USC Players Named Semifinalists for Freshman of the Year Award

USC landed the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026. Some of the talented players assembled in that class have made their way onto the field in a big way for the Trojans.

Two members of that class, receiver Trent Mosley and defensive end Luke Wafle, have been named semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

Selected by the Maxwell Football Club, the award is given to the outstanding freshman player in college football.

Mosley made the list as an all-purpose player. He leads USC in receiving yards with 512 yards and receiving touchdowns with six. Mosley has averaged 16 yards per catch.

Further, Mosley has a punt return for a touchdown to his credit. Against Louisiana, Mosley fielded a punt and weaved his way downfield 86 yards for a touchdown.

Mosley is coming off an outstanding performance in the 30-18 win over No. 2 Ohio State: 5 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

In addition, Mosley added a 44-yard punt return to set up another score.

That performance earned him Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year-Player of the Week honors from the Maxwell Football Club.

For the season, Mosley has posted four games for over 100+ yards receiving.

Mosley continues to make big plays for the Trojans as they are peaking at the right time at this point in the season.

Wafle is a beast on the defensive line for USC.

When it comes to production, Wafle has wasted no time. He is fourth on the team in tackles with 36.

Wafle leads the team in tackles for loss with 8.5, and leads the team in sacks with 3.

Against Louisiana, Wafle posted a season-high seven tackles.

In the win over Ohio State, Wafle recorded three tackles and a tackle for loss.

Wafle was the No. 1 edge rusher in the country, according to 247 Sports. As a 5-star prospect, Wafle was also ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect nationally.

With 30 scholarship offers, Wafle chose USC over Florida, Ohio State and Penn State, to name a few.

Mosley and Wafle, along with a handful of others from that top-ranked recruiting class, have the Trojans playing at an elite level at the right time.

With ranked teams Indiana and UCLA still left to play, Lincoln Riley and USC could cause a major shakeup in the College Football Playoff over the next four weeks.

Buckle up USC fans. This will be fun to watch.