USC holds No. 1 class in 2026 college football recruiting cycle: Will Trojans close the deal this time around?

USC is off to a blazing start compiling its 2026 recruiting class. After landing three Top247 prospects in the month of March alone, the Trojans sit alone with the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation by a wide margin. 

The Trojans are buoyed by 15 commitments, the most of any FBS program. But even by average recruit rating, USC sits at No. 8. Defensive lineman Jaimeon Winfield out of Richardson, Texas, was the latest major addition, ranking the No. 66 player in the class. With a big haul on the way and several key commits, USC is positioned to be in serious contention for securing the No. 1 class in the nation if things keep heading this direction. 

A top-five high school class would be the first for USC under coach Lincoln Riley and first since 2018. Unlike Riley’s previous top class in 2023, the group is not overleveraged with offensive skill talent; the top five players are defenders. But while landing 10 Top247 prospects is a strong start to the recruiting class, the echoes of last year hang over it. 

USC must finish the job this time around

One year ago, though, USC was in the same boat. The Trojans had four different five-star prospects committed to the program throughout 2024, including three standout defensive linemen. None of them made it to campus as USC fell to the No. 14 high school recruiting class in the country. 

The only five-star who ultimately signed was quarterback Husan Longstreet, and he only flipped to his hometown program after USC lost the commitment of Julian Lewis to Colorado in November. Overall, 11 blue-chip prospects decommitted from the class at various points. Eight players rescinded commitments later than November 2024. Half of them were defensive players. 

Similarly, USC has loaded up on…

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Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2025-03-24 20:05:00

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