USC Football Recruiting: Trojans building an elite 2026 class

After consecutive cycles ranked No. 15 or lower in the On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, USC is looking to bounce back with what could become the best class of the Lincoln Riley era.

At the beginning of June, the Trojans hold the country’s No. 1 class and a whopping 28 commitments — nearly double what every other Power 4 program in the country has in their own classes. One checks in as a five-star, while 17 more check in as four-stars and another 10 check in as three-stars. And a number of those are on the cusp of attaining blue-chip status.

USC has seen a few departures from the group, notable five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin, who opted to decommit last month. He was one of two early five-star commits, along Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) CB RJ Sermons, who joined the class on Dec. 13. He opted to graduate early and reclassify up a year to USC’s 2025 class on May 23.

It didn’t take Riley and Co. long to find another elite prospect though, as five-star tight end Mark Bowman pledged to the Trojans exactly a week later. He joins a group headlined by top-100 quarterback Jonas Williams, who USC flipped away from rival Oregon. They also poached four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui from the Ducks, as well as beating them out for elite offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe.

In total, more than half of the Trojans’ class hails from the Golden State (63%), and 63% of current commits are blue-chip prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking. Alongside Bowman, Pepe, and Williams, USC has top-100 commitments from CB Elbert Hill (No. 39), EDGE Simote Katoanga (No. 65), CB Brandon Lockhart (No. 71), and DL Jaimeon Winfield (No. 95).

Trojans commitments by position

Quarterback
Four-star Jonas Williams, No. 89 NATL. (No. 9 QB)

Running Back
Four-star Shahn Alston, No. 141 NATL. (No. 11 RB)
Four-star Deshonne Redeaux, No. 151 NATL. (No. 13 RB)

Wide Receiver
Four-star Trent Mosley, No. 199 NATL. (No. 31 WR)
Four-star Luc Weaver, No. 295 NATL. (No. 49 WR)
Four-star Roderick Tezeno, No. 342 NATL. (No. 52 WR)
Three-star Ja’Myron Baker, No. 497 NATL. (No. 77 WR)

Tight end
Five-star Mark Bowman, No. 12 NATL. (No. 1 TE)

Offensive tackle
Four-star Keenyi Pepe, No. 51 NATL. (No. 5 OT)
Four-star Vlad Dyakonov, No. 307 NATL. (No. 25 OT)
Three-star Chase Deniz, No. 747 NATL. (No. 59 OT)

Interior offensive linemen
Four-star Esun Tafa, No. 228 NATL. (No. 19 IOL)
Three-star Kannon Smith, No. 453 NATL. (No. 39 IOL)
Three-star John Fifita, No. 746 NATL. (No. 72 IOL)

Defensive Line
Four-star Jaimeon Winfield, No. 95 NATL. (No. 7 DL)
Four-star Tomuhini Topui, No. 137 NATL. (No. 13 DL)
Four-star Braeden Jones, No. 169 NATL. (No. 18 DL)
Three-star Jake Johnson, No. 705 NATL. (No. 71 DL)
Three-star Malik Brooks, No. 745 NATL. (No. 74 DL)

EDGE
Four-star Simote Katoanga, No. 65 NATL. (No. 12 EDGE)
Four-star Shaun Scott, No. 368 NATL. (No. 39 EDGE)
Three-star Andrew Williams, No. 739 NATL. (No. 73 EDGE)
Three-star Taylor Johnson, No. 806 NATL. (No. 75 EDGE)

Cornerback
Four-star Elbert Hill, No. 39 NATL. (No. 4 CB)
Four-star Brandon Lockhart, No. 71 NATL. (No. 10 CB)
Four-star Peyton Dyer, No. 274 NATL. (No. 25 CB)

Athlete
Three-star Joshua Holland, No. 462 NATL. (No. 27 ATH)
Three-star ATH Madden Riordan, No. 495 NATL. (No. 41 ATH)