USC is rolling out the red carpet for a deep recruiting crowd on Saturday, Oct. 31, when the Trojans host No. 2 Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
It’s a big-stage visit list for a program trying to close strong, with coach Lincoln Riley nearing the end of his tenure and the Trojans trying to turn one more home date into a lasting recruiting impression.
The 2027 class is where the visitor list starts to get especially loaded. Ten of USC’s 14 commits are expected to be in the building, including five-star athlete Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, four-star receiver Quentin Hale, four-star cornerback Danny Lang, four-star safety Gavin Williams, receiver Roye Oliver, offensive tackle Drew Fielder and defensive lineman Tolo Tuihalamaka.
Avon Old Farms (Conn.) 2027 three-star linebacker commit Dylan Wafle is also headed to Southern California for the first time this fall. Wafle, the younger brother of star freshman defensive end Luke Wafle, will get his first look at USC in person this weekend.
The 2028 group is equally packed with names to watch. Four-star quarterback commit Trey Wright is making a return trip and figures to spend part of the weekend working on other elite prospects. Four-star 2028 cornerback Ca'ron "Prime" Williams is another familiar face, and three-star receiver Grant Mosley - the younger brother of star freshman receiver Trent Mosley - is on the list as well.
USC will also host a wave of underclassmen from 2029 and 2030, including 2029 defensive lineman Kingston Jimmerson and 2030 defensive end KJ Herndon, receiver Kiyan Callis and athlete Jayden Jack.
The local pipeline figures to be on display again, too. Santa Margarita (Calif.) three-star defensive lineman and 2027 commit Isaia Vandermade is bringing several teammates from the Trinity League. Lang will have a group of Mater Dei (Calif.) teammates alongside him, including 2028 four-star safety Ace Leutele, four-star cornerback Troy Bishop and 2029 running back Asir Nembhard.
St. John Bosco (Calif.) three-star linebacker and 2027 commit Josiah Poyer is also coming with teammates, including 2028 four-star IOL Elisha Mueller and 2029 receiver Kuika Moaalii and safety Kingston Fatu. JSerra (Calif.) four-star offensive tackle Lincoln Fa'alafi remains one of the top 2028 targets on USC’s board.
Among the bigger names in the 2028 class, Palos Verdes (Calif.) four-star safety Jalen Flowers stands out. He’s a local two-way star and a top 100 recruit, and one of the premier athletes on the West Coast in any class.
The Trojans are also getting another look at Orem (Utah) 2028 four-star defensive end Major Stokes, who drew rave reviews from the staff when he visited for the invite-only camp over the summer. His teammate, five-star and No. 1 rated offensive tackle Maui Tonata, is making the trip too.
Other 2028 visitors include Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.) four-star receiver Jayce Halasz, West (Utah) four-star IOL Samiu Tauikivea and three-star defensive lineman Takeshi Savery.
USC’s board also includes a trio of legacies from California in the 2028 class: Simi Valley three-star cornerback Micah Hannah, Orange Lutheran (Calif.) four-star safety Chauncey Washington II and Garces Memorial (Calif.) four-star safety Jackson Parker. Their fathers all played at USC.
Two more defensive backs to track are Serra (Calif.) four-star cornerback Derrick Coleman and Salesian (Calif.) three-star cornerback Jordan Slye.
The Trojans have also made clear that Victor Valley (Calif.) 2029 running back Makai Buchanan is a priority. He’ll be joined by teammate Ja'aron Thorpe, a 2030 receiver who already picked up an offer in the eighth grade. Sierra Canyon (Calif.) 2029 receiver Lance Brown, who received an offer from USC this week, is expected as well, along with Crespi (Calif.) safety Antonio Glasby and Liberty (Calif.) edge Pierce Buckey.
Vista Murrieta (Calif.) 2030 receiver Teagen People is another name on the guest list, and his recruitment has already moved quickly as he approaches double-digit offers.
In Other News...
Ohio State's Latest Recruiting Push Centers On Two Elite Visitors
Ohio States recruiting momentum is already stretching well beyond the current cycle, with the Buckeyes making another early move on one of the nations most intriguing young prospects. The staff recently extended an offer to Kuika Moaalii, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound athlete from St. John Bosco who is drawing interest from multiple major programs, a sign the Buckeyes are continuing to cast a wide net as they build for the future.
The attention does not stop there. Ohio State also remains in the mix for 2028 offensive lineman RMonie Edwards and linebacker Tahj Gray, two highly ranked prospects with long offer sheets of their own, and the coaching staff is pushing to get each of them on campus as it works to turn early relationships into real traction. For a program that lives on elite recruiting, the next step will be seeing which of these visitors eventually becomes more than just a name on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Test May Come Down To Jim Patricia
Ohio State heads into its Halloween matchup with USC already leaning on one of the quieter strengths of its season: a defense shaped in Jim Patricias image. The first-year coordinator has brought an NFL flavor to the Buckeyes scheme, and it has shown up in the way this group has played with structure and discipline while the offense adjusts to a new quarterback under center. For a team still finding its footing on that side of the ball, the defense has become the stabilizer.
Jim Patricias unit now gets one of its toughest road assignments yet at Memorial Coliseum, where the atmosphere and the opponent create a different kind of stress test. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava brings a challenge that can force a defense to cover for longer stretches and stay sharp against mistakes, and Ohio States key defenders will be counted on to help Patricia keep the game from opening up. The Buckeyes have survived on defensive consistency so far, and this one could hinge on whether Patricia can keep his group organized when the stage gets louder. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Trip Now Rides On Ryan Day's Toughest Call
Ryan Day is staring at the kind of quarterback decision that can tilt a big game before it even kicks off. With Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, Ohio State has to choose between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair for the USC trip, and each option changes the feel of the offense in a different way. Fahey has flashed quick processing and mobility, while St. Clair brings the kind of size and arm strength that can stretch a defense.
The tradeoff is real, and it goes beyond simple experience. Faheys profile suggests a quarterback who can get the ball out and keep plays on schedule, even if he does not fit the usual mold, while St. Clair gives the Buckeyes more of a downfield profile but has been less steady with his accuracy. However Day leans, the choice will shape how Ohio State tries to attack USC and how much pressure falls on the rest of the offense to carry the load. [Read more 🡒]