Freshman Receiver Making Strong First Impression on USC Trojans Veterans

USC freshman receiver Trent Mosley was moving at a different speed than the rest of the competition during Santa Margarita’s (Calif.) state championship run this past fall.

He put up mind-boggling numbers in the CIF Southern Section Division I Championship Game against Corona Centennial (Calif.) and then again in the Open Division state championship against De La Salle, where he caught 21 receptions for 482 yards and accounted for seven total touchdowns in those two games.

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Recruiting Class Santa Margarita Tron Baker CIF College Football Trent Mosley Spring Practice — Sep 27, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before an NCAA football game with the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Mosley racked up the accolades, which included being named the California MaxPreps Player of the Year and first team MaxPreps All-American honors, and shifted the Trinity League hierarchy in the process. A conference that had seen Mater Dei or St. John Bosco win every CIF Southern Section Division I Championship and reach the state championship every year since 2016.

The transition from high school to college has been seamless for the local four-star recruit. And his play so far has caught the attention of the veterans on the team. When asked about which player has been the most impressive on the offensive side of the ball, redshirt sophomore linebacker Elijah Newby pointed to Mosley.

“I can already say his speed and him being agile is like something I haven't seen out of a receiver, especially that young,” Newby said. “He already understands stemming. He already understand hand fighting. I'm very excited for Trent Mosley.”

Finding a Role as a True Freshman

USC is starting to see some of the benefits of recruiting the state of California at a high level, specifically from the Trinity League. It’s a wave of recruits that have come in and hit the ground running this spring.

With star receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane head off to the NFL, and five of his top six pass-catchers from last season gone, quarterback Jayden Maiava is in need of some weapons to emerge.

Mosley is making his case this spring to replace Lemon in the slot. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound local star has drawn comparisons to the Trojans Biletnikoff Award winner for various reasons. For starters, they both come from Orange County.

They play much bigger than their size and can be incredibly dynamic with the ball in their hands. Expect Mosley to be a factor in the return game as well just like Lemon. From watching Mosley during the media viewing periods, everything he does is smooth. He glides when he runs and has unbelievable concentration and ball tracking ability.

Becoming the Next Great SoCal Receiver

The Trojans have had some great receivers that are from Southern California in recent memory, which include Lemon, Robert Woods, Amon-Ra St. Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Drake London and Marqise Lee, the program’s first Biletnikoff Award winner in 2012.

Is Mosley the next one in line to join that list?

He’s not the only local receiver USC signed in the 2026 class on campus this spring. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Tron Baker and Luc Weaver have received their own admiration this spring. Baker has generated a ton of buzz over the past couple of weeks.

“He's very smart. He works really hard at it and is just kind of always there, always competing. As a young guy, it's been nice to see that,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley.

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