Lincoln Riley’s Trojans gave a scare at the Coliseum on September 28 when they played against Wisconsin. By halftime, USC was trailing with an 11-point deficit but they quickly leveled up in the second half. They not only barred the Badgers from scoring more points than 21 after their last 4-yard touchdown run by Tawee Walker in the second quarter. But the Trojans dominated the second half with four touchdowns, two in each quarter for a spectacular 38-21 win against their Big Ten foe. 

Lincoln Riley and USC entice highly-rated recruits

Luck was in Lincoln Riley’s favor as their last game witnessed the attendance of some top-rated recruits whom the Trojans clearly impressed including Julian Lewis. On October 2, On3 Recruits Josh Newberg posted a YouTube video on Steve Wiltfong’s prediction on USC’s trending elite recruits. Here’s a look at the big names predicted to sign with USC. 

5-star QB Julian Lewis

Julian Lewis is still one of the top 2025 recruits committed to Lincoln Riley’s program. Still, the No. 24 overall player is open for recruitment with other schools like Auburn and Colorado striving to lure this high-end prospect. The Carrollton HS QB was in attendance at the USC vs Wisconsin game, which depicts his interest in committing to the program. And the Trojans didn’t disappoint!

His last visit to USC was in early June. However, according to Steve Wiltfong, Julian Lewis is still a strong contender to commit to Riley. Just a month ago, the coveted QB told ESPN, “As of right now, I’m still locked in with USC. That’s still where my home is. Taking visits is kind of a part of the process, I was going to go see what’s going on everywhere else, but I’m still USC right now.” With the Trojans coming off a fruitful season aside from the lone loss to Michigan, there’s a high chance he’ll ultimately land with Lincoln Riley. 

4-star CB RJ Sermons 

USC’s last game against Wisconsin also intrigued CB RJ Sermons who is rated as the No. 2 CB in the 2026 recruiting class. The No. 34 overall player, who hails from Rancho Cucamonga High School, has a connection to USC. His father, Rodney Sermons, played for the Trojans in the mid-90s. Sermons even told Wiltfong after the game, “USC was great. It’s always a good family environment.” It’s no wonder he landed on Wiltfong’s prediction for the 2026 recruiting class. 

4-star RB Deshonne Redeaux

Like the two players above, RB Deshonne Redeaux was also present at USC’s last game which culminated in a victory. Following their victory, the No. 7 RB said of USC, “Just the way the Trojans are bringing the atmosphere and not letting the Big Ten affect them and bringing that heat every game. USC is a really good team this year and Coach Riley is doing a good job.” We could hear the enthusiasm in the words of this elite RB, who comes from Oaks Christian HS which is about 40 miles away from USC campus. Given that he already received 27 offers, this highly-coveted RB will be a valuable addition to Lincoln Riley’s program. 

USC is currently No. 4 in the 2026 recruiting cycle with six commitments. Now, any commitment from these top HS prospects will dramatically improve their rank. 

Explore more college football intrigues by delving into this enticing exclusive interview with Doug Sanders on our Think Tank podcast.