USC Secures Top 2026 Recruiting Class—Which Rising Stars Are Set to Ignite the Trojans’ Future?

When it comes to college football recruiting, few programs command the spotlight quite like USC, and once again, the Trojans have climbed to the summit. With the combined efforts of general manager Chad Bowden and head coach Lincoln Riley, USC has reignited its historic prowess by landing an impressive haul of 35 high school signees during the early signing period on December 3. This powerhouse class, ranked No. 1 nationally for 2026, marks USC’s first top-ranked recruiting haul since 2007—a testament to the revitalized momentum coursing through the program. It’s a roster brimming with promise, talent, and stars ready to wear the cardinal and gold. Dive into the detailed backgrounds of every signeee, from top-tier quarterbacks to decorated defensive stalwarts, and witness the blueprint of USC’s next championship-caliber squad. LEARN MORE

LOS ANGELES, CA — USC is once again at the mountain top of recruiting.

Trojans football general manager Chad Bowden and Head Coach Lincoln Riley have revived the recruiting scene USC is known for, signing 35 high school football players during the December 3 early signing period and securing the No.1 recruiting class for 2026. The last time USC secured a No.1 recruiting class was the 2007 season. Below is the full list of the 35 signees and their background:

QB: Jonas Williams Lincoln-Way East HS (Ill.)

– The lone signee at the quarterback position, Williams, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 118 player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 131 by ESPN, and No. 147 by Rivals. He is rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Illinois by ESPN, No. 2 by 247Sports, and No. 3 by Rivals.

He is ranked No. 3 by ESPN, No. 9 by 247Sports, and No. 13 by Rivals as the No. 3 quarterback in the country. He is nationally ranked 118th on the Top 247 List, 131st on the ESPN 300 List, and 138th on the Rivals 300 List. He is a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee.

As a senior in 2025, he tallied 2,488 passing yards and threw 35 touchdowns. Williams was a 2025 All-USA Football Team Finalist and was selected as the NFL’s Chicago Bears representative at the 2025 Nike Next Ones during Super Bowl Week. Nike organized Next Ones, an elite athlete invitational that brought together 32 of the top high school players in the country for a showcase during Super Bowl Week.

WR: Tron Baker, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, Trent Mosley, Roderick Tezeno Jr., Luc Weaver

Tron Baker, WR – Sierra Canyon HS (Calif.)

– Baker, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 43 player in the state of California by Rivals, No. 51 by 247Sports, and No. 59 by ESPN. He is touted as the No. 82 wide receiver in the country by Rivals, No. 92 by 247Sports, and No. 95 by ESPN. As a senior in 2025, he transferred to Sierra Canyon High School and tallied 40 receptions for 626 yards (15.7 avg.) with 8 touchdowns.

Baker was also selected to the 2025 All-Mission League First Team.

Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, WR – Mater Dei HS (Calif.)

– Dixon-Wyatt, a four-star recruit, was one of the most notable signees on Wednesday as he flipped his original commitment from Ohio State to the Trojans. Dixon-Wyatt is ranked as the No. 47 player in the nation by 247Sports and No. 167 by ESPN. He is rated as the No. 5 player in the state of California by 247Sports, No. 18 by ESPN, and No. 26 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 6 wide receiver in the country by 247, No. 25 by ESPN, and No. 43 by Rivals. He is nationally ranked 47th on the Top 247 List and 167th on the ESPN 300 List. He is a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee.

Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, WR – DeSoto HS (Texas)

– Feaster, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 28 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 57 by Rivals, and No. 69 by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 3 player in the state of Texas by ESPN, No. 7 by Rivals, and No. 10 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 3 wide receiver in the country by ESPN, No. 8 by Rivals, and No. 10 by 247Sports.

He is nationally ranked 28th on the ESPN 300 List, 57th on the Rivals 300 List, and 69th on the Top 247 List. Feaster is a Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Five-Star. He is officially the youngest prospect to ever be selected as a Dave Campbell’s Texas Football five-star. Feaster is a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star. He is a 2026 Under Armour All-America Game invitee.

