USC boasts 5-star edge among all college football teams for class of 2026

Every year requires a retooling for college football rosters. USC has publicly stated their approach in order to achieve that goal. Focusing efforts on high school recruiting and supplementing through the portal is how the Trojans will go about their business.

If you're going to do something, you might as well do it right. Among a wave of commitments, USC has especially seen a lot of success in the upcoming class of 2026. About to be high school seniors, these athletes show the promise of a lot of reinforcement coming down the road for the Trojans.

Among some of the recruiting sites, On3 released its rankings. In it, USC stood out as the only school with two five-star commits. RJ Sermons and Xavier Griffin made the graphic released on the site's social media account with a USC logo right next to their names.

In terms of recruiting and what the Trojans have traditionally been able to do in that department, this is an excellent sign that things are returning to where they should be under coach Lincoln Riley. Particularly on defense, when thinking of some of the past USC greats that have walked through the Coliseum, the defense has had a number of excellent talents in the Cardinal and Gold.

Skill set of the current USC 5-star commits

Sermons and Griffin will both look to further add to the Trojan legacy. Perhaps more important than their rating, they offer highly sought-after versatility. Being an athlete with high football IQ and dependability is something that all coaches look for in a player. Coach Riley has spoken on how valuable it can be to have someone who can reliably line up in multiple positions on the field.

Griffin offers everything a defense needs from an outside linebacker. Whether it's dropping back in a zone or as a pass-rusher, he makes plays. Sermons is an excellent corner option who can also pose a threat as a returner.

It is the increased ability of this staff to show what the Trojan program is about and get high schoolers excited about joining USC that will ensure a sustained level of success under coach Lincoln Riley. Naysayers may point to the past seasons under the HC's tenure. Rest assured, he and the staff are only beginning to tap into the potential of what's possible at this storied football university.