USC Bolsters the Trenches with Massive DT Commit Malik Brooks
The Trojans just added some serious muscle to their defensive front.
On Wednesday, USC officially signed Malik Brooks, a three-star defensive tackle out of Downey (Calif.) St.
Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, during the Early Signing Period.
At 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, Brooks brings the kind of size that jumps off the tape - and off the scale. He’s been a longtime USC commit, and now it’s official: the big man is headed to Los Angeles.
From Atlanta to L.A.: Brooks' Journey to USC
Brooks’ path to USC wasn’t your typical California high school pipeline story. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Brooks made his way west and quickly caught the attention of some of the biggest names in college football.
SEC powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M all came calling - and it’s easy to see why. Brooks has the build and raw strength that fits the mold of a classic SEC interior lineman.
But it was USC that made the strongest impression. The Trojans offered him in the spring of his junior year, and things escalated quickly from there. A Junior Day visit the following spring helped seal the deal, and by late March, Brooks had made his commitment.
A big reason? Defensive line coach Eric Henderson.
“Coach Eric Henderson - he’s a family friend,” Brooks said. “He went to Georgia Tech with my cousins.
So, it’s more family oriented for me. It’s family ties.
USC has made it to where it’s just like Atlanta. You know, it’s home for me.”
That comfort level, combined with USC’s vision for him on the defensive line, made the Trojans the right fit.
What Brooks Brings to the Trojans
Let’s start with the obvious: size. Brooks is a true space-eater in the middle of the line. At 6-3, 330, he’s built to clog gaps, anchor against the run, and absorb double teams - the kind of physical presence that every defensive coordinator covets at nose tackle.
He’s currently rated as the No. 162 defensive lineman and the No. 118 overall prospect in California, according to 247Sports. The 247Sports Composite slots him as the No. 1,588 overall recruit and No. 166 defensive lineman nationally. Rankings aside, his frame and upside make him a fascinating long-term piece for USC’s defensive front.
Brooks isn’t expected to be an immediate impact player. He won’t be enrolling early, which means he’ll miss out on spring ball - a key developmental period for freshmen. That puts him on track for a likely redshirt year in 2026, where he can spend time reshaping his body, refining his technique, and adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game.
But once he gets settled, the potential is there. He’s shown flashes of a powerful bull rush and can be a load to handle when he plays with proper leverage. The next step will be consistency - learning how to use his size effectively on every snap and becoming a technician in the trenches.
A Nose Tackle in the Making
Brooks projects as a prototypical nose guard - the type who can anchor the middle of a 3-4 front or eat up space in a 4-3. He’s still raw, but the tools are there.
He’s big, he’s strong, and when he gets low and fires off the ball, he’s tough to move. That’s exactly what USC needs as it continues to build a defense capable of matching up with the physicality of top-tier opponents.
There’s no question Brooks will need time. But in today’s game, where interior defensive linemen with his size and potential are increasingly rare, he’s a valuable addition to the Trojans’ 2026 recruiting class.
This is a long-term play for USC - and one that could pay big dividends down the line.