Feaster reclassified and elected to forgo his senior year of high school, but will begin his collegiate freshman campaign at just 17 years old after being a game-changer in high school. As a junior in 2025, he recorded 69 receptions for 1,264 yards (18.3 avg.) with 15 TDs. He also rushed for 89 yards on 3 carries (29.7 avg.) with 2 touchdowns.

He helped DeSoto reach the quarterfinals of Texas’ 6A D-II state playoffs. Before the season, he was named a 2025 MaxPreps Preseason Second Team All-American and was selected to the 2025 Preseason All-Area Team. He was a 2025 Under Armour Next Dallas participant and named the wide receiver MVP. He is a 2025 Whataburger Super Team finalist.

Trent Mosley, WR – Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Calif.)

– Mosley, a four-star recruit, is rated as the No. 22 player in the state of California by ESPN, No. 27 by 247Sports, and No. 34 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 33 wide receiver in the country by ESPN, No. 43 by 247Sports, and No. 68 by Rivals. He is a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee. He is nationally ranked 201st on the ESPN 300 List.

As a senior in 2025, he tallied 47 receptions for 648 yards (13.8 avg.) and 4 TDs. He also recorded 31 carries for 197 yards (6.4 avg.) and 9 touchdowns. He had 7 punt returns for 83 yards (11.9 avg.). He helped Santa Margarita with the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championship under first-year head coach, former USC Heisman winner, Carson Palmer.

Mosley set a new school record for career receptions with 217. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Preseason All-CIF Southern Section Team, the 2025 Cal-Hi Sports Preseason All-State First Team, the 2025 The Sporting News Preseason All-State First Team, the 2025 Cal-Hi Sports Preseason All-Orange County Team, the 2025 MaxPreps Preseason All-America Second Team, the 2025 PrepRedzone All-Southern California Preseason Team, and the 2025 SI/SBLive All-CIF Southern Section Preseason Team.

Roderick Tezeno Jr., WR – Opelousas Catholic School (La.)

– Tezeno, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 13 player in the state of Louisiana by Rivals, No. 15 by 247Sports, and No. 22 by ESPN. He is touted as the No.52 wide receiver in the country by Rivals, No. 68 by 247Sports, and No. 79 by ESPN.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 38 receptions for 725 yards (19.1 avg.) and 9 touchdowns.

Luc Weaver, WR – Notre Dame HS (Calif.)

– Weaver, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 221 player in the nation by Rivals. He is rated as the No. 19 player in the state of California by Rivals, No. 35 by 247Sports, and No. 43 by ESPN. He is touted as the No. 29 wide receiver in the country by Rivals, No. 49 by 247Sports, and No. 71 by Rivals.

He is nationally ranked 221st on the Rivals 300 List, and as a senior in 2025, Weaver recorded 22 receptions for 397 yards and 7 touchdowns.

RB: Shahn Alston, Deshonne Redeaux

Shahn Alston, RB – Thomas W. Harvey HS (Ohio)

– Alston, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 95 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 130 by Rivals, and No. 171 by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 4 player in the state of Ohio by ESPN and No. 7 by Rivals and 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 7 running back in the country by Rivals, No. 9 by ESPN, and No. 12 by 247Sports.

He is nationally ranked 95th on the ESPN 300, 130th on the Rivals 300, and 171st on the Top247 List and is a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee. As a senior in 2025, he tallied 172 carries for 1,548 yards (9.0 avg.) and 29 touchdowns, including recording a quartet of 200-yard rushing performances.

He also caught 40 passes for 489 yards (12.2 avg.) with 5 touchdowns and completed a 24-yard touchdown pass. Defensively, he added 17 tackles, including 3 for loss and 1 forced fumble. He was a finalist for the 2025 Dan Coughlin Memorial FOX8 Player of the Year.

Deshonne Redeaux, RB – Oaks Christian HS (Calif.)

– Redeaux, a four-star recruit, is ranked No. 109 player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 125 by ESPN, and No. 170 by Rivals. He is rated as the No. 13 player in the state of California by 247Sports, No. 15 by ESPN, and No. 17 by Rivals.

