USC's football team is poised to feature a notable presence of freshmen in its starting lineup for the season opener against San Jose State. The first depth chart released Wednesday evening revealed that five players from the Trojans' highly-ranked freshman class are listed as potential starters.
Freshman tight end Mark Bowman, defensive end Luke Wafle, and wide receivers Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt are designated as starters. Fellow freshman cornerback Elbert "Rock" Hill IV holds an "OR" designation, indicating a competition for a starting spot with redshirt sophomore Chason Johnson.
Coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged the potential impact of the newcomers, particularly in light of injuries. "We’ve seen enough out of these guys that no matter who else is playing they’re going to play and have their opportunity to contribute and affect the game," Riley stated. He added that he expects the freshmen to perform on game day as they have in practice, citing their consistency and playmaking ability.
Other true freshmen listed on the two-deep depth chart include wide receiver Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, offensive linemen Vlad Dyakonov and Breck Kolojay, linebacker Talanoa Ili, and safety Madden Riordan.
Positional Changes and Battles
In other depth chart developments, Tobias Raymond is set to make his first career start at center, stepping in after Kilian O’Connor sustained a season-ending injury during training camp. At defensive tackle, Alex VanSumeren and Jide Abasiri are slated to start following an injury to Jahkeem Stewart.
The running back position features a shared "OR" designation for Waymond Jordan and King Miller, reflecting the quality of both players. Similarly, the backup quarterback role is not definitively assigned, with Sam Huard and Jonas Williams both listed as options.
In the kicking game, Caden Chittenden has won the field goal duties over Ryon Sayeri. This comes after Sayeri stepped in for Chittenden last season due to an injury. Riley commended Chittenden's dedication to remain and compete for the position.
Sayeri is listed as the starter for kickoffs. Riley is scheduled to address the media again on Thursday, likely to discuss the integration of the young talent into the team.