USC holding onto nation's No. 1 recruiting class as pivotal season begins

Heading into an all-important season in terms of on-field results, Lincoln Riley and USC hold the nation’s top overall class in the Rivals Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings.

As we open close out August and the Trojans open their year against Missouri State on Saturday, they hold a whopping 32 commitments — the second-most of any Power 4 program in the country. That marks an increase of seven commitments more than what they signed in the 2025 class, with a couple more potential flip targets or senior risers being added this fall.

Of the group, two check in as five-stars, while 20 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.

All of that is after the Trojans saw a few departures from the group, notably five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin, who opted to decommit in May. He was one of two early five-star commits, along with 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 joined a group headlined by top-150 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 five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe.

In total, more than half of the Trojans’ class hails from the Golden State (53%), and 69% of current commits are blue-chip prospects in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Alongside Bowman and Pepe, USC has top-100 commitments from CB Elbert Hill (No. 35), EDGE Luke Wafle (No. 45), WR Boobie Feaster (No. 52), DL Jaimeon Winfield (No. 73), EDGE Simote Katoanga (No. 77), LB Talanoa Ili (No. 84), CB Brandon Lockhart (No. 89) and RB Shahn Alston (No. 100).

With a little more than three full months until Signing Day, their class holds a team score of 93.202, just ahead of Georgia’s 93.058.

Trojans commitments by position

Quarterback
Four-star Jonas Williams, No. 143 NATL. (No. 10 QB)

Running Back
Four-star Shahn Alston, No. 100 NATL. (No. 8 RB)
Four-star Deshonne Redeaux, No. 127 NATL. (No. 12 RB)

Wide Receiver
Four-star Boobie Feaster, No. 52 NATL. (No. 5 WR)
Four-star Trent Mosley, No. 205 NATL. (No. 33 WR)
Four-star Luc Weaver, No. 310 NATL. (No. 52 WR)
Four-star Roderick Tezeno, No. 382 NATL. (No. 59 WR)
Three-star Ja’Myron Baker, No. 557 NATL. (No. 85 WR)

Tight end
Five-star Mark Bowman, No. 15 NATL. (No. 1 TE)

Offensive tackle
Five-star Keenyi Pepe, No. 25 NATL. (No. 4 OT)
Four-star Vlad Dyakonov, No. 156 NATL. (No. 12 OT)
Three-star Chase Deniz, No. 983 NATL. (No. 74 OT)

Interior offensive linemen
Four-star Esun Tafa, No. 230 NATL. (No. 17 IOL)
Four-star Breck Kolojay, No. 332 NATL. (No. 30 IOL)
Three-star Kannon Smith, No. 529 NATL. (No. 51 IOL)
Three-star John Fifita, No. 980 NATL. (No. 94 IOL)

Defensive Line
Four-star Jaimeon Winfield, No. 73 NATL. (No. 4 DL)
Four-star Tomuhini Topui, No. 145 NATL. (No. 17 DL)
Four-star Braeden Jones, No. 265 NATL. (No. 29 DL)
Three-star Jake Johnson, No. 845 NATL. (No. 86 DL)
Three-star Malik Brooks, No. 1242 NATL. (No. 119 DL)

EDGE
Four-star Luke Wafle, No. 45 NATL. (No. 9 EDGE)
Four-star Simote Katoanga, No. 77 NATL. (No. 12 EDGE)
Four-star Shaun Scott, No. 340 NATL. (No. 35 EDGE)
Three-star Andrew Williams, No. 728 NATL. (No. 73 EDGE)

Linebacker
Four-star Talanoa Ili, No. 84 NATL. (No. 5 LB)
Three-star Taylor Johnson, No. 862 NATL. (No. 71 LB)

Cornerback
Four-star Elbert Hill, No. 35 NATL. (No. 4 CB)
Four-star Brandon Lockhart, No. 89 NATL. (No. 12 CB)
Four-star Peyton Dyer, No. 246 NATL. (No. 25 CB)

Safety
Three-star Madden Riordan, No. 685 NATL. (No. 56 S)

Athlete
Three-star Joshua Holland, No. 546 NATL. (No. 25 ATH)