Why USC Enters Season with Most Talented Tight End Room Under Lincoln Riley

USC saw very little production from the tight end position in their first three seasons under Lincoln Riley. The complete opposite of what he had during his days at Oklahoma.

The Trojans coach was adamant about changing that. So, Riley hired former Colorado State coach Chad Savage in January of 2025 and the results were instant.

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Transfer Portal Recruiting Chad Savage Recruiting Mater Dei Mark Bowman Tucker Ashcraft Big Ten — 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 | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Lake McRee had a career-year in fifth season and Walker Lyons emerged in his second season. They became reliable targets for quarterback Jayden Maiava as the Trojans deployed more two tight end formations than at any other point in Riley’s tenure.

McRee and Lyons are both gone, but USC has retooled at the position and enter the 2026 campaign with their most talented group of tight ends under Riley.

“It’s exciting but it’s an opportunity for us to show what we’re capable of doing,” Savage said. “But obviously potential only means so much. You got to show up and compete and do your job and we want guys that are tough.

"They roll up their sleeves, go to work every single day and guys that play with that gritty mindset. If they can play like that, be physical blockers with a certain mindset and attitude and also help us in the pass game, we’re going to be okay.”

USC Trojans' New-Look Tight End Room

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Chad Savage Zion Anderson Travon Patterson Recruiting Spring Practice Visit Trent Mosley Recruit — USC Trojans inside receivers/tight ends coach Chad Savage | USC Trojans inside receivers/tight ends coach Chad Savage

It all starts with freshman Mark Bowman. A player the Trojans would have never landed without the hiring of Savage, who was relentless on the recruiting trail.

Bowman was highly coveted by every major program in the country. The five-star prospect from national powerhouse Mater Dei (Calif.) in Orange County drew comparisons to former Georgia All-American and current Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers throughout the recruiting process.

Bowman is the most talented tight end Riley has had since Mackey Award winner Mark Andrews at Oklahoma almost a decade ago. He is in line to be a day one starter.

“He’s consistent with his approach. He wants to get better,” Savage said.

Tucker Ashcraft comes over from Wisconsin and gives the room someone with multiple years of Big Ten experience. Ashcraft is a big tight end at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds that brings an old school mentality.

“I just want to be a dominant tight end,” Ashcraft said. “I want to go hit people right in the face and catch the ball.”

Ashcraft is a newcomer in the room but immediately stepped up as a leader upon his arrival in January.

“I think for him to just jump in as a transfer with his level of comfort to show that he is a leader, just shows what kind of person he is,” Savage said. “He’s got the leadership capabilities. He’s showing that every single day, not just amongst the team but also our position group. Fortunate that he’s on our roster. He’s a great person, he has the physical attributes that you want in a tight end.”

Josiah Jefferson was the No. 1 JUCO tight end in the 2026 class. Jefferson is still fairly new to football. The former basketball player played one year of football in high school. He’s still raw but has the benefit of learning from Savage.

Returning Tight Ends for USC

Nela Tupou continued to climb the depth chart during his true freshman season in 2025. By the regular season finale against UCLA, Tupou was the No. 3 tight end and played the most snaps at the position in the Alamo Bowl. He is line to the No. 3 tight end this season behind Bowman and Ashcraft.

“It's very beneficial being blessed with those reps,” Tupou said. “I just feel like it really did help for this year because I got to know the offense more. Got to work with the coaches more and spend more time with the people who are going to help me elevate to the next level.“

Carson Tabaracci is entering his fifth season with the program. After missing all of 2024 with an injury, Tabaracci saw action in 10 games last season and has had a good fall camp. Walter Matthews enters his third season and is a unique player in the room because of his 6-foot-6 and 305-pound frame. He added 20 pounds this offseason.

“Everything we do, we look at very closely,” Savage said. “Whether it’s our nutrition staff, with our strength staff, they look at all of that stuff very closely. He’s got the body type where he can just continue to eat. It’s not like it’s bad weight, he still moves very well. He’s got the strength behind him.”

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