USC has the early edge in the race for Corona Centennial running back Malaki Davis, and that lead keeps coming back to one thing: Anthony Jones.
The 2028 three-star has been drawing plenty of attention this summer, with Miami and Michigan both pushing harder in his recruitment. But Davis said Southern Cal is still the school setting the tone, largely because of the relationship he has built with the Trojans’ running backs coach.
Jones has been all over Davis since the start of the year. He came to Centennial in late January to watch him work out at the school’s College Showcase, then returned twice in the spring. He has also stayed in regular contact with Davis’ family, something the recruit clearly values.
“That's a big part of my recruiting as well,” Davis said. “I'm trying to have them be comfortable enough to be cool with the coaches too.
I don't want to just be all about me. I want it to be family too.
I want them to be cool with my family.”
That bond has been reinforced by Davis’ time on campus. He visited USC multiple times last fall, then made four trips in 2026 so far, including June 11, when he worked out at the Trojans’ invite-only prospect camp.
That visit gave him a close look at Jones in the film room and on the field, and Davis called it an “eye-opening experience.” Southern Cal was the only school he visited this summer.
The Trojans also have a little help from inside the building. Davis’ Centennial teammate, four-star receiver Quentin Hale, is already committed to USC’s 2027 class and has started leaning into the recruiting process with local 2028 prospects. Hale has been talking up the program and sharing what the process has looked like from his side.
“He’s definitely been talking to me more about USC and how the program is and how the recruiting process been with him, like from when he first got the offer till now and how they act and all that," Davis said.
Lincoln Riley has made his own pitch, encouraging Davis to keep coming back to campus. Davis plans to do exactly that once the season starts, and he wants to be around for every home game.
The travel plans don’t stop there. Davis is hoping to get to Ann Arbor in mid-October for Michigan’s game against Penn State, and Miami could also land a visit. Oregon is another school firmly on the radar, and Davis said a trip there is high on his list.
“I haven't been up there. The coaches keep showing the nice area and all that, and the facility because Oregon has a nice facility. I'm trying to get that experience, that's once in a lifetime thing," Davis said.
Davis has also said before that Oregon sophomore running back Jordon Davison is a player he looks up to because their styles are similar, and the two have trained together.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Got Pushed Back In A Massive 5-Star Battle
Oregons 2027 recruiting class still has plenty of star power, but the Ducks are starting to feel the pressure in one of the cycles biggest battles. As of July 12, they already have two five-star commitments in wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and edge rusher Rashad Streets, and theyve continued to add four-star talent while keeping their board busy with top targets across the country.
The tougher news is at wide receiver and defensive back Honor Faalave-Johnson, where Oregon appears to be losing ground as Texas has emerged as the main threat in the race. The Ducks are still involved with linebacker Brayton Feister and defensive tackle Brayden Parks, but the path there is not equally clear, which is why this stretch of the summer matters so much for Dan Lannings staff as it tries to keep momentum from slipping away. [Read more 🡒]
Former Louisville QB Tyler Shough Just Had A Full Circle Moment
A familiar face turned up at Oregons indoor practice facility this week, with Tyler Shough back on campus taking reps and making throws in a place that helped launch his college career. The New Orleans Saints quarterback has already packed a lot into his football journey, moving from Oregon to Texas Tech and then Louisville before hearing his name called in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
For Ducks fans, the sight carried a little extra weight because Shough once signed with Oregon in the 2018 recruiting class and still has a connection to the program. His path has included injuries, a reset at Texas Tech and a resurgence at Louisville, and now he is back in the NFL after a rookie season that included nine starts and a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Got An Early Recruiting Signal At A Crucial Position
Oregons 2028 recruiting board got an early boost this week when four-star EDGE George Parkinson IV trimmed his list to six schools, and the Ducks were right in the middle of it. The Pennsylvania standout, ranked No. 89 nationally and No. 15 at his position, also included Tennessee, LSU, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas A&M, giving Oregon a seat at the table for one of the more important defensive targets in the class.
The timing matters because the Ducks are already looking ahead at a future need off the edge. Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei are expected to be gone after 2026, and there could be more turnover through the portal before then, so landing a player like Parkinson IV would help stabilize a spot that figures to matter even more down the road. He has not set a commitment date yet, which leaves Oregon with time to keep pressing in a race that should stretch deeper into the cycle. [Read more 🡒]