Six practices into the USC Trojans’ spring football slate, Lincoln Riley’s offense is taking early shape. That’s true, even with a few important pieces temporarily on the sideline. Junior WR Makai Lemon hasn’t been at full strength after a pre-spring hamstring setback. But Coach Riley remains optimistic about getting his explosive playmaker back. Still, in his absence, reps have opened up, and eyes have turned to the finer details of the Trojans’ internal mechanics. Specifically the behind-the-scenes glue holding the offense’s middle layers together. That spotlight is increasingly finding its way toward first-year tight ends and inside receivers coach Chad Savage. Whose dual-role responsibilities are demanding but vital.

Lincoln Riley didn’t hold back when asked about Savage’s early impact. “He’s done a great job—he has,” the head coach said to reporters. “That’s not an easy position to come in here and coach, both working with our inside receivers and our tight ends.” It’s a hybrid lane that demands versatility, precision, and coordination. Especially in USC’s up-tempo, spread-based system. “He’s acclimated to the staff well… he and Coach Simmons are working really well together,” Riley added, referencing the shared responsibilities between wideouts and TEs. It’s a melting pot of positional overlap, and Savage has quickly found rhythm inside the chaos. “There’s definitely some crossover,” Riley noted.

Savage is living up to his name. “There’s times where Coach Savage is coaching outside guys and times where Coach Simmons is coaching inside guys—or we’re all coaching tight ends.” That kind of fluidity only works when the voices are aligned, and Savage has earned his stripes by bringing “a lot of energy and a lot of expertise to the group.” While Savage is shoring up the technical foundation, Riley is also navigating broader roster decisions with one eye firmly on the transfer portal.

Boss Trojan didn’t shy away from acknowledging some roster vulnerabilities—namely at linebacker. “There’s some of the obvious positions where we’re a little bit thin that we may look at,” Riley said. “Linebacker is one of those that we may look at.” The portal opens April 16, but don’t expect USC to go wild with additions. “I don’t think it’ll be a huge [move],” the coach said. “I don’t think we’ll be incredibly active during that.” The tone felt measured. This isn’t a rebuild; it’s a rebalancing. The Trojans are tweaking, not overhauling.

That restraint speaks volumes about how Lincoln Riley feels about his current group. “I don’t feel like sitting out here that we’re missing a whole lot,” he said, before doubling down on the developmental path. “We just got to keep developing what we have and then make sure that we’ve got enough depth to make the run that we expect to make.” It’s a balancing act between faith in internal growth and tactical moves in the portal. USC isn’t just chasing depth—it’s chasing fit. And while LBs might see attention, Riley’s general tone suggested confidence in how spring has progressed.

Recruiting, of course, never sleeps. And for USC, the Trojans just scored a major win with a class of 2026 four-star RB who decided to stay home. The local momentum got a huge push thanks to an iconic West Coast voice rallying the cause. In a landscape where NIL dollars and national brands often pull top-tier talent out of California, this commitment carried a tone of pride. For Riley, it’s part of a bigger strategy. “He’s a good recruiter that’s got great connections and great relationships in this area, which is obviously very, very important to us,” he said of Savage. That local flavor continues to matter. Southern California kids repping cardinal and gold? That’s more than branding—it’s identity.

And let’s not forget the QB room. Riley’s eye for signal-callers remains elite, and the addition of Sam Huard only reinforces that. “He’s very professional in his approach,” Riley said. “He’s learned a lot of ball in his career.” The former blue-chip recruit brings pedigree, but more importantly, he brings maturity. That’s crucial in a year where USC is redefining itself post-Caleb Williams. The raw talent is there. But now it’s about layering in the leadership, the positional coaching cohesion, and the portal precision to set the foundation.

Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, scholarships, staying home & more for Lincoln Riley

The USC Trojans just scored a major win for their 2026 class. Landing four-star running back Deshonne Redeaux, a Cali native with both star power and serious L.A. pride. But what sealed the deal for Redeaux? A little West Coast legend named Snoop Dogg.

“I played in his Snoop Youth Football League, and it pathed the way for me to reach my goal of getting a Division 1 college scholarship,” Redeaux told Billboard’s Cat Johnson. Talk about full circle—what started on youth league fields under Snoop’s mentorship is now turning into a full-ride at USC. Lately, USC’s media team has been going all-in on LA icons. Recently, they also had Kendrick Lamar in one of their hype recruiting videos.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Redeaux is no slouch on the national radar. He’s the No. 148 recruit overall, No. 13 running back, and No. 17 player in California. His commitment video was a love letter to L.A., loaded with city pride and a clear message: he’s staying home.

“I get to put it on for my city,” Redeaux said to On3. “USC has a great plan. Coach Riley is bringing in the top players, he is keeping the California kids home.” Fun fact: 62% of USC’s 2026 commits are in-state products. And now, they’ve got a Snoop-certified one in the mix.