Cherry Hill West's Jordon DeJesus Gonzalez is sacked by Middletown South's Colin Gallagher and Luke Wafle during the first half of the Cherry Hill West vs. Middletown South NJSIAA Central Group 4 playoff football game at Middletown High School South in Middletown, NJ Friday, October 28, 2022.
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Cherry Hill West's Jordon DeJesus Gonzalez is sacked by Middletown South's Colin Gallagher and Luke Wafle during the first half of the Cherry Hill West vs. Middletown South NJSIAA Central Group 4 playoff football game at Middletown High School South in Middletown, NJ Friday, October 28, 2022.
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$2,600,000 Gamble? USC Outbids Buckeyes In Bold NIL Move for Elite Edge Prospect
USC is making some big moves this offseason. The Trojans have landed elite edge rusher Luke Wafle.
Josh Newberg and Steve Wiltfong of On3 sat down for an episode of “Wiltfong Whiparound” on Thursday to discuss how USC pulled off the commitment.
”Relentless recruiting,” Wiltfong said. “Over the weekend, I thought Luke Wafle was gonna go to USC following his official visit to the Trojans campus.”
Penn State football head coach James Franklin takes a photo with recruit Luke Wafle and the Wafle family, including defensive tackle Owen Wafle (34), following the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in State College. The White team defeated the Blue team, 10-8.
Wiltfong opined that NIL played a role in Wafle’s commitment. It was originally suggested that Wafle would take his talents to Ohio State. However, according to Wiltfong, the Trojans offered the biggest NIL package to the four-star recruit, with the deal estimated to be two years and $2.2-$2.6 million.
“They came to terms from an NIL perspective and there was the best offer on the table financially,” Wiltfong said. “When Luke Wafle came back, slept on it, was still feeling USC …by Wednesday, they look like the program to beat.”
Cherry Hill West’s Jordon DeJesus Gonzalez is sacked by Middletown South’s Colin Gallagher and Luke Wafle during the first half of the Cherry Hill West vs. Middletown South NJSIAA Central Group 4 playoff football game at Middletown High School South in Middletown, NJ Friday, October 28, 2022. Mid03
Regardless of the financial aspect, USC is a good choice for Wafle. He is happy with the campus, already knows how to surf, and is confident that defensive line coaches Shaun Nua and Eric Henderson would develop him well as a player. However, Wiltfong argued that it all came down to money.
“At the end of the day, USC wins the bidding war, modern recruiting, to land one of the most coveted defensive players in the country in Luke Wafle and they add him to the No. 1 recruiting class in the land,” Wiltfong added.
While several top programs were in the running to land Wafle, USC’s bold NIL package secured the deal.
Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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What Luke Wafle brings to USC
Luke Wafle is the top-ranked 2026 prospect from the state of New Jersey and adds to a Trojans class that On3 praises as the best in the country.
Wafle is an athletic edge with a high ceiling who was a highly sought-after defensive player.
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