei (Calif.) product, and Mosley, a Santa Margarita (Calif.) product each starred in the Trinity League, a premier highschool convention in Orange County that’s extensively considered the hardest in the nation.

Dixon-Wyatt was the leading receiver at Mater Dei each of the past two seasons, together with in 2024 once they have been topped nationwide champions after ending because the No. 1 highschool staff based on each outlet. From these in the 7v7 circuit and at Mater Dei, there was a large perception the Trojans received the perfect receiver from the nationwide powerhouse, which included Ohio State five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr.

Mosley rewrote the Trinity League and California hierarchy final season.Mosley guided Santa Margarita to an Open Division state championship, the very best division in California. They turned the primary college apart from Mater Dei or St. John Bosco to take action in a decade. He was named the MaxPreps California Player of the Year and a primary staff All-American.

“There’s extra insurance that there’s not going to be the same learning curve for a kid that played at a public school as there is for a kid that balled out in Trinity League and was playing against Power Four level defensive backs every week,” Pickell stated.

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Wide Receiver Room Outlook

USC has sophomores Corey Simms and Tanook Hines listed as starters on the skin reverse of Dixon-Wyatt.

Simms performed simply 22 snaps offensive snaps final season, 11 of which got here in the bowl recreation. He did nevertheless seem in 13 video games on particular groups, which paid dividends in his improvement. In yr two with large receiver coach Dennis Simmons, the 6-foot-3 St. Louis native was one of many largest risers in the spring and fall camp.

Hines began alongside Lemon and Lane final season and completed third on the staff in receptions and receivers. The Trojans receiver recently returned to practice last week after lacking all of spring and the primary couple of weeks of fall camp. Time will inform how a lot that factored into the choice.

Freshman Boobie Feaster is listed because the backup behind Dixon-Wyatt. The 17-year-old receiver from Texas enrolled the summer and quickly got acclimated to the offense. He will issue in closely this fall. Freshman Tron Baker, the primary commit in USC’s No. 1 class, is listed behind Simms and Hines.

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“We’ve seen freshmen receivers, with 7-on-7 and how much these kids are playing, it should be a smoother transition,” Pickell stated.

One title that was noticeably lacking is junior Terrell Anderson. The NC State switch has been banged up in fall camp. Trojans coach Lincoln Riley didn’t remark this week about who will likely be obtainable for the season opener towards San Jose State on Saturday, Aug. 29. But Anderson’s absence might be a very good indicator.

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This article was initially printed on www.si.com/faculty/usc as National Analyst Expresses Confidence in USC Trojans’ New-Look Receiver Room .