The USC Trojans currently hold the No. 1 2026 recruiting class in the nation. While an influx of NIL money has aided their rise, giving prospects the whole Los Angeles movie star treatment on official visits has certainly helped.
USC Goes Full Hollywood With Flashy Arrival Experience for Top 2026 Recruits
Four-star DB Elbert “Rocky” Hill visited the Trojans on June 6 (happy 95th birthday, Tommy Trojan!) and shared his entrance experience on his Instagram story.
In the video, Hill’s name is announced over a loudspeaker as he enters a tunnel filled with red lights, Heisman trophies, and USC coaches and staffers, including defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and head coach Lincoln Riley.
WATCH: USC welcoming recruits for their official visits✌️
(via @Rockk114)https://t.co/2xRWR7bPG8 pic.twitter.com/wB7F1LNUDv
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 6, 2025
The 5’10”, 175-pound DB from Akron, Ohio, also has official visits scheduled with Oregon (June 13) and Alabama (June 20) coming up, although it will be difficult for those programs to upset USC’s wild welcome.
Yet, Hill wasn’t the only recruit to receive such an entrance. Fourteen other recruits hit the red carpet, with only four uncommitted to the program. Four-star DL commit Tomuhini Topui was next in line at the Coliseum on June 6.
USC DL commit Tomuhini Topui getting the red carpet treatment at the Coliseum on his OV ✌🏻#FightOn✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/sihyF0Zd3Z
— Arrogant Nation✌🏻 (@FightOnRusty) June 6, 2025
According to 247Sports, USC holds a country-leading 27 commitments in the 2026 class, including two five-stars and 16 four-stars.
The recruiting push has resulted in a whopping four Trojan coaches landing among the top 10 recruiters in college football, with DL coach Eric Henderson (No. 2) and secondary coach Doug Belk (No. 3) trailing only Ohio State’s Brian Hartline.
Of course, NIL offerings have played a major role, with five-star TE Mark Bowman reportedly earning roughly $3 million a year across three seasons. And the money faucet isn’t closing anytime soon, with USC signing a 15-year deal with Learfield to “revolutionize revenue generation, NIL and fan engagement for Trojan Athletics and the Coliseum.”
However, beyond the lights, music, and red carpet experience is a foundation USC has spent years rebuilding.
As Riley admitted, the Trojans were “very behind” when he first arrived in 2022, both in recruiting and NIL. That’s no longer the case. The arrival of GM Chad Bowden, along with one of the nation’s most aggressive NIL operations, has fundamentally changed the way recruits view the program.
KEEP READING: 1 Breakout Player for All 136 Teams in the 2025 College Football Season
“More recruits want to come here because they see what’s happening,” Riley told On3. “This is not one of those things where it’s a bunch of hollow promises.”
The Trojans may have gone 7-6 last season, but they’re recruiting like a future powerhouse. Whether that momentum translates to wins in 2025 remains to be seen, but USC appears to be building a program that looks ready to capitalize on its long dormant potential.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
