USC’s Offensive Line: The Most Experienced—and Now the Deepest—Unit in College Football

Los Angeles—When the USC Trojans step onto United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this fall, they will bring back something no other program in the country can claim: every starter from a 2025 offensive line that already flashed dominance. All five starters return, giving head coach Lincoln Riley the rare luxury of continuity in the bruising Big Ten.

Yet the story inside the Howard Jones Practice Field this spring is not just about who came back—it’s about who is pushing them. Behind the veterans sits a second layer of proven reserves and a third wave of five- and four-star freshmen who have already begun jockeying for snaps. The result is a room that looks less like a traditional two-deep and more like a fully stocked pipeline.

Redshirt freshman Elijah Vaikona embodies that progression. At 6-foot-8, the tallest Trojan on the roster, Vaikona spent 2025 shadowing veterans Justin Tauanuu, Tobias Raymond and Elijah Paige, peppering them with questions after every drill.

“I got to sit behind Justin, Tobias and Elijah last year, and that was great. I learned a lot of things,” Vaikona said following Tuesday’s practice. “Sometimes the questions seemed annoying, but it was just for me to learn and they were really helpful.”

The approach paid off. Vaikona has already begun returning the favor, hosting incoming freshmen for film sessions at his apartment and accelerating the same mentorship cycle that aided him.

That collaborative culture, players say, is what separates USC from other contenders. Because the starting five is entrenched, no freshman is being fast-tracked out of necessity. Instead, Riley and offensive line coach Josh Henson can red-shirt unless a newcomer proves he can upgrade the rotation.

“Nobody has to play, but if somebody’s good enough to play, then they’re gonna play,” Riley said after Friday’s workout. “You love having a point where you know you can just develop these guys.”

Five-star tackle Keenyi Pepe, the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2026 class, is testing that philosophy. Already taking reps with the second team at right tackle, Pepe’s blend of size and technique has staffers buzzing. Interior freshmen Breck Kolojay, Esun Tafa and Vlad Dyakonov are applying similar pressure inside.

The competition is possible only because USC’s depth has already been battle-tested. Guard Kaylon Miller started three games down the stretch last season, and Hayden Treter filled in for the bowl game. Even with Tauanuu recovering from an offseason procedure and center Kilian O’Connor limited this spring, the line has not missed a beat. Tobias Raymond’s ability to slide between guard spots and Alani Noa’s 24 career starts provide additional insurance.

Riley believes that layered roster construction—starters, experienced backups, high-ceiling freshmen—can become the engine of a playoff run.

If the development track holds, USC won’t simply trot out the most experienced offensive line in college football. It might trot out the best.