It’s been an eventful period for Lincoln Riley and his USC Trojans. There’s always something happening within the program, and currently, it seems that Riley is determined to shake things up and get USC back on track. Spring practice is already completed, and the coaching staff has been diligently working on recruiting. They’ve successfully secured several notable commitments for the 2026 class and are pursuing top prospects, including four-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe. There have also been some significant changes, such as parting ways with Bennie Wylie, the long-time strength coach. This was a challenging but strategic decision as Riley aims to position the team for even greater success. Additionally, the staff is becoming stronger with the addition of Chad Savage, who will serve as the tight ends and receivers coach.

The WR coach’s methodology is hands-on; he engages with players and coaches to identify who poses the greatest challenges. His thorough search for untapped talent is a significant factor in Lincoln Riley’s recruiting class of 2026 ranking second nationally and first in the Big Ten. Many local players are choosing to stay close to home, which also contributes to this success.

Players frequently praise Savage for his detailed breakdowns of strategy, utilizing NFL game tape, and maintaining a straightforward yet effective approach, which is crucial for their development. On the field, the wide receivers have demonstrated impressive growth under Savage’s guidance. Players like Makai Lemon and Jacobe Lane are getting more snaps and responsibilities this season, and the offense is increasingly counting on their playmaking abilities.

Chad Savage had a media brunch with the InsideTroy show on May 1st, talking about a few receivers’ injury updates. “I mean all of them—you can go down to Cory, Jay Fair, Makai Lemon. All these guys did a good job, and I think they all took a step in the right direction. Some guys had some injury bugs that we were dealing with, so they didn’t have all 15 practices, but it’s a group I’m excited to coach,” Savage said. 

First things first, good news for Trojan fans: Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane both are healthy and good to go. Savage delivered a positive report, highlighting that although both players faced some bumps and bruises, they appear tough and ready to build on their breakout sophomore campaigns. These two are set to become the pillars of the receiver corps this season. Now, the actual question on everyone’s mind is: who’s going to emerge as the third option after Lemon and Lane?

Meet Xavier Jordan. Last year, he mainly participated on the scout team and struggled with an injury, which prevented him from getting any playing time. However, both Lincoln Riley and Chad Savage have expressed positive views about his progress this spring. Chad Savage did have some interesting things to say about Josiah Zamora in the video; he truly does think of Zamora as that under-the-radar type who just sets his head down and goes to work. “Josiah Zamora being a veteran guy in the room, he’s a guy that we can rely on depending on when the ball comes his way, he makes a play,” Savage said.

Lincoln Riley’s warning echoes past struggles

Way back during his Oklahoma days, Lincoln Riley was famous for quarterback wizardry, producing Heisman winners, and always having a definite plan for the position. But things were an absolute mess last season at USC; the Trojans rotated QBs, lost games they could have won, and ended up with a disappointing 7-6 mark. To add insult to injury, more than 20 players ran out of the transfer portal, and Riley lost the top-10 recruiting class. I mean, it was a complete disaster.

Even this year, the quarterback position is uncertain. UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava is listed as QB1 after outperforming Miller Moss, who simply couldn’t deliver when it mattered most. But Maiava’s statistics weren’t so much eye-catching as 1,200 yards and a 59% completion percentage in his games played. There’s hope he improves gradually and is not taking much time, but fans and commentators are understandably apprehensive. Last season’s instability and Lincoln Riley’s QB struggles haunted the Trojans with unsettling memories.

Lincoln Riley’s USC experience has caught a lot of attention. With the “ghosts of the past” QB saga still hanging, the pressure’s on to get that job secured, with Jayden Maiava rising. And in the background, Chad Savage is simply slaying it with the receivers, getting players like Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane healthy and primed to go, and even assisting recruits like Xavier Jordan in finding their stride.