He is touted as the No. 6 running back in the country by 247Sports, No. 10 by Rivals, and No. 11 by ESPN. He is nationally ranked 10th on the Top247 List, 125th on the ESPN 300 List, and 170th on the Rivals 300 List. MaxPreps ranked him the No. 2 offensive lineman in the recruiting class. He is a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star and 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 156 carries for 1,447 yards (9.3 avg.) with 15 touchdowns. He also tallied 12 receptions for 160 yards (13.3 avg.) and 1 touchdown. Defensively, he recorded 13 tackles, including 2 for loss (with two sacks for minus 21 yards).

On special teams, he recorded 4 kickoff returns for 97 yards (24.3 avg.) with a long of 30. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Preseason All-CIF Southern Section Team. Redeaux was a 2025 Rivals Five-Star Camp participant in Indianapolis.

TE: Mark Bowman, Josiah Jefferson

Mark Bowman, TE – Mater Dei HS (Calif.)

– Bowman, a five-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 29 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 32 by Rivals, and No. 42 by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 3 player in the state of California by 247Sports and No. 4 by Rivals and ESPN.

He is touted as the No. 2 tight end in the country by Rivals and ESPN and No. 3 by 247Sports. He is nationally ranked 29th on the ESPN 300 List, 32nd on the Rivals 300 List, and 42nd on the Top 247 List. He is listed as MaxPreps’ 2025 Top Tight End.

Bowman reclassified and elected to forgo his senior year of high school, but will play his collegiate freshman campaign at 18 years old after being a constant difference-maker in the Trinity League. As a junior in 2025, he recorded 31 receptions for 370 yards (11.9 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. He also tallied 27 rushing yards on 5 carries (5.4 avg.).

Additionally, he tallied 5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 forced fumble. Mater Dei reached the CIF Southern Section Semifinals in 2025. Before the season, Bowman was selected to the 2025 MaxPreps Preseason All-America First Team and to the 2025 Preseason All-CIF-Southern Section Team.

Josiah Jefferson, TE – Mater Dei HS / Southwestern College (Calif.)

– Jefferson, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 5 JUCO player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 8 by ESPN, and No. 16 by Rivals. He is rated as the No. 3 JUCO player in the state of California by 247Sports and No. 7 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 1 JUCO tight end in the country by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN.

In 2025 at Southwestern, he recorded 36 receptions for 444 yards (12.3 avg.) and 4 touchdowns. Before the season, he was named a Preseason Junior College All-American by JucoGridiron.com.

S: Peyton “Man Man” Dyer, Madden Riordan

Peyton “Man Man” Dyer, S – Tyner Academy (Tenn.)

– Dyer, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 249 player in the nation by Rivals. He is rated as the No. 9 player in the state of Tennessee by ESPN, No. 10 by Rivals, and No. 14 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 30 cornerback in the country by Rivals and ESPN and No. 39 by 247Sports. He is nationally ranked 249th on the Rivals 300 List.

As a senior in 2025, he transferred to Tyner Academy, and he recorded 2 receptions for 41 yards (20.5) and 1 touchdown, as well as 7 carries for 17 yards (2.4 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. He helped Tyner Academy go undefeated in regional play in 2025.

Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Touchdown Club of Atlanta Preseason All-Star Team and the Recruit GA Preseason Class 6A All-State First Team.

Madden Riordan, S – Sierra Canyon HS (Calif.)

– Riordan, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 48 player in the state of California by 247Sports, No. 51 by Rivals, and No. 96 by ESPN. He is touted as the No. 53 safety in the country by 247Sports, No. 60 by Rivals, and No. 91 by ESPN.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 32 tackles, including 3 for loss, 4 INTs returned for 23 yards, and 7 PBUs. Offensively, he notched 1 carry for 21 yards and a TD, and 6 receptions for 62 yards (10.3). He was named to the 2025 All-Mission League MVP. He was also a 2025 Team Captain.

Before the season, he was named a 2025 MaxPreps Preseason First Team All-American and was selected to the 2025 Preseason All-LIF Southern Section Team. Academically, Riordan has been on the honor roll and dean’s list every semester.

OL: Chase Deniz, Vlad Dyakonov, John Fifita, Breck Kolojay, Keenyi Pepe, Kannon Smith, Esun Tafa

Chase Deniz, OL – Cathedral Catholic HS (Calif.)

