Tucker Ashcraft: Built On Grit
By Julius Johnston, USC Football Communications Student Assistant
9/11/2026
As a child, losing a tooth is a rite of passage. It’s an emotional experience made sweeter by the promise that the tooth fairy will exchange it for a few dollars.
For USC tight end Tucker Ashcraft, losing a tooth isn’t a childhood rite of passage; it’s part of his daily routine. After a big collision midgame at his former school, he returned to the sideline and realized one of his teeth was missing. He now wears a removable replacement known as a flipper and embraces the look as medal of toughness. He doesn’t wake up to money beneath his pillow from the tooth fairy. Rather, he wakes to an alarm clock telling him to get up, put the flipper back in and do it all over again.
“If you look me up online, you see a guy missing a tooth in his headshot,” Ashcraft said. “I'm a gritty guy. I’m going to go out there, hit people and make plays regardless of what it takes.”
Grit can be coached, but those who possess it naturally stand out from the crowd. Ashcraft has that, and more.
As the older of two middle children in a household of four boys, Ashcraft was constantly surrounded by competition. Whether they were racing around the house, playing video games or wrestling, one of the Ashcraft brothers was always determined to come out on top.
What often goes overlooked is the support his brothers offered him as well.
Ashcraft’s older brother rowed at the University of Washington, and though rowing is much different than football, Ashcraft has leaned on him throughout his collegiate journey.
“Rowing is a completely different challenge. It requires a unique mindset, so I’ve definitely leaned on him when it comes to the mental side of football,” Ashcraft said appreciatively.
It wasn’t only Ashcraft’s brothers who pushed him. His parents, who he describes as his greatest role models, also taught him from an early age that nothing, on or off the field, would simply be handed to him.
“My mom and dad worked incredibly hard to give us the life that we had growing up and give us every opportunity to be successful. They've always been so supportive, and that's all you can ask from your parents,” Ashcraft said with a smile.
Now nearly 800 miles closer to home after transferring from Wisconsin, Ashcraft has the opportunity to showcase that same work ethic with his parents watching in the stands on Saturdays. That possibility played a major role in his decision to transfer to USC.
“Being closer to home was one of the reasons why I chose to come here,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in being from the West Coast, so it means a lot to be here and be a Trojan.”
With Seattle less than a three-hour flight away, Ashcraft can return home more frequently. Whether he is playing pickleball with his family or heading to the beach with friends, those visits allow him to step away from football and reconnect with the people and places that keep him grounded.
However, the closer distance to home wasn’t the only reason he decided to transfer to USC.
After three seasons at Wisconsin, Ashcraft felt he was ready for a new step in his journey. He wanted to put himself in an environment that would push him outside of his comfort zone while giving him the opportunity to continue growing as a player and person.
After his first visit and only visit to Los Angeles, Ashcraft felt head coach Lincoln Riley and the USC football program gave him the best opportunity to do just that.
“When I was in the portal, I was watching a lot of film,” he said. “I love the way Coach Riley uses tight ends. The tight end room last year had over 700 receiving yards which stood out to me, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
After committing to USC and arriving in LA, Ashcraft not only had to learn a new system, but also recover from an offseason injury.
“It was difficult to be out for portions of the offseason, but I’m thankful there were people around me I could lean on,” he said.
Instead of rushing through the recovery process, he embraced the opportunity to learn from his coaches and teammates.
“Coach Savage (Tight Ends / Inside Receivers Coach / Pass Game Coordinator) has done an amazing job coaching me up in the route game,” he said. “I also have Coach Myers (Run Game Specialist / Assistant Offensive Line and Tight Ends Coach), and he's done a really great job with my blocking fundamentals and footwork. They both are helping me get better every day.”
Ashcraft is ready to turn everything he has learned into production on Saturdays. The missing tooth may be the most visible symbol of his toughness, but his grit runs much deeper as it’s shaped by competition, strengthened by his family and revealed in his willingness to embrace every challenge. Each morning, the alarm sounds, the flipper goes back in, and Ashcraft gets another opportunity to show exactly what he’s built on.
