Aaron Coloma · LA Sports Report Thu, November 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support Local Media - Click to Add LA Sports Report as a Preferred Source on Google
The Maxwell Football Club selected USC Trojans true freshmen Trent Mosley and Luke Wafle as semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award, which is presented to the most outstanding freshman player in college football.
The award, named after former college football legend Shaun Alexander, became an annual tradition in 2018, passing through the hands of multiple future NFL stars—though no USC player has ever won the award.
Current Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence won the inaugural award in 2018, followed by Kenneth Gainwell, Will Anderson Jr., Brock Bowers, Drake Maye, Caleb Downs, Colin Simmons and Julian Sayin.
Wafle, the top defensive end in his high school class , leads all true freshmen across the FBS with 23 QB pressures, and leads the team with 8.5 tackles for loss, totaling a team-high 21 yards. His three sacks on the year also tie him for the team lead, and he has a 36 total tackles on the year.
He earned Big Ten freshman of the week for his huge performance against Washington, during which he logged five tackles, two tackles for loss and his first sack with the program.
Wafle is a big part of USC's stellar run defense this season, as the defensive unit allows just 3.8 yards per carry and 124.8 yards per game on the ground, totaling lower than their own team's totals.
Mosley, a wide receiver, missed three games this season with an injury, but has been electric during his six contests this season.
He has 512 receiving yards and six touchdowns on the year, both of which lead the team, and also has a couple of rushing attempts, totaling 17 yards.
The team's first-choice return man, Mosley has 212 yards on returns this year, scoring one touchdown—an 86-yarder against Louisiana. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance against Penn State, during which he led the team with nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. So far this season, Mosley has a touchdown in each of his games at home.
The finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be announced Dec. 2, with the winner to be announced Dec. 28. A formal presentation for the award will take place March 13, 2027 at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Source: Sports
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