Ja'Kobi Lane labeled a 'freak' by Miller Moss

The USC Trojans will look quite different in their Holiday Bowl matchup versus Louisville at the end of the month, especially on offense.

Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams will not be participating in the bowl game ahead of the NFL Draft along with wide receiver Brenden Rice, with numerous wideouts entering their names in the NCAA transfer portal following the season as well.

Quarterback Miller Moss will get the first start of his collegiate career with Williams shifting his focus to the NFL, allowing him to show the Trojan’s coaching staff what he’s made of as they’re actively recruiting the quarterback position in the transfer portal.

USC’s younger wideouts will have an opportunity to showcase their abilities in the Holiday Bowl too, including the former highly-touted recruit and freshman Ja’Kobi Lane. Following the team’s practice on Friday, Moss was asked what he expects from Lane in what could likely be his biggest opportunity of the season.

“Dude’s a freak, big things,” Moss said. “I won’t spoil too much, but he’s a great player. Obviously a young kid, but very very bright future ahead of him.”

Lane made six game appearances in his true freshman season with the Trojans, recording four catches for 33 yards. But with Rice out of the picture and receivers like Michael Jackson III and Raleek Brown entering the transfer portal, the Holiday Bowl could serve as a breakout opportunity for the first year player.

Lane was a four-star prospect out of Red Mountain High School in Arizona, ranked the No. 53 wide receiver in 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. His size at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds presents a ton of potential upside that can hopefully be on display against the Cardinals.

USC boasted the Pac-12’s second-best scoring offense this season averaging 41.8 points per game, but will they be able to maintain that same success in the bowl game without Williams and various weapons on the offensive side of the ball?

Moss will be facing one of the most stout defenses in the country for his first career start, with Louisville holding opponents to just 19.7 points per game and an impressive 205.4 passing yards per contest. But hopefully Moss and the Trojans’ young weapons will be able to come up big and execute on a golden opportunity in San Diego.

USC faces Louisville in the Holiday Bowl on December 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET in a matchup airing on FOX.