– Deniz, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 46 player in the state of California by ESPN and No. 89 by Rivals, and No. 105 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 56 offensive tackle in the country by ESPN, No. 96 by Rivals, and No. 121 by 247Sports.

In 2025, he helped Cathedral Catholic to an 8-2 season and to the CIF Playoffs. Deniz attended the 2025 Under Armour Next Camp: Los Angeles and won the offensive lineman MVP.

Vlad Dyakonov, OL – Folsom HS (Calif.)

– Dyakonov, a four-star recruit, is ranked the No. 68 player in the nation by Rivals, No. 242 by 247Sports, and No. 234 by ESPN. He is rated as the No. 9 player in the state of California by Rivals and No. 23 by 247Sports, and No. 28 by ESPN. He is touted as the No. 12 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals, No. 23 by 247Sports, and No. 28 by ESPN.

He is nationally ranked 68th on the Rivals 300 and is a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee.

As a senior in 2025, Folsom went 9-1 in the regular season to win the Sierra Foothill League Championship. Dyakonov attended the 2025 Under Armour Next Camp in Salt Lake City and the 2025 Rivals Camp Series in Los Angeles.

John Fifita, OL – Saint Francis HS (Calif.)

– Fifita, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 60 player in the state of California by ESPN, No. 78 by Rivals, and No. 130 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 72 interior offensive lineman in the country by ESPN, No. 111 by Rivals, and No. 129 by 247Sports.

In 2025, he helped Mountain View reach the playoffs. As a junior in 2024, Mountain View went 8-2 in the regular season and won the CIF Central Coast Section Division 1 Championship. He was named a 2024 All-West Catholic Athletic League Honorable Mention.

His unit also earned Offensive Linemen of the Week honors in 2024 by GetFocus Sports for their performance over Archbishop Mitty as the Lancers recorded 404 yards.

Breck Kolojay, OL – IMG Academy (Fla.)

– Kolojay, a four-star recruit, is ranked the No. 216 player in the nation by ESPN. He is rated as the No. 30 player in the state of Florida by ESPN, No. 40 by 247Sports, and No. 75 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 6 interior offensive lineman in the country by ESPN, No. 22 by 247Sports, and No. 50 by Rivals.

He is nationally ranked 216th on the ESPN 300 List. In 2025, the IMG offensive line allowed 2,020 yards rushing, 202 yards per game, and 7.4 yards per carry. The unit allowed the offense to record 20 explosive plays (20+ yds) and gave up just 5 sacks as a unit.

Keenyi Pepe, OL – IMG Academy (Fla.)

Pepe, a five-star recruit, is ranked No. 5 player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 19 by ESPN, and No. 258 by Rivals and is rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Florida by 247Sports, No. 3 by ESPN, and No. 32 by Rivals.

He is touted as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports, No. 3 by ESPN, and No. 26 by Rivals. He is nationally ranked 5th on the Top247 List, 19th on the ESPN 300 List, and 258th on the Rivals 300 List.

MaxPreps ranked him the No. 2 offensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class. He was a 2025 Polynesian Bowl All-Star and a participant in the 2025 Under Armour All-American Game as a junior.

In 2025, the IMG offensive line allowed 2,020 yards rushing, 202 yards per game, and 7.4 yards per carry. The unit allowed the offense to record 20 explosive plays (20+ yds) and gave up just 5 sacks as a unit.

Kannon Smith, OL – Valor Christian School (Colo.)

– Smith, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 3 player in the state of Colorado by ESPN, No. 10 by 247Sports, and No. 1787 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 34 interior offensive lineman in the country by ESPN, No. 64 by 247Sports, and No. 71 by Rivals.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 3 tackles, including 1 for loss and 1 sack for minus 4 yards and 2 PBUs. He was named as a Colorado Prep Varsity Top 2026 Offensive Tackle and a Top 2026 Offensive Line/Defensive Line Candidate.

Esun Tafa, OL – Corner Canyon HS (Utah)

– Tafa, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 133 player in the nation by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 3 player in the state of Utah by 247Sports, No. 5 by ESPN, and No. 13 by Rivals.

