Latest news with #LincolnRiley
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football holds first practice of its 2025 preseason camp
USC football's 2025 preseason camp is officially underway! On Wednesday, the Trojans held their first official practice of the buildup to the coming season. This marks the start of a 4.5-week ramp-up period leading up to the season opener against Missouri State at the Coliseum exactly one month from Wednesday. The practice marked the first of 26 camp sessions for USC. Some of those will be open to the media, while others will be closed. Head coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn will both give interviews at least once per week, with other coaches and players potentially available to speak at various points throughout camp. 'Great first day,' Riley said following Wednesday's practice. 'Thought the staff, guys, really attacked it. Was really impressed with the conditioning level, discipline of the team coming out of the summer. 'Guys came in in shape, ready to go. We're pretty healthy right now.' The Trojans are coming off a year in which they finished 7-6 with a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. Heading into year two in the Big Ten, USC will look to demonstrate a significant improvement on the field in 2025.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Ohio State, USC, Oregon Battling For Commitment From Top Recruit In Oregon
When the USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks get into a recruiting battle for an elite West Coast recruit, chances are the player hails from California. That is not the case for one of the best players in the state of Oregon in the 2027 recruiting cycle, four-star cornerback Josiah Molden, who is an Oregon native. Molden is getting pursued by nearly every top program on the West Coast, including USC and Oregon. Molden spoke with Rivals about his recruitment and how the USC coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans stack up against the field. Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington are all pushing hard for Molden's commitment in addition to USC. The four-star recruit said that USC cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed has been recruiting hard for the Trojans. "They're also doing a great job," Molden said. "They're texting me and calling me a lot. I really love their DB coach. I feel like he meets all my standards and their defensive coordinator and how they play ball is amazing," Molden said. The No. 16 cornerback and No, 142 player in the country according to 247Sports Composite rankings, Molden is the top prospect hailing from the state of Oregon. USC hasn't recruited a ton of prospects from the Beaver State. The last time they signed an Oregon native was in the 2024 recruiting cycle when four-star tight end Joey Olsen signed with the Trojans. Although there's two college football seasons between now and when Molden will land on campus, On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine favors the Ducks to land the in-state prospect, giving Oregon a 29.7 percent chance of landing Molden. USC will have to keep their foot on the pedal if they want to go into the Pacific Northwest and land one of the top targets in the region. USC will have a chance to make a big impression on Molden as the two sides are attempting to hammer out a visit during the season according to Rivals. Molden has yet to make the trip out to Los Angeles. MORE: Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams Addresses Criticism, Accuracy At NFL Training Camp MORE: USC Trojans Receive Shocking Preseason Poll Ranking MORE: Big Ten Media Days' Biggest Winners, Losers: Lincoln Riley, Curt Cignetti, Matt Rhule MORE: USC Trojans Receiver Makai Lemon Teases More 'Explosive' Offense With Jayden Maiava USC has yet to add a commitment to their 2027 recruiting class, but are heavily in the mix for a handful of their top targets in the cycle. Similarly to their 2026 recruiting class, the Trojans have been aggressively recruiting the defensive backs in the 2027 recruiting cycle. In addition to Molden, USC has been going after a pair of four-star cornerbacks in Jailen Hill and Aaryn Washington, two California natives. Hill is the No. the No. 17 cornerback and No. 173 player in the country according to 247Sports Composite rankings. He currently attends from St. John Bosco, the same school USC 2026 commit Joshua Holland attends. Washington is the No. 4 cornerback and No. 19 player in the country. He is one of the Trojans' top targets in the 2027 recruiting cycle, regardless of position. This article was originally published on as Ohio State, USC, Oregon Battling For Commitment From Top Recruit In Oregon. Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lincoln Riley expresses confidence in Jayden Maiava
