Five-star offensive lineman Austin Attalah is ready to make his call.
The class of 2028 recruit plans to announce his commitment on Aug. 25, and he’ll do it on The Pat McAfee Show, according to what he told On3’s Greg Biggins. His final three schools are USC, Texas and Texas Tech.
Attalah, a 6-7, 270-pound junior at Orange Lutheran, has moved fast through the recruiting process. He said he’s reached the point where he wants the decision behind him.
“I feel I’m ready, and I’m excited to get this done,” Attalah told Biggins. “I’ve kind of grown tired of the recruiting process, and I’ve known where I’ve wanted to go for over a month now.”
USC was the first of the three to get involved, offering him on Mar. 7 during an unofficial visit to campus. Texas followed on Mar. 27, and Texas Tech jumped in during April.
Attalah later narrowed his list to eight on Jun. 4, a group that included USC and California. Then, two months after that, he cut things down to his current top three.
Florida State also entered the picture four days after he revealed that top group.
The rankings back up why this is a big one. Attalah is the No. 1 recruit in California and the No. 3 offensive tackle in the 247 Sports Composite.
He also made a summer move from Cajon High School in San Bernadino to Orange Lutheran, where he now plays in the Trinity League.
Texas Tech appears to have the edge at the moment. Blair Angulo’s 247Sports Crystal Ball Prediction points to the Red Raiders, and his track record is strong, with a 93.64 percent all-time prediction record and a 93.73 percent record for the 2027 class.
There’s also a Texas connection that could matter. Attalah’s grandparents’ ranch is in Floydada, which is not far from Lubbock.
When he spoke to 247Sports, Attalah said his choice will come down to development and NFL production.
USC still has a case to make. Lincoln Riley’s program has been stacking recruiting wins, with the 2026 class ranked No. 1 nationally and the 2027 group sitting inside the top 20. The Trojans’ 2028 class already includes five-star quarterback Trey Wright, and it has plenty of local talent in the mix.
Offensive line coach Zach Hanson has also done plenty of damage on the recruiting trail, landing five-star Keenyi Pepe in 2026 and four-star Drew Fielder in 2027. Former Cajon teammate Taylor Johnson is already on the roster, too.
If USC can beat the current prediction and land Attalah, it would be a major lift for the 2028 class and another strong sign for Riley and Hanson on the offensive line trail.
Still, this one sounds like it can swing a few different ways. Texas Tech is the team to beat, but USC isn’t out of it yet.
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