USC commit goes from underrated to 4-star player in needed win for Lincoln Riley

The USC Trojans recruited a four-star without even knowing it. Class of 2027 tight end Jace Cannon was ranked a three-star prospect in the On3/Rivals rankings, but after an update, he's now a four-star playmaker. Cannon also moved up in the national tight end rankings from No. 35 to No. 12.

He committed to USC in April 2026 over Michigan, Texas A&M, Stanford, and Cal. USC certainly believes in his talent, but his ranking on 247Sports has him ranked as a three-star tight end. Still, his rankings for his position did go up from No. 34 to No. 31.

Cannon's upgrade to a four-star is a much needed boost to the Trojans recruiting class that has fallen in the rankings. After being in the Top 10, they've moved to No. 13 in the On3/Rivals ranking, which has been needed good news for Lincoln Riley and his USC coaches.

Why the sudden change for Jace Cannon?

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound tight end's ranking surged because of his impressive junior year season at Junipero Serra in San Mateo, Calif. He had 29 receptions for 569 yards and three touchdowns.

Cannon is a three-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and football, making him a versatile player. Because of that, he's played multiple positions at Junipero Serra. He's also able to line up as an X-receiver, and he can play in the slot or backfield.

He also mountain bikes, which must contribute to the body control that he has when tracking down balls. He's known for his athletic ability, making hard catches in the air, as he can twist and turn and still come down with the ball. Along with his athleticism, he's also fast. On routes, his speed leaves him open, and the mismatch from his size provides plenty of problems for the opposition.

Cannon also posted 77 yards on four special teams returns for this past season. Having a versatile player like Cannon should be attractive to the Trojans. After wide receiver Makai Lemon was drafted this year, USC is missing a speedy kick returner. If the Trojans don't find their guy this season, then Cannon can certainly be an option in 2027.

Where does Jace Cannon stack up against other USC tight ends?

This year will be a telling one for the USC tight ends room. The Trojans secured the No. 2 tight end in the country for 2026 in Mark Bowman. So, the competition for the position is already steep. However, getting Bowman allowed USC to go after Cannon. They were able to reel in an unranked player that they had belief in, and their belief seems to be paying off.

However, in the 2027 recruiting class, USC hasn't added any tight ends besides Cannon. In total, USC has 14 commits in the class now, with two five-stars and eight four-stars.

Overall, Cannon is a solid player who isn't flashy like Bowman, but relies on his athleticism. He'll need to bulk up to be physically ready for college, but he has the potential to make an impact on USC football. He won't be on the field until next year, but eyes will definitely be on his senior season at Junipero Serra.

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