USC’s summer on the recruiting trail has done more than just keep Lincoln Riley’s program busy. It has reinforced the idea that the Trojans are building something with both immediate punch and long-term balance.
The headline numbers already tell part of the story. USC sits with the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026 and, as things stand, the No. 12 class for 2027, according to Rivals. That kind of positioning gives the Trojans room to think beyond one cycle, especially with the 2026 group already sitting at 35 commits per On3.
Since May, USC has added three more recruits: four-star defensive lineman Alifileti Tuihalamaka, four-star safety Gavin Williams, and three-star linebacker Dylan Wafle. That’s a useful stretch of work for a program that already had plenty of volume in place for next year’s class.
What makes the summer haul stand out is how it fits the broader roster picture. USC’s 2026 class is deep enough that the 2027 group does not need to be oversized, and there’s a real chance some of those incoming players can help sooner rather than later. Five-stars Luke Wafle and Mark Bowman are expected to make contributions as soon as next season.
There are other names in the mix too. Wide receiver Boobie Feaster and offensive lineman Breck Kolojay could work their way into roles and provide dependable depth throughout 2026. That matters, because the Trojans are not just stacking stars - they’re trying to build a roster that can survive the grind of a full season.
That’s why the summer recruiting push can be viewed as a win. USC has added pieces that could matter right away while also keeping the 2027 class flexible enough to address future needs.
Quarterback is the big one. Jayden Maiava has not officially declared for the 2027 NFL Draft, but the expectation is that he will after next season, which would leave USC with a major opening to fill. To get out ahead of that, Riley and the Trojans have already landed quarterback Jonas Williams, giving him a chance to develop during the 2026 season and possibly be ready to take over in 2027.
That plan is not guaranteed to work, which is exactly why USC needs room in the 2027 class. The Trojans could always turn to the transfer portal, but Riley may prefer to develop a quarterback from within.
So far, the 2027 class has given USC a little of everything. The Trojans have landed two five-star recruits in cornerback Honor Fa’alave Johnson and edge rusher Mekai Brown. They’ve also added seven four-stars: wide receivers Quentin Hale and Roye Oliver, cornerbacks Danny Lang and Aaryn Washington, safety Gavin Williams, offensive tackle Drew Fielder, and defensive lineman Alifileti Tuihalamaka.
The three-star group adds more depth, with running back Javon Vital Jr., tight end Jace Cannon, linebackers Josiah Poyer and Dylan Wafle, and defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade all in the fold.
Taken together, USC’s 2027 class looks like another strong piece of the puzzle. The Trojans have found star talent on the perimeter and in the trenches, and they’ve backed it up with enough depth to keep the roster moving in the right direction.
That kind of balance matters even more in the Big Ten, where teams like Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon make consistency hard to come by. To stay in that race, USC needs exactly what it is building now: top-end talent and enough reliable depth to hold up over time.
Right now, the Trojans appear to have both.
In Other News...
USC Legacy Recruit Just Made A Decision Trojans Fans Will Feel
USC spent part of its 2027 recruiting push trying to land one of the most recognizable legacy names on the board, and Paisios Polamalu gave the Trojans plenty to chase. The 2027 athlete, expected to play safety at the next level, drew interest from USC and other programs while building a profile that fits the kind of versatile defender schools covet.
Polamalus decision leaves USC without a headline-family addition, but the Trojans are still in good shape with that class overall. They recruited him hard enough to host him and his father on campus, and even with this miss, the 2027 group remains strong enough that the staff can keep moving without letting one recruiting swing define the cycle. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshman Mark Bowman Is Drawing Serious Hype For A Reason
USCs tight end room has a chance to look a lot different this fall, and much of the early buzz is centered on freshman Mark Bowman. The intrigue is easy to understand. He arrives with the kind of athletic profile that tends to get noticed quickly in Lincoln Rileys offense, and the Trojans are looking for a young pass-catching option who can help ease the loss of veteran reliability at the position.
Brad Crawfords latest Big Ten freshman watch only added to the attention, slotting Bowman near the top of the leagues first-year names to know. The bigger question now is how soon that hype turns into real snaps, because Bowman is already being talked about as a target in the 2026 passing game and a player who could force his way into early opportunities before long. [Read more 🡒]