Lincoln Riley excited to add size to recruiting class with late addition of Duce Robinson

USC coach Lincoln Riley is eager see the impact that Duce Robinson can have in Los Angeles. A five-star tight end out of Phoenix, Robinson was the final commitment in the Trojans’ stacked 2023 recruiting class.

Robinson joins five-star receiver Zachariah Branch and fellow late commit Ja’Kobi Lane as potential pass-catching weapons for Caleb Williams. Riley believes that Robinson, who brings size at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, was the perfect player to end the Trojans class and will make the USC offense explosive once again in 2023 and beyond.

“I think with the last two spots in the high school class in terms of the offensive skill, that’s what we wanted to attack,” the coach said. “We got a lot bigger there. Ja’Kobi Lane brings some of that. Duce brings some of that. We’ve been able to add some real speed. We’ve got some juice in that room. You start to mix up the skillsets and I think that could be a fun combination to work with.

“Obviously we’re pretty pumped about it. I think (Robinson) fits a need. It’ll be fun to get him and Ja’Kobi and guys like that here in the mix with our guys. I feel like we have a chance to turn out a pretty good product in terms of our skill positions.”

Robinson ranked as the No. 23 overall player and No. 1 tight end in the 2023 class according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He joins a Trojans team that loses last year’s leading receiver Jordan Addison, so opportunities to contribute right away will be there.

In addition to football, Robinson also played baseball and high school and is considered one of the top prospects in the upcoming MLB Draft. That will give Riley something else to consider as Robinson’s selection looms this summer.

Lincoln Riley believes Duce Robinson would choose baseball if drafted

When Riley was recruiting Robinson, the thought of him playing baseball was always known as a possibility. In fact, if a team does select Robinson high enough in this year’s MLB Draft, Riley does expect him to sign the professional contract. Robinson can still play football at USC but there will be some new challenges to tackle.

“I certainly don’t pretend the be a baseball expert but I think it’s a good chance Duce is going to get drafted and very potentially that he gets drafted high,” Riley said.

“If that’s what happens, I think his intention is to sign a professional contract and then play college football. Which, he can do now. If that does not happen, then I think all options are on the table in terms of potentially playing both here at SC. We’ll see how it evolves.”

Robinson has not publicly stated he prefers playing one or the other. Both avenues are going to be open for him in the near future. Riley feels comfortable with where they stand as the draft looms this summer.

“Duce has big goals in both sports,” Riley said. “I think there was some comfort factor there because it matched some of the other guys we have been able to coach. So, we were able to have very real conversations about that.”

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.