Do USC Trojans Lack Wide Receiver Talent? Lincoln Riley Responds

The USC Trojans wide receiver room had one of their most impressive outings of the 2024 season against Maryland. Despite that, questions remain about whether the group has a true number one option. USC coach Lincoln Riley responds.

Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) celebrates after scoring a first half touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans wide receiver room is coming off of one of their most impressive outings bro the 2024 season against Maryland. They’ve been a solid group all season, but they’ve hit a new gear in recent weeks. The threshold for what’s considered greatness at the wide receiver position is succinctly amplified at a program like USC. Regardless of the success, questions about the group having a clear-cut number-one option remain. 

"I definitely understand the question," said Coach Lincoln Riley on if he hopes a number one receiver takes the reigns. "It’s kind of hard to force. Every receiving corps is different. We’ve had years where we’ve kind of had a clear-cut 1 or 2 that are kind of just way ahead of everybody else, and those are going to be guys you know you’re going to feature every week, no matter what."

"And then we’ve had years, we feel like we have a handful of guys who are number ones, and each one of them is having different opportunities,” Riley continued.

Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson (10) celebrates with Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) after scoring a first half touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

This season, there’s been no emergence of a true number one, but instead, a five to six-man deep pool of target-worthy pass catchers. It’s certainly a benefit to have that many players you can scheme into game plans, but it can be a double-edged sword when there’s a need to throw out the play sheet and be able to rely on a single player to bail you out of any situation.

The Trojans have six wide receivers with ten or more receptions and four wide receivers with 20 or more receptions. Zachariah Branch and Ja’Kobi Lane are tied for the team lead with 27 receptions, while Lane and Kyron Hudson are tied for the lead in yards with 303. Duce Robinson only has 14 receptions but leads the team with 16.0 yards per reception and is second on the team with four receiving touchdowns. Then there’s Makai Lemon, with 21 receptions and 244 yards. 

This USC team is throwing the ball more than any other team in Lincoln Riley’s coaching career, and the plethora of options might be a driving factor in that development. USC has been a passing-heavy team despite often having a lead or being tied late in ball games. The reliance on the passing attack, when the Trojans have two running backs that average over six yards per carry, has become a lingering talking point surrounding the team, especially when it appears to be a detriment to preserving leads. 

Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Duce Robinson (2) runs through tackles for a touchdown during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

“Uh, I think a little bit of the way the games have unfolded. We’ve been in, I think we have been in a lot of two-minute situations, which typically is going to accentuate that a little bit. And yeah, we don’t pay a ton of attention to it from an overall perspective. To me, it’s still a week-to-week thing, and what you think gives you the best chance to win. And that’s why we call the plays that we do.” Riley said when asked about USC having the third highest pass rate in the nation. 

USC has been in two-minute situations this season, but outside of the LSU game, they haven’t been effective enough for that to significantly boost those numbers. It’s week nine of the season, and there’s been seven ball games played, there’s a pattern. Furthermore, avoiding those two-minute situations by preserving leads better and running the ball at a higher clip will not only help the team preserve leads but open up the passing game for the receivers as well. 

USC doesn’t have a receiving issue, nor do they need a “true” number one option to emerge. The LSU and Wisconsin games are perfect examples of that. Even the Maryland game, to an extent. What USC needs is more balance in the play calling and situational game management. Lincoln Riley is noted for his ability as a playcaller and being a creative schematic brain. Everything the Trojans need to succeed is in the building, but it starts at the top. 

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