USC freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut Saturday, catching seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Trojans' 42-26 victory over San Jose State. His performance drew praise from teammates and coaches, with some already anointing him a potential star.
Mosley's 118 receiving yards in his first game mark the most by a USC freshman since JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2014. The freshman also showcased his big-play ability on special teams, returning a punt 41 yards in the first quarter. This electrifying return, which included breaking multiple tackles, energized the crowd and his teammates.
"That kid moves differently. I mean, he's special," running back King Miller said after the game. Former USC safety and current analyst Su’a Kristopher Cravens tweeted that Mosley "will be a monster at returner!!" and that fans had only seen a glimpse of his capabilities.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava expressed growing trust in Mosley, noting that the freshman repeatedly made clutch catches on his passes. Maiava completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the contest.
"Every time he caught the ball [after] I threw it to him, that trust just got a lot deeper," Maiava said. Mosley finished with 52 receiving yards after the catch, demonstrating toughness and speed.
Mosley was part of a significant youth movement for USC, with fellow true freshmen Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Tron Baker also contributing at wide receiver, and Mark Bowman at tight end. However, Mosley's performance stood out among the newcomers.
Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged Mosley's impact, noting his consistency and explosiveness. "He's a consistent player and an explosive player, and I thought he came in and attacked it, didn't play hesitant and was a good weapon for us both obviously offensively and in the [special] teams game," Riley said.
Mosley, whose father played football at Notre Dame and whose mother was a soccer standout there, comes from a strong athletic background. He was coached by USC legend Carson Palmer at Santa Margarita High and understands the tradition of the Trojan program.
