The serene beaches of southern Cali were turning into quicksand for Lincoln Riley. His stint at the helm of the USC Trojans began with pomp. However, the win/loss column has reflected a steady decline since. Their first year post realignment from the Pac-12 to the Big 10 fanned the flames of concern around the program. Hovering around .500 wasn’t going to cut it for Coach Riley, who needed a proverbial helping hand. A bit of a messiah to lift both the vibes and the standard of personnel within his roster. This messiah did indeed arrive, albeit from an unlikely source.

When USC managed to snag GM Chad Bowden from archrivals Notre Dame earlier this off-season, it represented a massive change in fortunes. This wasn’t a Trojan Horse in cahoots with the enemy. Crossing over to the other side of the sacred Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy, Bowden’s reputation as a recruiting whiz precedes him. He can mobilize prospects at a very high clip, and recruiting well is the precursor to success in college football. Notre Dame’s run to the Natty is a testament to his prowess. Bowden’s had an instantaneous impact upon his arrival in LA, too. In fact, USC boasts a top-3 ranked recruiting class for ‘26. Things have been on the up for Lincoln Riley and co. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Some bad news has just undercut a portion of Bowden and Coach Riley’s efforts to resuscitate this storied blueblood.

The aforementioned recruiting class has just lost one of its members. On3’s Hayes Fawcett reports wide receiver Kohen Brown has decommitted from USC. The Texas native had made his verbal commitment to the school just over a month ago, on April 2nd. This quick 180 doesn’t make for good optics for the program and what Lincoln Riley’s building, for one. But public perception, macrocosm, and optics aside, the Trojans have just lost a quality wideout, too. One that could’ve been a potent weapon for 5-star true freshman QB Husan Longstreet down the line. The exact reason for this U-turn remains inconspicuous within Kohen Brown’s own statement. Although there, potentially, is a subliminal hint.

“After a lot of thought and meaningful conversations with my family, I’ve decided to decommit from USC,” posted Kohen Brown on X. This implies there was an aversion to USC within the family, and their input did play a factor in the outcome. “I want to sincerely thank the coaching staff and everyone at USC for all the support and belief in me. I truly appreciate everything they’ve done. At this point, I feel it’s best for me to reopen my recruitment 100%. That you all for understanding and the continued support- It means a lot to me,” added Brown. This decision casts a cloud of uncertainty over the offensively enterprising Lincoln Riley’s receiving corps.

Ranked No.1 in the country by 247Sports, Lincoln Riley and USC’s class of ’26 still have a lot to lean back on. As many as 4 receivers are still hard-committed to the cause. Which includes 4-star Trent Mosley, alongside a trifecta of 3-stars in Luc Weaver, Ja’Myron Baker and Roderick Tezeno. But that said, Kohen Brown’s backtracking still makes a significant difference. Lincoln Riley sure will hope this isn’t a sliding doors moment that begins the disintegration of his assortment of talent.

What Lincoln Riley and USC are missing out on with Kohen Brown

The aforementioned 247Sports’ scouting analyst Gabe Brooks elaborated on what Kohen Brown brings to the table as he prepares to ascend from the high school ranks to the collegiate ranks. What Lincoln Riley and Co. saw when they offered him, and what they’ll now miss. Brooks’ assessment of Brown dictates he’s a versatile WR who can play on the perimeter but “likely fits the slot at the next level.” Said assessment also included context about how Kohen Brown’s background in track and field accentuates his game as a football player.

“Strong track context provides verified speed markers, including an early Spring 2025 100-meter rep of 10.69. Linear speed shows on tape. More build-up speed than sudden explosion, but regularly stretches the field vertically and tracks the ball well in the deep third. Dangerous if allowed a clean release and a runway,” wrote Gabe Brooks.

“Projects to the P4 level as a valuable piece to the receiver room,” he added. Well, that receiver room sure won’t be at the University of Southern California. In an era where the likes of Cooper Kupp and Amon-Ra St. Brown are a testament to the growing prominence of slot receivers, this really is a blow to Lincoln Riley. Alas, it would appear this decommitment is a one-off and not the outset of a domino effect.