USC’s push for Mission Viejo safety Jordan Hicks may have hit a little turbulence, because Oklahoma is suddenly showing up as a real factor in the race.
Hicks, a 2028 four-star safety, had already trimmed his list to eight schools, with USC included. That alone gave the Trojans a strong position with one of Orange County’s more coveted rising recruits. But during the July 18 South County Classic at Mission Viejo High School, Rivals national analyst Adam Gorney noticed something that suggested the Sooners were climbing fast.
“Hicks was wearing an OU armband and red Oklahoma cleats. A source close to Hicks said the Sooners are definitely talked about a lot by him - along with the [Oregon] Ducks - and that could be a good tell on which programs are standing out a little more,” Gorney said.
That kind of detail matters in recruiting, especially when a player is narrowing his focus. For USC, it means the Trojans are no longer just trying to keep a local prospect close to home. They’re battling a program with plenty of pull, and one that already has a few built-in selling points.
Oklahoma can point to the SEC, the Sooners’ run to the 2025 College Football Playoffs, and the broader appeal of what Brent Venables is selling. The program also has the kind of prestige and NIL backing that keeps it in the mix for elite recruits.
USC, though, has its own case to make.
The Trojans are looking ahead at a safety room that will need answers. Christian Pierce is a senior, Kennedy Urlacher becomes NFL Draft eligible after this season, and Marquis Gallegos and Isaiah Rubin will be seniors by the time the 2028 fall season arrives. Hicks would step into a picture where opportunities could open up quickly.
There’s also a new defensive voice in the building. Gary Patterson, now USC’s defensive coordinator, brings a long track record of developing defensive backs.
He helped turn Trevon Moehrig into a high second-round pick in 2021 and coached Jason Verrett into a future first-rounder. Patterson also coached USC cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed, who is widely regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters.
And USC still has the advantage that comes with recruiting Mission Viejo talent: familiarity. The Trojans are trying to build a 2028 class that can match the star power of their top-ranked 2026 group, which already includes a heavy dose of local talent from Los Angeles and Orange County. Hicks would fit that mold if he eventually chose USC.
For now, though, the picture has shifted. What looked like a clean opening for the Trojans now includes a serious Oklahoma challenge, and Lincoln Riley’s old school is making itself heard.
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One name drawing attention in that search is Lloyd Avant, whose spring work caught the eye of ESPN analyst Dusty Dvoracek. Avant is still trying to sort out his place in a crowded backfield, but the buzz around him suggests Oklahoma may have a less obvious answer in the mix as fall camp approaches. If he can carry that momentum forward, the Sooners could have a fresh wrinkle in a run game that badly needs one. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Just Entered A Huge Early Battle It Rarely Wins
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The more interesting part is the company Oklahoma is keeping in those battles. One target already has a crowded list of major suitors, while the other is an even earlier evaluation with Power Four attention starting to pile up. For a program trying to build momentum in non-traditional areas, landing either one would matter, but the real test is whether the Sooners can turn these early offers into something more when the competition gets serious. [Read more 🡒]