USC’s 2027 recruiting class is basically set, but there’s still some maneuvering left if the Trojans want to get aggressive.
With 14 verbal commits already in place, the class is close to finished after a 2026 cycle that ballooned to 35 commitments. That kind of volume makes this next group feel smaller by comparison, and the staff can live with that. There’s room to keep building if the right player comes along, but USC has also been selective about where it can actually add bodies.
That matters because some position groups are nearly packed. Receiver and cornerback are close to capacity, so piling on more talent there would only crowd the room. Linebacker and safety, meanwhile, sit at a comfortable number, which makes any extra addition more of a bonus than a necessity.
The real openings are in the trenches.
USC took seven offensive linemen in the 2026 class, but that position is never one you can really declare full. Right now, Drew Fielder is the only offensive line commit in 2027. The defensive line picture is also lighter than most areas, even after including edge rushers: the Trojans brought in six players there from the 2026 class, but they have only three committed for 2027.
If USC wants to add a few more names, it’s going to have to pry them loose from other programs. That leaves four targets who would make the most sense as flip candidates for the Trojans as they look to deepen the 2027 class.
In Other News...
USC Freshmen Are Already Making Lincoln Riley Face A Tough Choice
USCs No. 1-ranked 2026 recruiting class is already creating pressure before the season even starts, and that is exactly the kind of problem Lincoln Riley hoped to have. With 35 recruits in the group and several freshmen arriving with the profile to help right away, the Trojans are looking at a roster where talent may not be the issue so much as how quickly the newcomers force their way into the conversation.
One name that has been buzzing is wide receiver Ethan Boobie Feaster, who showed his playmaking ability in a recent scrimmage and gave the staff another reminder of why he was so highly touted. He is not the only freshman pushing for an early path, either, with defensive end Luke Wafle and tight end Mark Bowman also standing out as the other newcomers best positioned to challenge for immediate roles, which leaves USC with some interesting decisions to sort through as camp develops. [Read more 🡒]
USC's 2027 Class Is Building Something Bigger Than Its Ranking
USCs 2027 recruiting class may not sit near the very top of the national rankings just yet, but the shape of it is already starting to say something about where the program wants to go. Ranked No. 18 nationally and No. 7 in the Big Ten by ESPN, the group has 14 commits and a clear defensive lean, with several of the most important pieces coming from California.
For a roster that has often been defined by offense, that balance matters. Wide receiver Quentin Hale and safety-athlete Honor Faalave-Johnson are among the prospects viewed as possible immediate-impact players, and their presence gives the class a little more pop on both sides of the ball. The bigger question now is whether USC can keep adding to a group that already looks less like a collection of pledges and more like the start of a specific identity. [Read more 🡒]