USC’s Gary Bryant, Tahj Washington welcome crowded WR room

Two of the Trojans’ top three receivers last season look to contribute despite the many additions by Lincoln Riley

Adam Brosbard (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — Much of the buzz around the USC receiving corps this summer has focused on the newcomers in the room. It’s understandable; USC added Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison, Oklahoma transfer Mario Williams, a couple of Pac-12 transplants in Brenden Rice and Terrell Bynum, and Mater Dei standout C.J. Williams.

Flying a little bit more under the radar, though, are Gary Bryant Jr. (left) and Tahj Washington, two of USC’s three top receivers a year ago. But even in a crowded competition, both are expected to contribute to the Trojans this season.

“I’ve been excited with them,” head coach Lincoln Riley said after practice Tuesday. “They both have very unique skillsets that certainly translate well to what we do offensively.”

Riley says he was familiar with Bryant and Washington when they came out of high school, and watched them both a little last season.

While they were primarily used as outside receivers in 2021, Riley wants to use the duo in different spots across the field to take advantage of their speed and shiftiness.

“Just being held accountable in every position,” Bryant said of the challenge. “Knowing every spot. Knowing that somebody can go down or you might be called up in certain situations.”

Washington echoed this, adding, “[It’s] a lot of note-taking. Everything is detailed, everything you just gotta listen. It’s the details that matter.”

Following spring practices, Riley gave both receivers individual goals. Bryant needed to show he could compete physically with defensive backs and not get bumped off his routes. Washington was asked to prove he could be a consistent presence on the field.

“I’m happy with their progress,” Riley said. “They’re competing. They’re really competing hard.”

There’s more competition than in the past two years for receiver snaps at USC, even with Riley’s proclivity for cycling through six or seven wideouts per game.

But Bryant and Washington aren’t approaching the new wave of talent at the position as a threat to their status.

“Just going out there and taking it one day at a time and knowing that I’m competing with myself,” Bryant said. “Just trying to elevate. When I heard Jordan was coming, Mario was coming, just knowing that I can take his game, he can take my game, we can all come together as one and elevating every day at practice.”

INJURY REPORT

USC cornerback Domani Jackson, the top-rated recruit in Riley’s first class, was again on the sidelines in street clothes for practice Tuesday as he deals with an undisclosed injury.

Jackson has missed over a week of workouts, but Riley said there is still optimism he won’t have to miss the season opener against Rice next weekend. But he will have some work to catch up on if he wants to contribute.

“You can’t miss time on the field and expect to play at a high level, and then also expect that we’re going to put you out there,” Riley said. “Domani did a really good job in camp in the practices that he’s been available and thought handled it very well. But he is fighting and he’s gonna need to because he needs to practice just like everybody else does.”

Linebacker Chris Thompson, receivers Kyle Ford and Michael Jackson III, safety Briton Allen, cornerback Josh Jackson and defensive lineman Earl Barquet were out with injuries Tuesday.

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