USC may have spent the last couple of recruiting cycles putting itself back on top in California, but Oregon is still very much in the fight.
The Trojans have already landed some key wins over the Ducks, flipping freshman defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui and 2027 four-star offensive Drew Fielder to keep them in Southern California. They also beat Oregon for five-star athlete Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and four-star cornerback Danny Lang. Even with those victories, the West Coast tug-of-war is far from over, especially with the 2028 class starting to take shape.
One of the biggest names to watch is Mission Viejo (Calif.) four-star defensive back Jordan Hicks, who currently has Oregon out front. Hicks has built a strong bond with Ducks cornerbacks coach Rashad Wadood, a Southern California native, and likes how Oregon handles its defensive backs.
“He's a great overall coach. I like the way he coaches his DBs, and the best player is gonna play,” Hicks said.
"You seen it from Brandon Finney last year. He stepped up as a freshman, and they're not scared to give a freshman a chance, and that's what I like and you're competing against the best week in and week out.”
Hicks also has interest from Oklahoma, Miami, Texas A&M and others. USC has made him a priority too, with three visits already this year, including a workout last month.
He is set to be back on Oct. 31 when the Trojans host Ohio State. Several USC freshmen and 2027 commits are also in his ear, trying to keep him close to home.
Ca’ron “Prime” Williams is another California cornerback with strong USC ties. The four-star from Santa Margarita has been on campus more than six times over the last couple of years, and the Trojans are currently the team to beat. He’ll be back multiple times this fall, and he also took a strong trip to Eugene in June with Hicks.
“I really feel they’re me making a priority. T-Reed [cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed] always calling me, checking up on me, just building a great relationship with me.”
At receiver, Tustin (Calif.) four-star Hayden Koo is one of the fastest risers in the 2028 class. He turned heads all offseason, including at The Opening Finals at the Nike Headquarters late last month. Oregon offered him in May, USC followed in June, and that Trojans offer landed with both him and his family right away.
Koo saw USC last season for its mid-November win over Iowa and plans to return this fall. He’s started building a relationship with position coach Chad Savage, and the Orange County standout’s 4.6 GPA makes USC’s off-field opportunities part of the appeal. Fa’alave-Johnson and 2027 four-star receiver commit Quentin Hale are also working to recruit him.
Koo hasn’t locked in his fall schedule yet, but he did say Oregon, BYU, Michigan and Northwestern could all get gameday visits.
Corona Centennial (Calif.) three-star running back Malaki Davis is another name drawing attention from both schools, even though he has not yet visited Oregon. Communication with the Ducks has picked up this summer, and Davis has trained with Oregon sophomore running back Jordon Davison, a Mater Dei product he looks up to.
“The coaches keep showing the nice area and all that, and the facility because Oregon has a nice facility,” Davis said. “I'm trying to get that experience, that's once in a lifetime thing.”
USC, though, appears to be the clear leader. Davis has become a regular on campus over the past year and has a strong connection with running backs coach Anthony Jones, who has visited him at school three times this year. Jones has also made Davis’ family part of the process.
“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.”
Davis said he plans to be at the Coliseum for every USC home game this season.
De La Salle (Calif.) linebacker Landon Miller is another West Coast target with major national attention, as Ohio State and Notre Dame are also involved. Still, USC and Oregon are working hard to keep him close to home.
Miller took a multi-day visit to USC in early June and came away impressed. He has played in the Open Division state championship each of the past two years and has gone up against Mater Dei and Santa Margarita, where he faced a total of 10 players who are now freshmen or committed to USC in the 2027 class.
He’s seen the level of talent USC has assembled up close, and executive director of player personnel Max Stienecker is heavily involved in his recruitment. Oregon has been in the mix longer and continues to stay in touch regularly.
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