The season hasn’t even started yet and USC Trojans freshman wide receiver Tanook Hines is already shocking the football world.
In the late evening on Wednesday August 28, 2025, USC released its first depth chart of the season ahead of Saturday’s season-opening game against Missouri State.
On that depth chart, Hines is listed as the third starting wide receiver, alongside established stars Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane.
Basically nobody thought Hines was going to be the starting WR3. Zaccharyus Williams, a highly-regarded Utah transfer, was the favorite to start with many fans speculating Boise State transfer Prince Strachan had a chance to win the job as well.
But, at least for this season-opening game, the four-star true freshman Hines beat them all out. Trojan fans will likely now keep a closer eye on Hines than any other single player on the team. They want to see Hines display what Lincoln Riley saw in him and go out and prove he deserves to be a starter.
Hines is primarily known for his speed. He’s not exceptionally tall or built at 6’0’’ and 195 lbs. But he was a track star in high school in addition to playing football and ran the 200m in 20.71 seconds, one of the best times in the country.
One Other Freshman In The Starting Lineup
Ahead of their first game, Hines is one of only two freshmen in the starting lineup on offense or defense. The other is redshirt freshman right tackle Justin Tauanuu.
Tauannuu played in three games last season for the Trojans (Utah State, Rutgers and Texas A&M). He was also a four-star recruit out of high school.
The Trojans are young at that position in general: the backup RT is also a freshman, Elijah Vaikona.
Vaikona is HUGE, standing at 6’8’’ and weighing 385 pounds.
USC is younger and more inexperienced on the offensive line after Purdue transfer DJ Wingfield was denied eligibility for the upcoming season.
Other Notable Depth Chart Storylines
As Lincoln Riley announced on Tuesday August 26, 2025, redshirt junior center and former walk-on Killian O’Connor will get the start for the Trojans at center. Redshirt senior Syracuse transfer J’Onre Reed will serve as his backup, at least for now.
The Trojans have also tabbed JUCO transfer Waymond Jordan to start at running back. Eli Sanders and Bryan Jackson were also in the mix to start at that position. They should both see significant playing time this season.
True freshman Husan Longstreet won the backup quarterback job over redshirt senior Sam Huard. Longstreet could easily see action in the first few non-conference games if the Trojans blow out their competition as they are expected to.
The biggest positional storyline is on the defensive line. The Trojans’ biggest acquisitions, figuratively and literally, during the 2025 offseason were on the defensive line.
Those players are Kentucky transfer Keshawn Silver, Georgia transfer Jamaal Jarrett and five-star freshman Jahkeem Stewart. None of those players are listed as starters on the depth chart.
Instead, the Trojans are starting Jide Abasiri and Devan Thompkins at defensive tackle and Kameryn Fountain and Anthony Lucas on the ends.
It’s worth noting that Stewart is nursing a foot injury that could impact his playing time and place on the depth chart Saturday.
One final thing to keep an eye on is how the Trojans use sophomore Elijah Newby. Newby reportedly made a switch to defensive end this offseason. But, he’s listed as a potential starter for the Trojans at WILL linebacker if USC doesn’t use Ta’Mere Robinson in that spot. Did he switch back to his original position?
Trojan fans, are you excited to see Tanook Hines start on Saturday? What other depth chart surprises are you excited or nervous about?
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