College football analysts view Jayden Maiava as a mediocre quarterback in the Big Ten, and even lower in college football as a whole. Lincoln Riley, however, has a lot of faith in his starter. Adrian Medina highlights Lincoln Riley's stance on his starting quarterback this season in the latest Sporting Tribune feature. "For the Trojans, their journey to the 2025 season begins in the city where they finished last year as Las Vegas Bowl champions, winning a tough game against Texas A&M with a final score of 35-31. Jayden Maiava, now entering his sophomore year as a Trojan, started at quarterback in the bowl game and showed out, throwing for 256 yards on a 56.4% completion rate (22/ 39) and four touchdowns. "His arm talent and his decisiveness in which he plays and how he sees things is really unique and has a chance to be really special," Riley stated on Maiava's talent at quarterback. "We have really focused in on two big areas this offseason, him continuing to find his voice as a leader, in which he's really grown and matured and has become comfortable with and I think the second for him, like a lot of young quarterbacks that we've had that become pretty solid players, is making sure that you're mistakes don't kill us." Maiava has experience as a starter, something a few starting quarterbacks ranked over him in the Big Ten don't have. In games Maiava started last year, he went 3-1 and had a 11-6 touchdown to interception ratio. Maiava needs to limit the interceptions, but that comes with more experience and playing with better timing. Another season under Riley should help him improve. Maiava has the same traits of the great quarterbacks Riley has coached. With the weapons Maiava has to throw to, Riley's great playcalling, and another year of cohesion for this offense, we could get yet another highly coveted Lincoln Riley quarterback. USC fans hope Maiava can put together a great season and change the narrative in LA. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lincoln Riley has belief in USC football quarterback Jayden Maiava
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lincoln Riley believes this year's Trojans have what it takes
The USC Trojans had a disappointing start to their tenure in the Big Ten last season. They finished 7-6 overall and had an abysmal 4-5 record in the conference. This was not the usual success we were accustomed to seeing from USC, even though the Trojans are in the Big Ten, the best conference in college football. The expectations were still higher. Lincoln Riley is confident with what he has in the building. He believes that this year will be different. Adrian Medina with the Sporting Tribune broke down Riley's recent comments on USC's depth this season. "Trojans Head Coach Lincoln Riley, entering his fourth year at USC, was confident about the team's sufficiency of depth and support during this year's Big 10 Media Day. It's very apparent that USC is extremely serious about making this football program and returning it back to being one of the greats of college football," Riley said in his opening statement at the podium. "With our current team, seeing how our roster has evolved on all sides, especially defensively, after the huge improvements that we've made a year ago. The championship-caliber depth that is starting to be established all across the board is something that we have all worked hard for." The Trojans have a better coaching staff now with the addition of former NFL defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. They also have a more experienced roster this season. Out of their 68 players, 44 of them saw some action last season, and 17 Trojans got a chance to start. That is the experience needed to help the Trojans be a more competitive team this season in the Big Ten. They can mix in the talented freshmen and transfers they have acquired. It is notable to see Lincoln Riley have confidence in the team he is fielding this year, but now the talk needs to turn into action and results. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lincoln Riley believes this year will be different with new USC roster
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lincoln Riley believes this year's Trojans have what it takes
The USC Trojans had a disappointing start to their tenure in the Big Ten last season. They finished 7-6 overall and had an abysmal 4-5 record in the conference. This was not the usual success we were accustomed to seeing from USC, even though the Trojans are in the Big Ten, the best conference in college football. The expectations were still higher. Lincoln Riley is confident with what he has in the building. He believes that this year will be different. Adrian Medina with the Sporting Tribune broke down Riley's recent comments on USC's depth this season. "Trojans Head Coach Lincoln Riley, entering his fourth year at USC, was confident about the team's sufficiency of depth and support during this year's Big 10 Media Day. It's very apparent that USC is extremely serious about making this football program and returning it back to being one of the greats of college football," Riley said in his opening statement at the podium. "With our current team, seeing how our roster has evolved on all sides, especially defensively, after the huge improvements that we've made a year ago. The championship-caliber depth that is starting to be established all across the board is something that we have all worked hard for." The Trojans have a better coaching staff now with the addition of former NFL defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. They also have a more experienced roster this season. Out of their 68 players, 44 of them saw some action last season, and 17 Trojans got a chance to start. That is the experience needed to help the Trojans be a more competitive team this season in the Big Ten. They can mix in the talented freshmen and transfers they have acquired. It is notable to see Lincoln Riley have confidence in the team he is fielding this year, but now the talk needs to turn into action and results.
