UCLA’s 2026 recruiting class may not be the part of the board that turns heads, and that’s exactly why the Bruins’ future is drawing more attention than their present.
In a check-in with UCLA Wire editor Dylan McNeill, the focus landed on Bob Chesney’s most important new football recruit. McNeill didn’t point to the 2026 cycle. Instead, he said the real buzz is building in 2027.
“UCLA’s 2026 class leaves a lot to be desired,” McNeill began. “The 2026 recruiting cycle was a struggle for UCLA, as to be expected after firing your head coach and losing both your offensive and defensive coordinator mid-season last year.
247Sports has UCLA’s 2026 class at No. 49 in the nation and while there’s some talent being added to the program, the real excitement comes from the 2027 recruiting class. The Bruins have earned a commitment from five-star JuJu Johnson.
Johnson is one of several highly-ranked defensive backs a part of the 2027 UCLA commits. Johnson, along with four-star commits Jerry Outhouse Jr., Pole Moala and Myles Baker could form a very compelling secondary in the future for UCLA.”
That makes the immediate takeaway pretty clear for USC: the Bruins’ biggest reinforcements are still down the road. For now, UCLA and Bob Chesney did not put together a knockout recruiting haul in the current cycle, and the impact players may not be ready until next year, or even 2028. The message for USC is simple: attack now, before UCLA has a chance to climb back up.
In Other News...
USC Freshmen Are Already Making Lincoln Riley Face A Tough Choice
USCs 2026 recruiting class arrives with the kind of reputation that can change a roster conversation before the season even starts. Ranked No. 1 nationally and built around 35 recruits, the group already has coach Lincoln Riley sorting through which freshmen might be too talented to keep on the sideline for long. A few of the newcomers have the kind of physical tools and polish that usually earn a longer runway, but this bunch is drawing attention because the early contributors may not be hard to identify.
Ethan Boobie Feaster has already put some flash on the idea, showing the dynamic playmaking that makes him hard to ignore, while Luke Wafle looks physically ready and highly ranked enough to push for work right away. Mark Bowman adds another layer of intrigue at tight end with his size and talent, giving USC a trio of freshmen who could force a quicker decision than expected. For Riley, the question is no longer whether the class has upside, but how soon he has to make room for it. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Still Has One Big Chance To Fix Its Center Spot
Micah Handlogten has emerged as one of the more intriguing names on the center market, with the 7-foot-1 big man reportedly seeking a fifth year of eligibility for the 2026-27 season after three years at Florida and a role on the 2024-25 championship team. The appeal is easy to see: experience, size and a proven presence in the middle, all of which would draw attention from programs looking to stabilize the paint before next season rolls around.
For USC, the interest comes with a little more urgency because of the uncertainty around the frontcourt depth chart, and Handlogtens profile fits the kind of insurance a staff can rarely afford to pass up. NC State and Ole Miss are also in the mix, according to the report, leaving the Trojans with competition for a player who could reshape the conversation inside if the eligibility piece comes together. [Read more 🡒]
USC's 2027 Class Is Building Something Bigger Than Its Ranking
USCs 2027 recruiting class is still early in its construction, but it already has the look of something more interesting than a simple ranking might suggest. The class sits No. 18 nationally and No. 7 in the Big Ten, according to ESPN, with 14 commits and a clear lean toward defense, a notable shift for a program that has spent years trying to balance its identity on that side of the ball.
The most encouraging part for the Trojans is the mix of local talent and high-end upside. Several of the class top names are from California, and both wide receiver Quentin Hale and safety-athlete Honor Faalave-Johnson are viewed as prospects who could factor early once they arrive on campus. For a class that is still taking shape, the bigger storyline may be less about where it ranks right now and more about the kind of roster USC is trying to build. [Read more 🡒]