University Southern California Trojans
November 04, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC standout freshmen Trent Mosley and Luke Wafle have been selected as semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced today (Nov. 4). In its 9th year, the award is presented to the outstanding freshman player in college football.
Mosley, selected as an all-purpose player, has been one of the most thrilling athletes in college football in 2026. Through just six games, he has produced 32 catches for 512 yards (16.0 avg.), a team-leading 6 touchdowns and has 212 yards on 8 punt returns (26.5 avg.), including an 86-yard return for a touchdown against Louisiana. After missing three games with an injury, Mosley, a Midseason True Freshman All-American, returned against Penn State to shine for the Trojan offense earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for recording 9 receptions for 111 yards (12.3 avg.) and a touchdown against the Nittany Lions. His momentum has not slowed down. Mosley's 5 catches for 101 yards (20.2 avg.) including a 69-yard touchdown on USC's second offensive play against Ohio State, and a 44-yard punt return that flipped the field to set up a Trojan touchdown, bring his combined receiving, rushing and punt-return production to a team-leading 741 yards and 7 scores, averaging 123.5 yards per game. He has recorded 100+ receiving yards in four of his six games, and he has scored a touchdown in every game he has played in at the Coliseum. Mosley is the highest graded true freshman wide receiver in the FBS with a 84.3 grade per PFF.
Few defensive freshmen have been as disruptive or dominant as defensive end Wafle, On3/Rivals' No. 1 overall prospect from the 2026 class. Wafle, a Midseason True Freshman All-American, is the true freshman leader in QB Pressures across the FBS this season with 23. He has recorded 36 total tackles (26 solo), including 8.5 TFLs and 3 sacks. Wafle is a strong run defender with the most stops (21) among true freshman edges and defensive linemen, according to PFF. He has only missed three tackles in 2026 according to PFF and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his standout performance against Louisiana when he tallied 5 tackles, including 4 solo stops, a career-high 2.0 TFLs and 1 sack.
Finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be December 2, 2026, and the winner of the award will be announced on December 28, 2026. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027 at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mosley, selected as an all-purpose player, has been one of the most thrilling athletes in college football in 2026. Through just six games, he has produced 32 catches for 512 yards (16.0 avg.), a team-leading 6 touchdowns and has 212 yards on 8 punt returns (26.5 avg.), including an 86-yard return for a touchdown against Louisiana. After missing three games with an injury, Mosley, a Midseason True Freshman All-American, returned against Penn State to shine for the Trojan offense earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for recording 9 receptions for 111 yards (12.3 avg.) and a touchdown against the Nittany Lions. His momentum has not slowed down. Mosley's 5 catches for 101 yards (20.2 avg.) including a 69-yard touchdown on USC's second offensive play against Ohio State, and a 44-yard punt return that flipped the field to set up a Trojan touchdown, bring his combined receiving, rushing and punt-return production to a team-leading 741 yards and 7 scores, averaging 123.5 yards per game. He has recorded 100+ receiving yards in four of his six games, and he has scored a touchdown in every game he has played in at the Coliseum. Mosley is the highest graded true freshman wide receiver in the FBS with a 84.3 grade per PFF.
Few defensive freshmen have been as disruptive or dominant as defensive end Wafle, On3/Rivals' No. 1 overall prospect from the 2026 class. Wafle, a Midseason True Freshman All-American, is the true freshman leader in QB Pressures across the FBS this season with 23. He has recorded 36 total tackles (26 solo), including 8.5 TFLs and 3 sacks. Wafle is a strong run defender with the most stops (21) among true freshman edges and defensive linemen, according to PFF. He has only missed three tackles in 2026 according to PFF and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his standout performance against Louisiana when he tallied 5 tackles, including 4 solo stops, a career-high 2.0 TFLs and 1 sack.
Finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be December 2, 2026, and the winner of the award will be announced on December 28, 2026. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027 at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DE
/ FootballTuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03