He is touted as the No. 5 interior offensive lineman in the country by 247Sports, No. 7 by ESPN, and No. 47 by Rivals. He is nationally ranked 133rd on the Top 247 List and 220th on the ESPN 300 List.

In 2025, Corner Canyon won the 6A State Championship for the third-straight year. Before the 2025 season, Tafa was named a 2025 MaxPreps Second Team All-American.

CB: Jayden Crowder, Elbert “Rock” Hill IV, Joshua Holland II, Brandon Lockhart

Jayden Crowder, CB – Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Calif.)

– Crowder, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 41 player in the state of California by Rivals, No. 59 by 247Sports, and No. 94 by ESPN. He is touted as the No. 66 cornerback in the country by 247Sports, No. 72 by Rivals, and No. 93 by ESPN.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 33 tackles, including 1 for loss, 7 PBUs, 2 INTs, and 2 blocked field goals. Offensively, he recorded 3 receptions for 27 yards (9.0 avg.) and also had 4 kickoff returns for 106 yards (26.5 avg.).

He helped Santa Margarita with the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championship under first-year head coach, former USC Heisman winner, Carson Palmer. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Cal-Hi Sports Preseason All-Orange County Team.

Elbert “Rock” Hill IV, CB – Archbishop Hoban HS (Ohio)

– Hill, a five-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 22 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 76 by Rivals, and No. 87 by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Ohio by ESPN, No. 2 by Rivals, and No. 4 by 247Sports.

He is touted as the No. 1 cornerback in the country by ESPN, No. 7 by 247Sports, and No. 8 by Rivals. He is nationally ranked 22nd on the ESPN 300 List, 76th on the Rivals 300 List, and 87th on the Top 247 List.

As a senior in 2025, he tallied 47 tackles, including 5 for loss, with 9 INTs, 33 PBUs, 3 TDs, and 1 FG block. He was selected as the NFL’s Cleveland Browns representative at the 2025 Nike Next Ones during Super Bowl Week.

Joshua Holland II, CB – St. John Bosco HS (Calif.)

– Holland, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 42 player in the state of California by Rivals, No. 47 by 247Sports, and No. 75 by ESPN. He is touted as the No. 52 cornerback in the country by 247Sports, No. 53 by ESPN, and No. 73 by Rivals.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 18 tackles, 2 INTs, and 5 PBUs. Before the season, he was named to the PrepRedZone Preseason All-Southern California Team.

Brandon Lockhart, CB – Sierra Canyon HS (Calif.)

– Lockart, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 77 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 138 by Rivals, and No. 208 by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 12 player in the state of California by ESPN, No. 14 by Rivals, and No. 21 by 247Sports.

He is touted as the No. 10 cornerback in the country by ESPN, No. 22 by Rivals, and No. 24 by 247Sports. He is nationally ranked 77th on the ESPN 300 List, 138th on the Rivals 300, and 208th on the Top 247 List. He is a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee.

As a senior in 2025, he transferred to Sierra Canyon HS, and he tallied 30 tackles, 12 PBUs, and 1 fumble recovery. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Prep Redzone California Preseason All-Southern California Team and the 2025 Cal-Hi Sports Preseason All-State First Team.

He was a 2025 All-22 Regional Los Angeles Camp invitee and was named MVP. He was also a 2025 Under Armour Next Camp Series Los Angeles and a Rivals Camp Los Angeles attendee.

DT: Malik Brook, Jake Johnson, Tomuhini “Tom Tom” Topui, Jaimeon Winfield

Malik Brooks, DT – St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Calif.)

– Brooks, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 48 player in the state of California by ESPN and No. 117 by 247Sports, and No. 167 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 53 defensive lineman in the country by ESPN, No. 161 by 247Sports, and No. 199 by Rivals.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 50 tackles, including 14 for loss with 8 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Cal-Hi Preseason All-State Third Team.

He was also selected as one of the Press Telegram Top 10 Defensive Players to Watch in 2025 and a 2025 Los Angeles Times Top Defensive Linemen.

