2026 USC Trojans

[Phall]

Since 2006, USC has started 8, 6, 7, 5, 6, 6, 3, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5, 6, 3, 4, 4, 6, 8, 3, and 2 starters. In 2026, they project to start 4.

Despite a big program budget, Lincoln Riley’s teams haven’t really won any games they weren’t supposed to. His worst season over five years at Oklahoma was better than his best finish in four seasons at USC. His contract is probably still too big for him to be fired if this year goes sideways.

Five star freshman Mark Bowman skipped his senior year of high school to get a head start on his pro career. He’s projected to beat out Wisconsin transfer Tucker Ashcroft as starting tight end.

We’ve pondered the heritage of LT Elijah Paige the past couple of seasons. He’s cut his long hair, so I’m promoting him to white.

Backup QB Sam Huard is on his fourth school - his father and uncle were both NFL quarterbacks. His other uncle is on the USC coaching staff, but the team is hoping Lincoln Riley’s star colored boy doesn’t let Sam press the issue.

Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeran starts at nose tackle. True freshman DE Luke Wafle might crack the line rotation. VanSumeran’s older brother Ben is bouncing around the NFL. Wafle’s older brother Owen currently plays d-line for Duke.

Brian Urlacher’s mulatto son, who he sired with a black stripper, starts at safety.


Starters:
TE: Mark Bowman
LT: Elijah Paige
C: Killian O’Connor

NT: Alex VanSumeran


Backups:
QB: Sam Huard
TE: Tucker Ashcroft, Carson Tabaraci
OL: Hayden Treter, Aaron Dunn

DE: Luke Wafle

 

[Phall]

Immediately after posting, I read that Killian O'Connor is out for the season. Unless Treter kicks up, this total goes back down to 3.

 

[Truthteller]

Michigan State transfer Alex VanSumeran starts at nose tackle. True freshman DE Luke Wafle might crack the line rotation. VanSumeran’s older brother Ben is bouncing around the NFL. Wafle’s older brother Owen currently plays d-line for Duke.

Prior to each season, I try to (hope to) check all the F.B.S. rosters, at least a quick glance to see the faces. While checking out Luke Wafle, this stunned me...in a good way!:

Luke Wafle finished the 2026 recruiting cycle as the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation, according to Rivals.

Shades of Brian Cushing, who went from Jersey to U.S.C. as a 1st team high school All-American? Wafle might be rated higher than Cushing was. Hopefully, Wafle is being seen as "Bosa type" (both) .... High end NFL prospect, who will leave as soon as he's NFL eligible and be a high first round pick.

If one is wondering why he went to a very caste SoCal program, cash might be the reason:

NIL and Recruitment Details

• • Reported Value: Estimated at $2.2 to $2.6 million covering a multi-year agreement.
  • The Bidding Battle: Secured by USC over a late push and increased offer from Ohio State.

Rivals ranks USC signee Luke Wafle as No. 1 recruit in 2026 class

The Trojans are bringing in a player one site has listed as the No. 1 recruit in the country for the Class of 2026

trojanswire.usatoday.com

 

[jphoss]

You know it’s bad when Pete carroll’s teams had double the amount of starting whites!

 

[TwentyTwo]

Yeah Truthteller....watching the All American HS Bowl back in January ...immediately said "WHO IS THAT" on the D-Line???
Had the makings of a Future Starter in the NFL one day.....Luke Wafle Won MVP in the game!

Going to be difficult to keep Wafle off the field as a Freshman @ USC....Bosa a good comparison!

 

[Truthteller]

Yes, Twenty-Two, all indications point to Luke Wafle being very special, as long as he stays healthy. Supposedly, he went from a 4-star to 5-star after that all-star game. Should've been a slam-dunk 5 star (plus) all along!

I stopped watching these high-school all-star games years ago, because of the lack of Whites. I think the last one I watched had (then) Ohio State recruit Alex Anzalone and (then) Louisiana State recruit Trey Quinn playing. That was a while ago.

Hopefully the Bosa (brothers) comparison is accurate. Just the N.I.L. money he's getting, tells you how highly regarded he is....No way he should not be a starter right away. He's definitely a player to watch from Day 1.

So far, he's been "lights-out" for the Trojans and is clearly pushing to start: https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/st...-luke-wafle-freshman-huge-impact/91238939007/

Here's a snip-it from another Yahoo article. Nice to know the #1 recruit (Rivals) is also a "lunch-pail" type worker

Freshman defensive end Luke Wafle was the crown jewel of the Trojans No. 1 class in the 2026 cycle. Wafle, the No. 1 overall prospect in the class, made waves during winter workouts because of his workmanlike demeanor.

His 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame immediately catches the eye but the process behind it is more impressive. Penn State transfer Zuriah Fisher raved in the spring about his pro approach when it came to his diet and taking care of his body. During the teams Media Day earlier this month, it was his character that players were buzzing about.

On the field, the word alpha was used numerous times by sources in the spring. That momentum has carried into camp and he's a player that could be hard to keep out of the starting lineup to open the season.

P.S: The offensive line version of Luke Walfle (expected future high #1 pick) is University of Miami freshman (left tackle) Jackson Cantwell

 

[TwentyTwo]

Yes indeed Truthteller....USC needs this...even if its for nostalgia's sake

As a kid in the late 1980's can remember USC going thru a small-window White period with NFL caliber WRs Erik Affholter & Gary Wellman
+ RB Scott Lockwood
Those days are basically gone.

Will check..how's behemoth freshman Tackle @ 6'-8" 330lbs Jackson Cantwell doing in Miami Summer camp

 

[Leonardfan]

Riley is the archetype for the new generation caste cuck head coach. Pretty much every coach his age and younger all push the caste system to the extreme.

 

[Truthteller]

Riley is the archetype for the new generation caste cuck head coach. Pretty much every coach his age and younger all push the caste system to the extreme.

Leo, this is why the two White defensive lineman Riley brought in should be tracked seriously as NFL prospects. If they are good enough to be starting for such an odious Caste clown, at a prestigious football school, they must be NFL caliber, right? We know the freshman is? Kind of like the uber-Caste clown , who had the Bosa brothers at Ohio State before he left for the Jaguars. You know they were special, if they started right away for

Twenty-Two, USC was once a very special program, although they've had a lot down years in between the last several decades. Remember when Pete Carroll took over the declining program, Petros Papadakis had been their leading RB and team captain? Actually, I barely remember it, but Petros always talked about it during his Fox broadcasts. Was FSN's #1 analyst in his 20's....Now, about 49 years old, he is relegated to doing like Mountain West games (dark, dank stadiums and sparse crowds) that start at 10:30 PM? I assume Petros will revert back to the updated Pac-12 this season?

Scott Lockwood is famous for posting a 100 (plus) yard game (1992) for the Patriots as a rookie, then never taken another snap on offense in his criminally too short NFL career -- only played two more games after (special teams coverage?). Must've been simply devastating for him, as one would assume such a showing would lead to more chances as an NFL tailback?

Had Gary Wellman come around A.W.W. (After Wes Welker), around 2009 (or so), he could've had a very long and successful NFL career. He was a shorter slot-receiver, before shorter slot-receivers were accepted in the NFL. Or, at least, shorter White slots were accepted, as small black WR's were all too commonplace during his era?


P.S.: Reason two highly regarded White DL's chose USC, might have a lot thing to do with Gary Patterson (ex-TCU coach) accepting a job at SC. As I remember, Patterson seemed to somewhat fair with White athletes during his head coaching career. https://www.si.com/college/usc/foot...ource-before-final-college-season-nfl-brother

 

[Phall]

Let's go, Wafle family!