During USC football’s 73-13 beatdown of Missouri State last Saturday August 30, 2025, Trojan tight end Carson Tabaracci was one of 9 different USC players to score a touchdown.
His score was the final house call of the day for USC. Tabaracci caught a 9-yard pass from backup quarterback Husan Longstreet in the fourth quarter to put the Trojans up 73-13 and give them their most points in a game since 1930.
But to Tabaracci, this was more than just a garbage time touchdown, and even more than a record setting one.
This was a moment that doctors reportedly told him would not happen.
USC football insider Connor Morissette of USCFootball.com reported on Wednesday September 3, 2025 that Head Coach Lincoln Riley said Tabaracci’s injury nearly ended his football career.
“Lincoln Riley said yesterday that tight end Carson Tabaracci overcoming his injuries to return to action and catch a touchdown pass against Missouri State was a ‘miracle’ and a ‘one in a million’ chance,” Morrissette wrote in a post on X. “Tabaracci had been told he wasn’t going to be able to play football again.”
It was only the second catch of Tabaracci’s collegiate career, and his first career touchdown.
All About Carson Tabaracci, Injury History
Redshirt junior Carson Tabaracci has had quite the roller coaster of a college football career.
At Park City High School in Utah, Tabaracci was primarily a running back, but also played wide receiver, quarterback and linebacker.
Tabaracci originally commuted to the University of Utah in 2021 and enrolled there in 2022. But after spending the spring of 2022 with the Utes, Tabaracci decided he wanted to transfer to USC ahead of the 2022 season.
When he started at USC in 2022, Tabracci was a linebacker. But, he missed the entirety of the 2022 season because he needed back surgery.
But then, ahead of the 2023 season, the Trojan coaching staff decided to move Tabaracci to tight end.
He played in every game in 2023, mostly contributing on special teams with 4 tackles. Against Washington, Tabracci had one of the highlights of his young career when he recovered a blocked punt. He did also have 1 catch for 32 yards in the Holiday Bowl versus Louisville.
Then, Tabaracci missed the entire 2024 season due to a neck injury. The neck issue is the one doctors thought would end his career.
But he is back and ready to make an impact for the Trojans on offense. He serves as the third string TE behind Lake McRee and Walker Lyons in the first game against Missouri State.
Another Tight End Scored A Touchdown After Injury
Tabaracci wasn’t the only Trojan tight end who had his 2024 season significantly affected by injury.
Many people thought 2024 was going to be a breakout year for USC starting tight end Lake McRee. But injuries limited McRee to 10 games and 24 catches.
It seems like in 2025, McRee may finally be a go-to target in the USC offense. He caught a long 64-yard touchdown from Jayden Maiava in the beginning of the second quarter to put USC up 21-3. He had two catches for 72 yards on the day, in limited playing time.
Trojan fans are rooting for McRee, Tabaracci, Lyons and everyone in the USC tight end room to be healthy and productive in 2025.
USC Football Player Overcame Nearly Career-Ending Injury For Miracle Touchdown