After practice Friday afternoon, USC football coach Lincoln Riley said he had no update on Danton Laine, who was the target of Penn State’s defensive coordinator consideration.
Penn State showed interest in Lynn last year before he received a contract extension from USC. Lynn was hired by the Trojans after a successful season as defensive coordinator at UCLA.
“That’s what happens this time of year, especially when you have a really good staff and you’re doing a lot of positive things,” Riley said. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to maintain continuity, but if there’s turnover, not just in this position but in any other position, those are desirable jobs. They’re just part of the world we live in.”
“Obviously Danton did a really good job here and we’ll see how it goes.”
Riley said a willingness to change is a must in the current college football climate.
“Contingency plans for coaches, players, staff and everyone because a lot can and does change,” Riley said. “Our job is to be prepared and be flexible. You can’t always predict everything that’s going to happen but you have to be ready to adapt. Yes, every team goes through this phase on some level and you try to deal with it as best you can.”
Riley liked what he saw in practice as USC (9-3) prepares for its Alamo Bowl matchup against Texas Christian on Dec. 30.
“We’ve done a really good job the last two years of going to work, and we’re not thinking about the players or coaches that are here or aren’t here,” Riley said. “It’s all about trying to maximize this time and build for the future.”
USC announced Tuesday that freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava has re-signed for next season and will not join McKay Lemon and Jacoby Lane — USC’s top two receivers — in announcing for the 2026 NFL Draft.
“It’s great. Anytime you get a returning guy like that who’s played a significant amount of football, it’s big,” Riley said of Maiava. “He’s also become a good leader in this program and I expect that to continue to improve. The majority of this team has already re-signed, and we know these guys are going to be here and it’s great for these guys to show how much they believe in this place and what we’re doing.”
“The exciting thing is you look ahead and you start imagining the combination of what we have back and what we will walk through the door here in three weeks or so, but it starts with the veterans who have been through the fire and we have a lot of them that have come back.”
Maiava, one of the last players to leave the training field on Friday, explained why he chose to stay.
“Coach Riley,” Maiava said. “Of course, the coaching staff too and my brothers. I’m very grateful to be back here. I’m focusing on every day, staying balanced, making the right decisions and just taking care of the ball.”
Maiava is happy for Lemon, who won the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top receiver after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior this season.
“It was amazing, everyone was there in the lobby when we found out… it’s well deserved,” Maiava said. “He and Jacoby set the standard for everyone. He won the award, so I would say we had very good chemistry even off the field when we would go out to eat and places. I had to do my job, but he also did his job the best he could.”
Defensive end Braylan Shelby is also grateful to be back with the Trojans for another season.
“I always knew I wanted to be here. Bowl games mean a lot, and it’s time for the team to put it all together and play together one last time,” he said.
Regarding the NFL’s new model for announcing re-signings, Shelby said: “Some people love it, some people hate it. … USC is a step forward in the game and I think it’s the right move. In this NIL era, it helps fans know who’s coming back.”
After re-signing, rookie safety Christian Pierce is excited about being a prospect next fall.
“The bowl game is a great start to next season in terms of building culture,” Pierce said. “My focus is on trying to understand the defense more and what skills and techniques I will need to improve on. The conversation after re-signing was more about the coaching staff and the program.”
Riley praised offensive lineman Tobias Raymond for his willingness and ability to play multiple positions on the front line.
“He was one of the most important players on the whole team,” Riley said. “His toughness was off the charts, his versatility with all the different lineups we played in, his ability to handle that physically and mentally. He was just a steady presence. He’s going to be a big key to coming back as a captain, a leader and a player. With a lot of those guys in the locker room, you’re going to be a lot closer to winning.”
Much to the admiration of his coach, Raymond embraced his leadership role.
“I’ve just tried to be more vocal, set an example and hold others to the standards our coaches set for us,” the 6-foot-6, 315-pound redshirt sophomore from Ventura said. “Pick people up when things are low and when things are high, and make sure we keep our composure.”
Regarding the transfer portal, Riley said he plans to be less reliant on it than he has been in previous years.
“The number we’re talking about is much lower than before, so we’ll be able to move forward to focus on what we’re going to go for. So the picture is starting to become clearer about what we’re going to target.”