Chad Bowden, USC flip 4-star receiver from Ohio State

USC football recruiting continues to be a juggernaut under general manager Chad Bowden. The early signing period began on Wednesday with the Trojans flipping four-star receiver prospect Kayden Dixon-Wyatt from Ohio State. Bowden deserves the credit for getting this done, but he also received timely help which likely tipped the scales in USC's favor. Earlier on Wednesday, South Florida hired Ohio State offensive coordinator and elite receiver recruiter Brian Hartline as its new head coach.

This had to have played a role in the flip. Nevertheless, Bowden and USC positioned themselves as the top non-Ohio State alternative. They took advantage as soon as the Buckeyes lost their best developer of wide receivers.

USC wide receiver room adjusts for the future

With Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane both likely heading for the 2026 NFL draft, it was and is crucial for USC to find replacements and stockpile talent. This is one big step.

USC receiver depth

USC did not have a whole lot of quality depth behind Lemon, Lane, and Tanook Hines in 2025. The Trojans need to get back to having four or five quality receivers who can all be threats. This is another step in the right direction.

2022 is a standard USC hasn't yet matched in subsequent years

Lincoln Riley and receiver coach Dennis Simmons did great work in 2022. Jordan Addison, Mario Williams, Tahj Washington, Kyle Ford, and Brenden Rice all became potent receivers before that season ended. Rice was the last of the five to really develop, but he came along late in the season and in the Cotton Bowl versus Tulane. USC needs to get back to having a large group of good receivers, not just a heavy-hitting top two as we saw in 2025 with Lemon and Lane. Flipping Dixon-Wyatt from Ohio State moves the needle in the right way.

Dennis Simmons needs to do better

Flowing from the above point about 2022 setting the high bar and then not being matched, Dennis Simmons really has to step it up in 2026. Now he has another high-end receiver to work with. It's up to Simmons to improve so that USC's passing game can really take off. It was good in 2025, but not as good as it could have been.

Big road games

USC's passing game was good but not spectacular at Notre Dame, with dropped passes and mistakes getting in the way of the offense. The game at Nebraska was below-average. USC has to be able to go on the road and swamp opposing defenses with dominant wide receiver play. We saw that in 2022 at Utah, with the Trojans scoring 42 points. Again, USC's wide receiver play has been good, but not elite, in terms of having four or five players all making massive contributions.

Chad Bowden is the main source of hope for USC football

Chad Bowden is extremely good at what he does. Hopefully, this flip is just a first small taste of what is to come this offseason, including in the transfer portal.

USC likely needs a veteran home-run hitter in the portal

USC just picked up a four-star recruit at receiver, but the Trojans will likely need a veteran star receiver -- akin to Jordan Addison -- to really make the 2026 receiver room elite. Follow Ethan Inman's transfer portal analysis at Trojans Wire for all position groups, not just wide receiver.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Chad Bowden, USC football bring in 4-star flip from Ohio State