One of the under the radar bright spots for USC Football in the first two weeks of the season has been the production the Trojans have gotten from the tight end position.
In 2 games, the Trojan tight ends have amassed 8 catches, 162 yards and 3 touchdowns. That ranks among the best in all of college football.
Lake McRee, USC’s starting tight end, shared on the Trojans Live show on Wednesday September 10, 2025 just how much that means to him.
“It’s something that we’ve been working on ever since I got here,” McRee said. “I feel like every year…the tight end has opened up a little bit more and more of being part of the offense. My first year it wasn’t a lot and it kind of just kept progressing and it’s in a spot we like a lot.”
Head Coach Lincoln Riley echoed that sentiment on Trojans Live.
“Our trust in that room has grown throughout the offseason,” Riley said. “And I think grown with some of the depth we have been able to put together in that room. So it’s been good to see. I think those guys are definitely going to be a good factor in what we do.”
McRee Praised Walker Lyons
Fifth year senior Lake McRee is the clear starter in USC’s tight end room, but part of the reason it’s been so productive is because of the depth in that room, as Lincoln Riley spoke about.
McRee is responsible for the bulk of the production. He is currently USC’s third leading receiver with 4 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.
But backup Walker Lyons has been impressive in his own right. Lyons has 3 catches for 47 yards and a score himself.
McRee gave a lot of credit to Lyons in his interview with Trojans Live.
“Walker is a really good football player,” McRee said. “He’s really smart and super good for his age too, he’s still really young. Really cool to see the stuff that he’s done. He did some stuff for us last year and he had a great offseason, great spring and I think it’s paying off now.”
Last season, Lyons had 6 catches for 36 yards, so he’s really been able to step it up already this season.
His play has also enabled the Trojans to use a lot of 12 personnel with 2 tight ends in the game.
The Trojans’ third stringer, Carson Tabaracci, also had a 9-yard touchdown catch in Week 1. It was an especially meaningful catch for Tabaracci, because doctors told him he would never play football again after an injury he sustained last season.
Are The Tight Ends USC’s Third Receiver?
One of the biggest narratives on USC’s offense to start the season has been who is going to emerge as the third wide receiver option behind superstars Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane.
That hasn’t exactly happened for USC. No wide receivers outside of Lemon and Lane have scored yet this season, despite USC’s 132 points through 3 weeks. And, the 174 yards by wideouts not named Lemon and Lane is basically equivalent to the tight ends.
So what if McRee is really the third option?
This would benefit USC beyond this year. Generational tight end prospect Mark Bowman is coming. If the Trojans can figure out how to make the tight end truly a featured part of the offense, that could benefit them for years to come.
What do you think of the tight end production so far this season, Trojan fans?
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