Southern Cal is still very much in the mix for four-star linebacker Landon Miller, and the rising junior’s fall schedule is starting to take shape.
Miller, who already holds 18 offers and could add more as he continues talks with other programs, has trimmed things down to five schools that stand out: USC, Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame and LSU, according to Rivals’ Brandon Huffman. He visited those programs, along with Cal, over the summer and now plans to circle back for game days.
For USC, the next checkpoint comes Sept. 12, when Miller is set to be at the Coliseum for the Trojans’ matchup with Louisiana. He also plans to be in Eugene in October for Oregon’s game against UCLA. Miller told Rivals he wants to attend Cal’s season opener and may also make trips to Ohio State and LSU.
The Trojans got into the race early, offering Miller in April. By June, he was back in Los Angeles for a multi-day unofficial visit that gave him a closer look at the program.
That trip included an on-field workout, film sessions with linebackers coach AJ Howard and Mike Ekeler, a look at summer lifts, a campus tour and a deeper dive into USC’s academics. He also met with Lincoln Riley, general manager Chad Bowden and executive director of player personnel Max Stienecker.
Miller already has familiarity with a number of USC players, including several incoming freshmen and members of the 2027 class. He has played against Mark Bowman, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Shaun Scott, Tomuhini Topui and Aaryn Washington from Mater Dei, as well as Trent Mosley, Simote Katoanga, Jayden Crowder and Isaia Vandermade from Santa Margarita.
“You can definitely tell they’re building a very good team and trending upwards," Miller told USC Trojans On SI. "These past two years I was fortunate enough to play in two different state championships and there’s close to 10 players that are now at USC that I’ve played against… They’re trending upwards and quickly. It’s definitely a school all of the California kids are looking at, including me.”
Howard’s recent work on the recruiting trail gives USC another selling point. In the 2026 cycle, he signed Talanoa Ili, Shaun Scott and Taylor Johnson. In 2027, he added Dylan Wafle and Josiah Poyer.
There’s also a clear path to playing time if Miller eventually chooses the Trojans. USC Athletics listed 10 linebackers on the roster exiting spring practices, but five of them will have moved on by Fall 2028. With only five linebackers signed across the 2026 and 2027 classes, the position is wide open.
Miller’s film shows why he’s such a coveted target. At 6-3, 210 pounds, he has the size and force to work through blocks and finish plays on the ball carrier.
He’s also shown value on special teams, sprinting downfield and making solo tackles on kickoff coverage. His tackling is clean and consistent, whether in space or in one-on-one situations.
He brings more than just physicality. Miller stays disciplined in the backfield, doesn’t bite on crossing routes and does a good job rerouting receivers while handling both zone and man responsibilities. His sideline-to-sideline burst and ability as a rusher stand out too.
As he heads into his junior season, Miller is already ranked among the top 200 nationally, sitting at No. 131 by 247Sports and No. 140 by On3/Rivals. Both services have him as a top-10 linebacker and a top-10 player in California.
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