All 5 starting offensive linemen returning for USC next season

USC right guard Alani Noa has re-signed with the team, meaning that all five starting linemen are returning next season.

The transaction was announced on the USC football program’s official social media channels on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s always a good thing when you get guys that come back, just because we’ve already got chemistry,” offensive lineman Tobias Raymond told reporters in mid-December, after two linemen had already agreed to return.

“You don’t have to necessarily start over. It’s already there, so you can build on it and keep growing.”

Left tackle Elijah Paige re-signed on Dec. 29 and left guard Tobias Raymond re-signed on Dec. 17. Center Kilian O’Connor and right tackle Justin Tauanuu also made their decisions before the new year.

The unit was constantly shuffled this season, and the Trojans deployed six different offensive line combinations while still managing to have one of the most efficient offenses in the Big Ten Conference under position coach Zach Hanson.

Their return could be huge for quarterback Jayden Maiava, who is also coming back next season. He was able to pass for an average of 285.46 yards per game and 24 touchdowns in 2025 while throwing 10 interceptions.

Maiava passed for the most yards (3,711) out of any Big Ten Conference quarterback and threw the fifth-most touchdowns.

As a whole, USC’s offense averaged 169.5 rushing yards and 465.5 yards of total offense per game.

Trojans add two to special teams

Long snapper Dylan Black and punter Lachlan Carrigan, both of whom played for Memphis last season, each committed to USC out of the transfer portal, rounding out the Trojans’ special teams unit.

Hank Pepper, USC’s long snapper last season, has exhausted his eligibility. Black will join rising redshirt senior Devin McDonough and rising sophomore Luke Brown on the roster.

Punter Sam Johnson, who memorably switched jerseys with quarterback Sam Huard for a viral trick play, is also out of eligibility. Rising redshirt senior Rey Sanchez and rising sophomore William Weisberg will return at punter.

Carrigan, an Australian punter, averaged 43.2 yards per punt with the Tigers last season and had a season-long punt of 55 yards. Twenty of them landed within the 20-yard line.

Richardson declares for NFL draft

USC receiver Jaden Richardson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. He officially announced the decision on social media on Tuesday afternoon.

“This journey hasn’t looked like the traditional path, and that’s what makes it special,” Richardson wrote in the post. “I’m grateful to the USC coaching staff for believing in me, taking a chance, and giving me the opportunity to compete at the highest level.”

Richardson caught 12 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown, which was scored in the Alamo Bowl, as a senior in 2025.

USC receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane have also declared for the draft. Prince Strachan and DJ Jordan, who might have gotten playing time next season, entered the transfer portal and signed with West Virginia and Arizona, respectively.

The Trojans gained a receiver out of the portal in Terrell Anderson, an North Carolina State transfer.