Meet Trent Mosley, the Big Ten's Top Freshman

Mosley has already demonstrated his ability to create separation and use his speed and agility to create big plays like that 68-yard touchdown against Fresno State.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder is also flashing elite after-the-catch skill. His route running already looks far more polished than a typical freshman playing his first two games of college football.

USC has the nation’s top-rated recruiting class, and Mosley might be the crown jewel despite being the third-ranked receiver of the group. Mosley was a highly touted four-star recruit out of Santa Margarita Catholic, but he was not expected to have this big of a role right away.

The Trojans signed six wide receivers in their 34-player high school recruiting class, including top-100 recruits Dixon-Wyatt and Ethan Feaster. Mosley rounded out a trio of top-300 recruits, and was the 34th-ranked receiver in the nation. If anywhere close to 33 receivers emerge from this class better than Mosley, college football is looking at a generational influx of talent.

Riley’s staff seems to have found a gem, with Mosley producing as the team’s best pass catcher through two weeks.

The season is still in its early stages, but Mosley already looks like a major contender for Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

USC will have one of the best passing offenses in the Big Ten with Lincoln Riley and Jayden Maiava, and Mosley has already developed strong chemistry with Maiava. Building trust with a veteran quarterback as a true freshman is not easy, but Mosley has done it.

His early success should keep him on the field for the rest of the season. In Riley’s high-volume offense, snaps generally lead to heavy production. Look no further than last year’s Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, who parlayed their success to become NFL draft picks. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award, and Lane has been turning heads all offseason for the Baltimore Ravens.

There are plenty of targets to go around for Mosley, Dixon-Wyatt and other receivers to all produce at a high level.

San Jose State and Fresno State’s defenses do not pose the same threat that Big Ten defenses will against the Trojans, but Mosley is passing the eye test in these games with flying colors.

If Mosley continues his dominant start into conference play, he can position himself as the next big wide receiver not just in the Big Ten, but in college football, following in the footsteps of standout true freshmen like Jeremiah Smith and Malachi Toney.