USC football lands in-state 4-star lineman Vlad Dyakonov

Lincoln Riley and Chad Bowden continue to deliver for USC football. The 2025 class is looking to be the best in the nation, and the 2026 class just received a significant commitment from another in-state talent. Junior Vlad Dyakonov from Folsom High School is a four-star athlete on the offensive line.

Currently listed at 6'6' and 275 lbs., the Trojan commit has lined up at various positions within the offense, including a considerable amount of snaps at left tackle. Although there is always a jump from high school level of play to college, as an upperclassman, he looks ready for the next challenge, as he often dominates his assignment against his current peers.

He was invited to and participated in the Rivals Camp Series last month. At that time he had a short list that included UCLA, Ole Miss, Ohio State, and Minnesota. From the clips that were shared from the event, Dyakonov won his fair share of one-on-ones here as well. Again, there is a jump that will take place for him from now until when he suits up in the Cardinal and Gold.

So far, the junior continues to do what he needs to do and is impressing coaches throughout the program. His size is part of what made him an intriguing prospect among other BIG teams, as well as his quick burst and quick start from the line of scrimmage. He, furthermore, is someone who does an excellent job of playing through the whistle. The athleticism is highly impressive, and with another year of weight room development, it's safe to say that he'll have an easier transition than most when he steps foot on campus as a student-athlete.

USC football position coach connection paying off

While Riley and Bowden are understandably getting a lot of credit for the latest USC football recruiting success, Zach Hanson has put in a lot of effort on the trail himself. The o-line coach made a lasting impression on Dyakonov and stood out to the lineman during the process. As shared with the Trojansports Rivals page, development on the coaching staff's ability to get players into the NFL was a large factor in the junior always having Troy as a potential landing spot.

Since then, Dyakonov shared on social media that he would be 'staying home' while thanking everyone who had helped him throughout his recruitment. With the continued wave of in-state talent opting for the Trojans, more California-based recruits are likely to follow suit, allowing Riley and the program to keep their hold on CA talent.