USC Trojans Poised to Field Another Memorable Receiving Corps in 2026
With three of Jayden Maiava’s most prolific targets in 2025 headed for the 2026 NFL Draft, Lincoln Riley and his USC Trojans have endeavored to reload at the wide receiver and tight end positions. WR Makai Lemon is a projected first-round selection. Various mock drafts have WR Ja’Kobi Lane going in the second to fourth round. And, TE Lake McRee is forecast as a late-round selection.
Aided substantially by the transfer portal and their top-ranked 2026 recruiting class, the Trojans appear to be in position to keep their passing attack running on all cylinders as they embark on their third season in the Big Ten Conference.
A-List Departing Talent
The trio of Lemon, Lane and McRee accounted for the majority of USC’s offensive output in the passing game during the 2025 campaign, tallying 56 percent of the team’s receptions (158 out of 280), 61 percent of receiving yards (2,351 out of 3,848) and 73 percent of receiving touchdowns (19 out of 28).
Lemon, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, is the No. 11 overall prospect on Mel Kiper Jr.’s “Big Board.” Lane, USC’s second-leading receiver last season, stands 6-foot-4 and is regarded as a top-notch red zone target. McRee is rated by Kiper as the No. 8 tight end in this year’s draft class.
Key Returning Receivers
Sophomore WRs Tanook Hines and Corey Simms were both four-star recruits in USC’s 2025 class. Last year, they both played in all 13 games. As a recruit, Simms was rated by Rivals as the No. 2 player from the state of Missouri. As a true freshman, Hines hauled in 34 receptions for 561 yards and 2 TDs, with an impressive 16.5 yard-per-catch average. He shined in the Alamo Bowl, posting a career-high 163 receiving yards and looks to follow in the footsteps of legendary USC receivers.
Also returning is redshirt sophomore WR Zacharyus Williams who missed much of last season with an upper body injury. He is a promising former four-star recruit who played his freshman season at Utah before transferring to USC in the summer of 2025.
Help Via the Portal
Terrell Anderson transferred to USC in January, following two seasons with the North Carolina State Wolfpack, where the 6-foot-2 WR played in 26 games, recording 53 receptions for 787 yards and 6 TDs. He also returned punts for the Wolfpack. Anderson was a consensus top 50 player in the portal. For the Trojans, Anderson’s decision to play in Southern California was particularly sweet after Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers expressed interest in bringing him to Baton Rouge, La.
Standout True Frosh Receivers
USC’s top-rated 2026 recruiting class is chock full of receivers who could make a major impact right away. These highly-regarded newcomers include WRs Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley and Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, along with TE Mark Bowman.
Bowman and Dixon-Wyatt both played for perennial high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif. Bowman is a five-star recruit who may compete for starting time as a true freshman. Dixon-Wyatt was originally committed to Ohio State, but signed with the USC Trojans on Dec. 3, 2025.
Feaster, who hails from DeSoto, Texas, chose the Trojans over Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M. The 6-foot-1 pass catcher was ESPN’s No. 25 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle. He was impressed that USC wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons has coached CeeDee Lamb, Michael Crabtree and Jordan Addison.
Coach Riley has raved about Mosley, who played his high school ball at Santa Maragarita High School under the stewardship of former Trojan and Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. Riley praised Mosley’s impressive performance in early team practices.
While the USC Trojans and Maiava will undoubtedly miss Lemon, Lane and McRee, they appear well-positioned to continue their potent passing attack with this talented and highly-regarded group of incoming receivers as well as the solid returning triumvirate of Hines, Simms and Williams.