Jake Johnson, DT – Prosper HS (Texas)

– Johnson, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 100 player in the state of Texas by ESPN, No. 115 by 247Sports, and No. 139 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 62 defensive lineman in the country by ESPN, No. 99 by 247Sports, and No. 108 by Rivals.

He was injured throughout his senior season in 2025. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Sports Illustrated Preseason All‐State Team and was also nominated for the VYPE Dallas-Fort Worth 2025 Preseason Football Public School Offensive Player of the Year.

Tomuhini “Tom Tom” Topui, DT – Mater Dei HS (Calif.)

– Topui, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 62 player in the nation by ESPN and No. 86 by 247Sports. He is rated as the No. 8 player in the state of California by ESPN, No. 11 by 247Sports, and No. 28 by Rivals.

He is touted as the No. 4 defensive lineman in the country by ESPN, No. 10 by 247Sports, and No. 34 by Rivals. He is nationally ranked 86th on the Top 247 List and 62nd on the ESPN 300 List.

MaxPreps ranked him the No. 2 offensive lineman in the recruiting class, and he was a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star and 2026 Navy All-American Bowl invitee.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 25 tackles, including 9 for loss (with 2.5 sacks), 3 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 QBHs. Mater Dei reached the CIF Southern Section Semifinals in 2025. Before the season, he was named a 2025 Sporting News Preseason All-American, a 2025 MaxPreps Preseason First Team All-American, and to the 2025 Preseason All-CIF Southern Section Team.

Jaimeon Winfield, DT – Richardson HS (Texas)

– Winfield, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 38 player in the nation by Rivals, No. 54 by 247Sports, and No. 113 by ESPN. He is rated as the No. 3 player in the state of Texas by Rivals, No. 7 by 247Sports, and No. 14 by ESPN.

He is touted as the No. 3 defensive lineman in the country by Rivals and 247Sports and No. 9 by ESPN. He is nationally ranked 38th on the Rivals 300 List, 54th on the Top247 List, and 113th on the ESPN 300.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 55 tackles, including 22 for loss with 6 sacks, 14 QBHs, 2 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 3 blocked field goals, and 2 touchdowns. He was named the 2025 7-6A District MVP.

DE: Braeden Jones, Simote Katoanga, Luke Wafle, Andrew Williams

Braeden Jones, DE – Mount Carmel HS (Ill.)

– Jones, a four-star recruit, is rated as the No. 8 player in the state of Illinois by Rivals, No. 10 by ESPN, and No. 17 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 26 defensive lineman in the country by Rivals, No. 53 by ESPN, and No. 63 by 247Sports.

As a senior in 2025, he tallied 85 tackles, including 15 for loss with 9.5 sacks and 6 PBUs. Prior to the season, he was named to the 2025 Preseason All-Great Lakes Region First Team.

Simote Katoanga, DE – Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Calif.)

– Katoanga, a four-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 93 player in the nation by ESPN and No. 184 by 247Sports. He was rated as the No. 14 player in the state of California by ESPN, No. 18 by 247Sports, and No. 25 by Rivals. He is touted as the No. 13 edge in the country by ESPN, No. 25 by 247Sports, and No. 32 by Rivals.

He is nationally ranked 93rd on the ESPN 300 List and is 184th on the Top 247 List and was a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 35 tackles, including 11.5 for loss with 3 sacks and 2 PBUs. He helped Santa Margarita with the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championship under first-year head coach, former USC Heisman winner, Carson Palmer. Before the season, he was named to the 2025 Cal-Hi Sports Preseason All-State Team First Team, the Los Angeles Times 2025 Preseason All-Southland First Team, the 2025 Cal-Hi Sports Preseason All-Orange County Team, and the 2025 The Sporting News Preseason All-State Third Team.

Luke Wafle, DE – The Hun School of Princeton (N.J.)

– Wafle, a five-star recruit, is ranked as the No. 4 player in the nation by Rivals, No. 70 by 247Sports, and No. 106 by ESPN. He is rated as the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey by Rivals, ESPN, and 247Sports.

