Back in November, as the USC Trojans hosted their rivals Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, they were not simply vying to get a better record. In fact, they had a 2026 target in their locker room, listening, watching, and experiencing the Trojans before they lost to the visitors 49-35 in a dominant exhibition of what historic college football rivalries are meant to look like. Even the 310-pounder couldn’t help but express, “This was my first time in the Coliseum, walking into that stadium, you can feel the energy.” But that wasn’t the only thing he liked about USC.

Before the game, all invited prospects hung out in a pre-game area. Along with pregame festivities, bowling, and dinner with Elijah Paige, Hawaii’s No. 2 prospect and the No. 10 OT in the nation, Malakai Lee, also saw the campus and met the coaches and the other recruits. The visit was so impactful that when the time came, he made USC one of his six other choices. Not just that, On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine had the Trojans winning his heart by 86.7% in January. Although the 6-ft-7 star didn’t put distance into consideration, given he lives in Hawaii that is at least 10 hours away from most programs, LA did fit right in, including the proximity with the island. But the recruiting game isn’t that easy to map out.

Since early predictions, where USC took the cake, they have met with at least half a dozen OLs. Leading the nation with the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026, they have 26 commits already locked in—and possibly 9 more on the way. And with those possible strategic additions, USC’s offensive line is bursting at the seams. So, while the Trojans checked all the boxes, seemingly, a few points stood out for the Kamehameha Secondary alum, as he dropped his latest update.

Today, the buzz got real as On3 Recruits dropped Malakai Lee’s top four, and it’s a powerhouse lineup: Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas with no USC in sight. Lee was set to get a deep dive into the program with an official visit locked in for June 6. It’ll be his first trip back to L.A. since catching USC’s regular-season finale. Moreover, defensive ends coach Shaun Nua even made the trek to Honolulu in January to keep the connection strong. And Lee had plenty of love for the Trojans.

“The history and the culture are things I really like about USC. The coaches are great at USC. They are on the west coast, and they have a lot of Poly’s there, so having that family foundation there would be nice. They have developed a lot of Poly’s too, so that is another thing I like about USC.” Since February, the Trojans have loaded up in the trenches.

They have locked in 6 OLs, three of them are tackles, led by 5-star monster Keenyi Pepe, 4-star Vlad Dyakonov, and rising 3-star Chase Deniz. With that kind of depth building, priorities shifted. USC could still grab one more, maybe two, but the focus now is on keeping their core 6 solid through signing day. Additionally, HC Lincoln Riley mentioning, ““Who we are? There’s no identity,” might also have something to do with the Honolulu native giving programs like Michigan a higher preference who have made offense their identity, meaning, more chances for Lee to take the ground earlier.

As for Malakai Lee, the interest was real, but the fit changed. In the end, USC made the call. According to some reports, they encouraged Lee to explore other options. Simply, it wasn’t personal. It was business. But now, with USC left off Lee’s top four, it feels like a major loss, especially with CFB giants still in the hunt.

However, the race for Malakai Lee is heating up and the 310-pounder is rising fast. On3 ranks him even higher than most—No. 85 overall and the No. 9 OT in the 2026 On300. Now, the Bulldogs got first crack with an official visit back on April 12. Next up? Alabama on May 30. Then it’s Texas on June 6 and Michigan on June 20. So, the race is heating up. And Malakai Lee’s path to the big stage is just getting started. He’s already made unofficial visits to Alabama and Michigan, and both trips turned heads. So, what factors influenced Lee to choose his top four? Were they just the visits, or was there more behind the decision?

USC is out—but why did these four schools make the cut?

Malakai Lee’s visit to Athens left a lasting impression. Georgia rolled out the red carpet—and Lee felt every bit of it. From the moment he arrived, the connection with HC Kirby Smart and the entire Bulldogs staff felt different. The visit hit home. “Georgia knocked it out of the park,” stated Lee. Adding, “They were so caring for me and my family. The southern hospitality at Georgia was great.”

He was in town for G-Day, and what he saw was more than just a spring scrimmage—it was a glimpse into a championship culture. “Then seeing G-Day was awesome too. I got to see the players work and the coaches coach. Then right after the game, coach Searels was already grading the players like a real game, so that was great to see too,” said Lee.

So, it’s clear that Georgia’s attention to detail, family atmosphere, and relentless drive made an impact. “Georgia football is going to be Georgia football, especially under coach Smart, and it was an overall great experience at Georgia,” according to Lee.

Honestly, no doubt about it—the Bulldogs are firmly in the mix. Then Michigan and Alabama have been in the thick of the race for Malakai Lee all year. And the Tide aren’t letting up. Next up, Lee returns to Tuscaloosa—where Kalen DeBoer and OL coach Chris Kapilovic are turning up the heat. “Alabama football is great and I really like coach DeBoer and coach Kap,” mentioned Lee. Adding, “They both seem like great guys. I saw a lot on the unofficial visit. They answered a lot of my questions and I like how the program is going in the right direction.”

So, the vibe in Tuscaloosa impressed him. The coaching staff gave him clarity. The direction of the program gave him confidence. With his next visit lined up, Alabama’s momentum is real—and the Tide are rolling in this recruitment.

On the flip side, when it comes to Michigan, it’s all about development, and that’s exactly what has Malakai Lee’s attention. The Wolverines’ track record in the trenches speaks for itself, and under HC Sherrone Moore, the standard keeps rising.

“Coach Newsome and coach Moore are both super-good offensive line coaches. That, their offensive line production and how they develop players there are things I like about Michigan,” said Lee. But it’s not just about football. Michigan’s academics also stand out, giving Lee more to think about. “They offer a great education too,” he added. “They got Bryce Underwood, a great quarterback last year too, so there are some big things for me to look at, at Michigan.”

So, with elite coaching, player development, and a future star QB already in the fold, Ann Arbor is giving Lee plenty of reasons to take a serious look. Now, let’s see who checks all the boxes for Malakai Lee this season…