Notre Dame’s struggles in wide receiver recruiting continued on Tuesday as four-star 2026 prospect Trent Mosley chose USC over the Fighting Irish and Stanford. A double legacy, Mosley seemed like a strong Notre Dame target, but the program once again misjudged its position.
Wide receiver recruiting has become a glaring issue for Notre Dame, with the 2025 cycle already a disaster and similar signs emerging in 2026. The Irish have repeatedly missed on key targets, failing to adjust their approach.
Mosley, the son of former Notre Dame football player Emmett Mosley IV and soccer star Cindy Mosley (formerly Cyndi Daws), was highly sought after. His older brother, Emmett Mosley V, also passed on Notre Dame in 2024, opting for Stanford. Despite showing more interest than his brother, Trent ultimately felt a stronger connection to USC.
Rated No. 106 overall and the No. 11 wide receiver in the 2026 class by 247Sports, Mosley had offers from elite programs like Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Texas, and Oregon. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound playmaker had a stellar junior season, recording 61 catches for 908 yards and eight touchdowns, following up a dominant sophomore year.
With another key miss, Notre Dame’s struggles at the position persist, highlighting an urgent need for change in their recruiting strategy.
