5 best moments of Lake McRee's USC football career

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Lake McRee's USC football career is a story worth remembering.

When he enrolled at USC, NIL was just getting off the ground, Clay Helton was USC's head coach, Kedon Slovis was USC's starting quarterback, and McRee was backing up guys named Malcolm Epps, Erick Krommenhoek, Jude Wolfe and Sean Mahoney at the tight end position.

A lot has changed at USC and in the college football world since, but one thing hasn't: McRee's loyalty to USC. And all along, McRee has been a very good player for the Trojans. So good, in fact, that he's expected to be selected in the 2026 NFL draft.

It's only right to honor a player like McRee who was so loyal to USC over the years. So, as a Trojans Wire tribute, we are going to look back at the five best moments of Lake McRee's career now that it is officially over.

Here they are, in my opinion:

McRee breaks onto the scene against BYU

The 2021 season was obviously a lost and muddled season: Clay Helton was fired after only two games because USC suffered an embarrassing loss to Stanford at the Coliseum in week 2. Donte Williams coached the rest of the way. Kedon Slovis, Jaxson Dart and Miller Moss all saw the field at quarterback that year. USC won only 4 games total.

Amidst such a forgettable season overall for the Trojans, Lake McRee didn't have a very memorable season on an individual level either. He caught only 7 passes.

But 4 of those 7 catches came in arguably USC's most memorable game of that entire season: a 35-31 loss to BYU at the Coliseum on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2021.

The Trojans were bad all season long, but for one night, it looked like they just might beat the No. 13 team in the country. In fact, BYU had to come up with a fourth-down stand inside the red zone with less than a minute left in the game to stop USC from pulling off the upset.

On that night, McRee tied for second on the Trojans with 4 catches and led the team with 63 receiving yards. He also played a key role in USC's run blocking, which was vital given that the Trojans rushed the ball 44 times for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns.

It wasn't an eye-popping statline, and USC did lose. But it was Trojan fans first indication that this McRee kid may be something special and could contribute to winning big games.

McRee's first career touchdown catch

Against Stanford in Week 2 of the 2022 season, McRee caught his first career touchdown from Caleb Williams to put the Trojans up 7-0 over the Cardinal in the first quarter.

It's a cool highlight, with Williams making a very athletic throw to McRee on the run. It also signified to Trojan fans that 2022 would be different than 2021. The Trojans made very quick work of a Stanford turnover to score that touchdown, finishing the short drive in under two minutes. The Stanford game solidified what Trojan fans merely suspected during USC's first game against Rice: this was a juggernaut offense. And McRee was a part of that.

McRee helps USC beat LSU

USC's season-opening upset win over LSU in Las Vegas in 2024 ultimately represented false hope in a lot of ways.

The Trojans looked like one of the best teams in the country with Miller Moss under center for the moment when they beat the Tigers. And then, they ended up going 7-6 with Moss benched midway through the season.

2024 was kind of a season of lost opportunities for McRee personally as well, whose excellent performance against LSU made it look like he was going to break out. He ultimately ended up having a very injury-hampered year instead.

But! We can focus on the negatives or we can focus on the positives. And today, we are looking back on McRee's career looking for the best moments. And at the time, McRee's game against LSU was awesome.

He had a career-high 5 catches for 56 yards, helped Woody Marks rush for 68 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ultimately was the face of what felt like a positive culture shift for USC. They were going to play physical football and win games with tight ends, physical running backs and defense instead of just speedy skill players.

It's not McRee's fault that they couldn't win like that in 2024. But he was ultimately a big reason why they did win like that in 2025. So, this was just a way-too-early sign of things to come for McRee, I suppose.

McRee's leaping catch against Notre Dame this season

I would say this was the best individual play of McRee's career. His 64-yard touchdown against Missouri State has an argument for different reasons. But the pure athleticism McRee showed on this play is just awesome.

Jayden Maiava threw it only where McRee could get it and somehow, some way he came down with it to give the Trojans the first lead of the game.

It's a shame they didn't still hold that lead at the end of the game. But if there's one singular highlight play from McRee's career that was the most incredible in and of itself, apart from its context, it was this play.

This is the kind of play that gets you on NFL draft boards. I just know McRee can become an elite pass-catching tight end in the NFL, and it's because of plays like this.

McRee's last touchdown against UCLA in 2025

There's nothing better than a senior who has contributed so much to his program scoring during his last ever regular season game, on senior night. The fact that it put the Trojans up two scores on their most hated rival just made it that much sweeter.

This is the kind of play that McRee will remember forever, and so will Trojan fans.

Honorable mention: Every touchdown celebration with Walker Lyons

One thing I loved about McRee's leadership this year is we so often saw him celebrating alongside USC's backup tight end, Walker Lyons.

It's so clear that McRee and Lyons are great friends and are rooting for what's best for one another. That's special because they are choosing not to see each other as competitors for playing time but as true teammates. It's unselfish and shows a lot of character.

Just as much as I'll remember McRee for his exciting individual plays on the field, I'll remember him for his team-first attitude and genuine heart for all of his teammates and the University of Southern California. I hope you remember him for the same things.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Reflections on USC's Lake McRee, who declared for 2026 NFL draft

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