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After missing out on the College Football Playoff and Big Ten Championship Game this fall, the attentions of USC Trojans fans turn to the future. Thankfully for them, Lincoln Riley has put together an incredible class that should help the program compete at the very top of the conference.
Who is the Trojans’ top recruit, where does the program rank nationally, and who makes up the 2026 USC football recruiting class?
Who Is the Top Recruit in the 2026 USC Football Recruiting Class?
Riley has been one of college football’s premier offensive minds and quarterback coaches in recent history, but offensive line play hasn’t always matched the playmakers he’s developed at the skill positions. In the Big Ten, you need to be strong in the trenches, and landing Keenyi Pope as the prize piece of the USC football recruiting class certainly helps towards that.
Pope is a 6’7″, 320-pound offensive tackle out of the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. A five-star prospect, he’s the fifth-ranked player nationally and the top offensive tackle in the class. Riley strolled into SEC territory and plucked the top-ranked player in the state of Florida. The mammoth offensive tackle held 35 offers, including from Alabama and Georgia.
Where Does the 2026 USC Class Rank Nationally?
The 2026 USC football recruiting class sits first overall nationally, as per 247 Sports. The Trojans have one five-star (Pope), 20 four-stars, and 13 four-star recruits in their 35-strong class entering National Signing Day. No team in the top 10 has more three-star recruits than Riley’s team, and only Georgia and Texas A&M have more committed four-star players right now.
MORE: College Football Playoff Rankings Winners & Losers: December 2nd Reveal Delivers Chaos
The current rankings mark an incredible turnaround in the space of a year. In the previous class, USC ranked 13th nationally, with the Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Oregon Ducks all bagging more substantial classes within the Big Ten Conference. Riley has increased the average recruit grade from 90.05 to 91.72 between the two classes.
USC Football’s Recruiting Class, 2026
Keenyi Pepe, OT, IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
Mark Bowman, TE, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
Jaimeon Winfield, DL, Richardson (Richardson, TX)
Talanoa Ili, LB, Kahuku (Kahuku, HI)
Ethan Feaster, WR, DeSoto (DeSoto, TX)
Luke Wafle, Edge, Hun School (Princeton, NJ)
Tomuhini Topui, DL, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
Elbert Hill, CB, Archbishop Hoban (Akron, OH)
Deshonne Redeaux, RB, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)
Jonas Williams, QB, Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, IL)
Esun Tafa, IOL, Corner Canyon (Draper, UT)
Shahn Alston, RB, Harvey (Painesville, OH)
Simote Katoanga, DL, Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
Brandon Lockhart, CB, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
Vlad Dyakonov, OT, Folsom (Folsom, CA)
Trent Mosley, WR, Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
Shaun Scott, LB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
Luc Weaver, WR, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Breck Kolojay, IOL, IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
Peyton Dyer, CB, Tyner Academy (Chattanooga, TN)
Roderick Tezeno, WR, Opelousas Catholic School (Opelousas, LA)
Braeden Jones, Edge, Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL)
Joshua Holland, CB, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA)
Madden Riordan, CB, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
Ja’Myron Baker, WR, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
Kannon Smith, OT, Valor Christian (Littleton, CO)
Josiah Jefferson, TE, Southwestern College (Chula Vista, CA)
Jayden Crowder, CB, Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
Jake Johnson, DL, Prosper (Prosper, TX)
Andrew Williams, Edge, Fremont (Los Angeles, CA)
Chase Deniz, OT, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, CA)
Taylor Johnson, LB, Cajon (San Bernardino, CA)
Malik Brooks, DL, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey, CA)
John Fifita, IOL, St. Francis (Mountain View, CA)
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