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Tight end Lake McRee to return to USC for 2025 season

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney01/06/25ErikTMcKinney
Utah State Aggies linebacker Jon Ross Maye (1) attempts to tackle USC Trojans tight end Lake McRee (87) during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Utah State Aggies linebacker Jon Ross Maye (1) attempts to tackle USC Trojans tight end Lake McRee (87) during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images)

USC tight end Lake McRee officially announced Monday that he’ll be back with the Trojans for the 2025 season, utilizing his final year of eligibility.

“Last one best one,” McRee posted to his X account, followed by the hashtag “RunItBack.”

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end used his redshirt season as a true freshman with the Trojans in 2021 and then became an important part of the offense over the past three years. Outside of USC’s five starting offensive linemen and quarterback Miller Moss, no offensive player took more snaps per game than McRee in 2024.

He finished the season with 24 receptions for 245 yards and now has 67 receptions for 704 yards and three touchdowns in his four years with the Trojans. While he hasn’t been an explosive option as a receiver, his presence along the line of scrimmage seemed to at least in part help stabilize both the running and passing games for the Trojans.

And his presence in the tight end room next season will be huge. With the loss of Kade Eldridge to the transfer portal and then Washington, USC’s tight ends would have been entirely first or second-year players had McRee looked elsewhere or to the NFL for the 2025 season. True freshman Walker Lyons saw some time this season and looks ready for a significant role next fall. Fellow true freshman Joey Olsen got one snap this year and another true freshman, Walter Matthews, didn’t see the field. USC added incoming freshman Nela Tupou in the 2025 recruiting class. The Trojans will have a new tight ends coach following the move of Zach Hanson to the offensive line room. But now they’ll also have something of a player/coach in McRee, who will be a huge help to the young players in that tight end room.

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz