National Signing Day is often defined by letters of intent, photo ops, and the rush of a dream finally becoming official. But at USC, the moment went deeper.
Student-athletes who officially signed to join USC include Deshonne Redeaux, Trent Mosley, Tron Braker, Madden Riordan, Brandon Lockhart, Simote Katoanga, Keenyi Pepe, Tom Tom Topui, Mark Bowman, Joshua Holland II, Shaun Scott, Luc Weaver, Jayden Crowder, Malik Books, and Andrew Williams.
Ahead of the Trojans’ newest recruits officially joining the program, a group of entertainers, creatives, and community leaders gathered to pour wisdom, perspective, and real-life guidance into the young men about to step into one of college football’s biggest stages.
Student-athletes who officially signed to join USC include Deshonne Redeaux, Trent Mosley, Tron Braker, Madden Riordan, Brandon Lockhart, Simote Katoanga, Keenyi Pepe, Tom Tom Topui, Mark Bowman, Joshua Holland II, Shaun Scott, Luc Weaver, Jayden Crowder, Malik Books, and Andrew Williams.
Among them were comedian and actor Mike Epps, Grammy-nominated artist Kalan.FrFr., and veteran casting director and producer Leah Daniels Butler, each offering something beyond applause: honesty.
Rather than celebrating accomplishments alone, the conversation focused on what comes next.
Epps, who has built a three-decade career through resilience and self-belief, reminded the players that signing day isn’t the finish line; it’s the beginning of the real work. He encouraged them to stay disciplined, ignore distractions, and maintain the mindset that had brought them there in the first place.
“You think you’ve worked hard already,” Epps told the room. “This is the beginning of hard work.” He emphasized that success comes from consistency when nobody is watching, urging the players to prioritize growth over temporary rewards and to keep their focus on becoming the best version of themselves.
Kalan.FrFr., who understands the pressures of visibility from both athletics and music, spoke candidly about how fast money, attention, and expectations can arrive, and how unprepared many young people are when they do.
As a former college athlete turned recording artist and philanthropist, he stressed the importance of education, self-awareness, and having a plan beyond football.
“Knowledge is power,” Kalan shared, encouraging the recruits to value their education as much as any NIL opportunity. He reminded them that football can open doors, but curiosity, discipline, and adaptability are what sustain long-term success.
Butler offered a perspective rooted in storytelling and authenticity. Drawing from her experience casting major films and television series, she told the players that their greatest asset isn’t just performance, it’s being grounded in who they are.
“Be your authentic self,” she said. “Don’t shapeshift for acceptance.” Her message was a reminder that identity and character matter just as much as talent, whether on the field, on screen, or in life.
Throughout the discussion, a recurring theme emerged: football is powerful, but it shouldn’t be the only chapter in the story. The panelists spoke openly about pivots, backup plans, and the reality that not every dream unfolds exactly as imagined, and that this truth doesn’t diminish success.
Epps shared that fulfillment comes from living up to your own expectations, not anyone else’s. Kalan echoed that sentiment, reminding the players that family pride and self-respect endure long after wins and losses fade.
Each speaker treated the recruits not as prospects, but as young men stepping into adulthood with opportunity, pressure, and responsibility colliding all at once.
For the newest Trojans, the message was clear: you’ve made it here but how you move forward is what will define you.
Photo Credit: Nikki Boutte
