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USC’s Alex Graham and Luke Wafle Named to Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List
August 26, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC redshirt freshman safety Alex Graham and true freshman defensive end Luke Wafle have been named to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List, today (Aug. 26). This award is presented to the outstanding freshman player in college football.
Graham recorded 15 tackles, including 2 for loss of 5 yards, while appearing in 5 games with 2 starts (UCLA and the Alamo Bowl versus TCU) as a true freshman cornerback in 2025. He tallied 7 tackles, including 1 for loss of 2 yards, against UCLA. He had a single-game career-high 8 tackles, including 1 for loss of 3 yards, in the Alamo Bowl versus TCU. He was sidelined at the beginning of the season due to injury.
Graham, a four-star recruit, was rated as the No. 5 player in the state of Michigan by 247Sports, No. 6 by ESPN, No. 8 by Rivals and No. 10 by On3. He was touted as the No. 36 cornerback in the country by 247Sports, No. 41 by ESPN, No. 54 by Rivals and No. 65 by On3.
Coming out of high school, Graham was a three-phase player who was a threat as a receiver and return man as well as a defensive back. In 2024, he helped Cass Tech go 12-2 (5-1 in league) to rank No. 1 in the state. Graham played a pivotal role in Cass Tech winning the 2024 Detroit Public School League Blue City Championship, the 2024 Division 1 Region 4 Championship and the 2024 Division 1 State Championship. He was named to the 2024 Prep RedZone All-State Championship Defense and the 2024 MHSFCA All-Region First Team. Before the season, he earned placement on the 2024 Prep RedZone Michigan Division I Preseason All-State Defense.
Wafle, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2026 after graduating a semester early from high school, looks to compete for playing time at defensive end as a true freshman in 2026.
A five-star recruit, he was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the nation by On3/Rivals. He was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports. He as touted as the No. 1 edge in the country by Rivals and 247Sports and No. 6 by ESPN. He was a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee. At the Navy All-American Bowl, he was named the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl MVP by both the All-American Bowl and Rivals and was the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl Defensive Player of the Year.
As a senior in 2025, he recorded 99 tackles, including 37 for loss with a school record 23 sacks. He earned placement on the 2025 Maxwell Football Club High School All-American Team, The Sporting News 2025 High School All-America First Team, the 2025 MaxPreps All-America First Team, the 2025 All NJ Prep "A" Football First Team, the 2025 All-USA East Football Team and was selected as team captain. He was named the 2025 Mercer County Prep Lineman of the Yearpresented by the Delaware Valley Chapter's 12th Man Touchdown Club and was a finalist for the 2025 Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year. As a team captain, he led the Hun School to a 10-0 record and a won a New England Championship in 2025. Wafle was named the 2025 All NJ Prep Football Team Defensive Player of the Year and the 2025 12th Man Touchdown Club Prep Lineman of Year. He was selected as the NFL's New York Giants representative at the 2025 Nike Next Ones during Super Bowl Week. Nike organized Next Ones, an elite athlete invitational that brought together 32 of the top high school players in the country for a showcase during Super Bowl Week.
The award will be presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards along with several of the other top awards in college and professional football. The event will be held on March 13, 2027, and hosted by the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.
Graham recorded 15 tackles, including 2 for loss of 5 yards, while appearing in 5 games with 2 starts (UCLA and the Alamo Bowl versus TCU) as a true freshman cornerback in 2025. He tallied 7 tackles, including 1 for loss of 2 yards, against UCLA. He had a single-game career-high 8 tackles, including 1 for loss of 3 yards, in the Alamo Bowl versus TCU. He was sidelined at the beginning of the season due to injury.
Graham, a four-star recruit, was rated as the No. 5 player in the state of Michigan by 247Sports, No. 6 by ESPN, No. 8 by Rivals and No. 10 by On3. He was touted as the No. 36 cornerback in the country by 247Sports, No. 41 by ESPN, No. 54 by Rivals and No. 65 by On3.
Coming out of high school, Graham was a three-phase player who was a threat as a receiver and return man as well as a defensive back. In 2024, he helped Cass Tech go 12-2 (5-1 in league) to rank No. 1 in the state. Graham played a pivotal role in Cass Tech winning the 2024 Detroit Public School League Blue City Championship, the 2024 Division 1 Region 4 Championship and the 2024 Division 1 State Championship. He was named to the 2024 Prep RedZone All-State Championship Defense and the 2024 MHSFCA All-Region First Team. Before the season, he earned placement on the 2024 Prep RedZone Michigan Division I Preseason All-State Defense.
Wafle, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2026 after graduating a semester early from high school, looks to compete for playing time at defensive end as a true freshman in 2026.
A five-star recruit, he was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the nation by On3/Rivals. He was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports. He as touted as the No. 1 edge in the country by Rivals and 247Sports and No. 6 by ESPN. He was a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee. At the Navy All-American Bowl, he was named the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl MVP by both the All-American Bowl and Rivals and was the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl Defensive Player of the Year.
As a senior in 2025, he recorded 99 tackles, including 37 for loss with a school record 23 sacks. He earned placement on the 2025 Maxwell Football Club High School All-American Team, The Sporting News 2025 High School All-America First Team, the 2025 MaxPreps All-America First Team, the 2025 All NJ Prep "A" Football First Team, the 2025 All-USA East Football Team and was selected as team captain. He was named the 2025 Mercer County Prep Lineman of the Yearpresented by the Delaware Valley Chapter's 12th Man Touchdown Club and was a finalist for the 2025 Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year. As a team captain, he led the Hun School to a 10-0 record and a won a New England Championship in 2025. Wafle was named the 2025 All NJ Prep Football Team Defensive Player of the Year and the 2025 12th Man Touchdown Club Prep Lineman of Year. He was selected as the NFL's New York Giants representative at the 2025 Nike Next Ones during Super Bowl Week. Nike organized Next Ones, an elite athlete invitational that brought together 32 of the top high school players in the country for a showcase during Super Bowl Week.
The award will be presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards along with several of the other top awards in college and professional football. The event will be held on March 13, 2027, and hosted by the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.
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