USC’s Lincoln Riley Extends First Quarterback Offer of the 2028 Recruiting Cycle

When it comes to developing quarterbacks, few coaches have a résumé comparable to USC head coach Lincoln Riley. That reputation has made Riley particularly selective when evaluating quarterbacks during the recruiting process, and the Trojans have taken a measured approach to extending scholarship offers at the position.

USC offered only one quarterback in the 2027 recruiting class: four-star Peyton Houston of Evangel Christian Academy in Louisiana, who is committed to LSU.

That approach continued into the 2028 cycle, with Riley extending his first quarterback offer of the class Saturday night to Frisco (Texas) Lone Star three-star prospect Trey Wright.

What Trey Wright Brings to USC

Wright produced remarkable numbers during his sophomore season in 2025. He finished with a nation-leading 5,826 total yards while guiding Lone Star to the Class 5A UIL state championship game.

The Texas quarterback threw for 4,062 yards and 43 touchdowns while adding 1,798 rushing yards and 16 more scores on the ground. His outstanding season earned him first-team Sophomore All-American recognition from MaxPreps.

At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Wright possesses a skill set that resembles Houston’s in several ways. He also shares similarities with another Texas quarterback who thrived under Riley at Oklahoma: former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.

Wright is an impressive overall athlete and also excels on the basketball court. He previously showcased his athleticism on social media with a between-the-legs dunk and has already received Division I basketball offers.

As a quarterback, Wright combines strong arm talent with impressive touch and accuracy, particularly on deep throws. He can make plays from inside the pocket but is equally comfortable creating outside the structure of the offense.

His athletic ability adds another dimension. Wright is difficult to bring down in the open field and possesses enough speed to beat defensive backs when he takes off.

Despite his production, Wright enters his junior season as a three-star prospect according to the major recruiting services. Another standout season could quickly push him up the national rankings.

Other 2028 Quarterbacks USC Could Target

It remains unclear whether Riley and USC will offer several more quarterbacks in the 2028 class. However, the program’s approach since Riley arrived in 2022 suggests the Trojans will remain highly selective at the position.

One quarterback to monitor is five-star Donald Tabron II of Cass Technical in Michigan. Tabron is scheduled to make his commitment on Aug. 15 and visited USC during the summer, including a workout with the Trojans.

Tabron also has a connection to USC through redshirt freshman defensive back Alex Graham, who helped his high school win a state championship in 2024.

Another major quarterback prospect, St. John’s Prep five-star Christopher Vargas, announced his commitment to Ohio State on Saturday. His decision does not necessarily remove USC from the quarterback conversation, however.

Riley and the Trojans have shown they are willing to continue recruiting quarterbacks even after they commit elsewhere. USC successfully flipped Husan Longstreet from Texas A&M in the 2025 class and Jonas Williams from Oregon in the 2026 cycle.

Four-star Vista Del Lago quarterback Josiah Boyd is another name worth watching. Boyd visited USC in March for a spring practice and has developed relationships with several high-priority prospects the Trojans are pursuing in the 2028 class.

The local connection could also work in USC’s favor. Boyd has already scheduled a game-day visit to Los Angeles for the Trojans’ season opener against San Jose State on Aug. 29.

For now, Wright is the first quarterback USC has offered in the 2028 cycle. Given Riley’s history of developing the position and his selective approach to recruiting quarterbacks, the Trojans’ quarterback board will be one of the more interesting storylines to follow as the class develops.