He is touted as the No. 1 edge in the country by Rivals, No. 10 by 247Sports, and No. 15 by ESPN. He is nationally ranked 4th on the Rivals 300 List, 70th on the Top 247 List, and 106th on the ESPN 300 List.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 99 tackles, including 37 for loss with a school record 23 sacks. He earned placement on the 2025 All NJ Prep “A” Football First Team. As a team captain, he led the Hun School to a 10-0 record and won a New England Championship in 2025.

Wafle was named the 2025 All NJ Prep Football Team Defensive Player of the Year and the 2025 12th Man Touchdown Club Prep Lineman of the Year. He was selected as the NFL’s New York Giants representative at the 2025 Nike Next Ones during Super Bowl Week.

Andrew Williams, DE – John C. Freemont HS (Calif.)

– Williams, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 31 player in the state of California by Rivals, No. 81 by ESPN, and No. 85 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 45 edge in the country by Rivals, No. 88 by ESPN, and No. 96 by 247Sports.

Williams, a two-way player, has only played football for two years.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 64 tackles, including 12 for loss with 10 sacks. As a tight end, he tallied 12 receptions for 241 yards (20.1 avg.) and 1 touchdown. He also rushed for 301 yards on 34 carries (8.9 avg.) with 1 touchdown.

LB: Talanoa Ili, Taylor “Taybo” Johnson, Shaun Scott

Talanoa Ili, LB – Kahuku HS (Hawaii)

– Ili, a four-star recruit, is ranked No. 53 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 62 by 247Sports, and No. 197 by Rivals. He is rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Hawaii by 247Sports and ESPN and No. 2 by Rivals.

He is touted as the No. 5 linebacker in the country by 247Sports, No. 6 by ESPN, and No. 11 by Rivals. He is nationally ranked 53rd on the ESPN 300 List, 62nd on the Top 247 List, and 197th on the Rivals 300 List.

He played his senior season at Kahuku HS in Hawaii. He recorded snaps all over the field as a senior, splitting time between MIKE, WILL, and SAM while also being featured as a large nickel and a hand-in-the-dirt edge. Before the season, he was named a 2025 MaxPreps Preseason First Team All-American and a 2025 Sporting News Preseason All-American.

Taylor “Taybo” Johnson, LB – Cajon HS (Calif.)

– Johnson, a three-star recruit, is rated as the No. 50 player in the state of California by Rivals, No. 80 by ESPN, and No. 109 by 247Sports. He is touted as the No. 31 linebacker in the country by ESPN, No. 55 by Rivals, and No. 140 by 247Sports.

As a senior in 2025, he recorded 201 tackles, including 17.5 for loss with 6.5 sacks, 10 QBHs, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 INTs. Offensively, he recorded 3 receptions for 97 yards (32.3 avg.) and 1 touchdown.

Shaun Scott, LB – Mater Dei HS (Calif.)

– Scott, a four-star recruit, is ranked No. 177 player in the nation by ESPN. He is rated as the No. 20 player in the state of California by ESPN, No. 33 by 247Sports, and No. 87 by Rivals.

He is touted as the No. 16 edge in the country by ESPN, No. 32 by 247Sports, and No. 111 by Rivals and is nationally ranked 177th on the ESPN 300 List. He was ranked the No. 1 linebacker in Orange County by PrepRedZone California.

As a senior in 2025, he tallied 53 tackles, including 21 for loss with 13.5 sacks, 10 QBHs, 5 PBUs, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. Mater Dei reached the CIF Southern Section Semifinals in 2025, and in the spring of 2025, he helped Mater Dei win the inaugural LB Poly Nike Legends 7v7 Invitational.

He won the linebacker MVP at the 2025 Navy All-American Combine.

Alston, Baker, Bowman, Crowder, Deniz, Dixon-Wyatt, Dyakonov, Dyer, Fifita, Hill, Holland, Ili, Jefferson, J. Johnson, T. Johnson, Jones, Katoanga, Kolojay, Lockhart, Mosley, Pepe, Redeaux, Riordan, Scott, Smith, Tafa, Topui, Wafle, Weaver, A. Williams, J. Williams, and Winfield will enroll at USC in January and participate in the 2026 spring practice. The other three signees will join the Trojan program in the fall.