USC’s defensive back haul in the 2026 and 2027 recruiting cycles has already grown to nine, with six signed and headliners like four-star 2026 cornerback Elbert Hill IV and four-star 2027 cornerback Danny Lang drawing most of the attention.
But the Trojans have also quietly added three defensive backs who deserve a closer look.
One of them is Riordan, an early verbal commit from what eventually became the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. The 5-11 defensive back spent four varsity seasons at Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth, one of the sport’s more reliable talent pipelines, and built a reputation as a ball hawk. He finished with 36 pass breakups, averaging nine per season, and added 14 combined interceptions over his final two prep seasons.
Riordan’s game is built on anticipation. He stays locked in on the quarterback’s eyes, then breaks on the throw with timing that jumps off the tape.
He also handled the responsibility of playing single-high safety without help on the other side, showing poise in the deep middle. And when the play turns into a run, he’s willing to come downhill and hit.
USC appears to have landed a sharp, instinctive defender who may have been underrated as a three-star.
Crowder is another name that flew a bit below the radar, even though he came out of the Trinity League, where cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed found a rare under-the-radar option. Crowder transferred from Mater Dei High to Rancho Santa Margarita Catholic and took off there.
His breakout came in 2024, when he broke up eight passes and intercepted two more. He also showed he can help in other ways, blocking two kicks that season.
Crowder then followed that up with seven pass breakups during his senior year. Playing against multiple college-ready wide receivers in the Trinity League, including incoming USC teammate Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, should leave him well prepared for the Big Ten.
Like Riordan, Crowder was also given a three-star grade despite proving he could hold up in one of the West Coast’s toughest leagues.
The third overlooked addition is Lockhart, the other Sierra Canyon product in this group. At 6-2, he brings a different body type than Riordan, along with a versatile skill set that fits a deep secondary.
Lockhart can be physical at the line of scrimmage, using press coverage to disrupt receivers early. He also has the top-end speed to stay attached in coverage and blanket opponents downfield. On top of that, he’s a sturdy run defender who can get low and finish the tackle with force.
He’ll likely spend this fall learning the defense before making his move, but his size, physicality and versatility give USC another three-star defender with real upside.
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USC Fall Camp Opens With One Position Battle Looming Over Everything
USCs fall camp opens with the roster in a familiar place for a program trying to climb back toward the top: plenty of talent, plenty of new faces, and more than a few jobs still up for grabs. The Trojans have mixed proven returners like linebacker Desman Stephens II and defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart with additions such as linebacker Deven Bryant and tight end Tucker Ashcraft, giving the staff a deeper look at several spots that could shape the season.
The most intriguing part of camp may be how quickly the younger players force their way into the conversation, especially at tight end, wide receiver and in the secondary. Mark Bowman brings the kind of buzz that can change a room early, while USC will also be sorting out how its receiver and cornerback groups settle in behind the top names. For a team with real depth questions and a few potential breakout players, the first stretch of camp should reveal which position battle matters most. [Read more 🡒]
USCs 2026 Run Game Suddenly Hinges On One Troubling Question
Waymond Jordan was already positioned to be the centerpiece of USCs rushing attack in 2026 before the injury against Michigan changed the conversation around him. Even after a limited spring because of a procedure, he still looks like the most dynamic back on the roster and one of the more important leaders in the room, which is why the Trojans have spent so much time thinking about what the offense looks like with him at full strength.
King Miller is the next name up if Jordan is not available, with Riley Wormley, Deshonne Redeaux and Shahn Alston also in the mix behind him. USC has enough bodies to keep the backfield moving, but the bigger question is whether any of them can match the steadiness Jordan has already shown in the situations that matter most. [Read more 🡒]
USC Legends Are Surrounding This Program And Recruits Can Feel It
USCs recruiting pitch has always leaned on tradition, but this spring and summer it has felt more tangible than nostalgic. Former Trojans such as Marcus Allen, Willie McGinest, Mike Williams and Ronnie Lott have not just been name-dropped around the program, they have shown up, sat in on games, spoken to recruits on official visits and taken part in team events. For current players and visitors, that means the history is not sitting in a trophy case somewhere. It is walking the sideline, shaking hands and reinforcing what it means to wear the jersey.
The effect matters because recruits notice who is around when they are being asked to imagine their next three or four years. Allen, McGinest and Lott have each had chances to connect with young players, while recent USC stars have also been visible around offseason work and spring practice, adding another layer to the message. For a program trying to keep its momentum in recruiting, the presence of so many familiar faces gives the pitch extra weight, and it is part of why the Trojans can sell more than a depth chart and a facility tour. [Read more 🡒]