The USC Trojans secured the big-time transfer of cornerback Elbert Hill IV, who will make the trip from Akron, Ohio, to Hollywood. This addition was a big one for head coach Lincoln Riley.
USC’s Big Win: Elbert Hill IV Chooses Trojans Over Rivals, Eyes Future Stardom in LA
Not only did Hill choose USC, but he chose USC over some of the Trojans’ biggest rivals.
He chose the Trojans over Big Ten rivals Oregon, Ohio State, and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Here is what Hill told On3 about his reasoning for choosing USC: “Really just the people they’re building around it and how the coaches pushed very hard for me…The culture, L.A., the things L.A. can do for you.”
BREAKING: USC lands a commitment from Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban blue-chip CB Elbert Hill IV
“It’s a big place and you can make a name for yourself.”
Story: https://t.co/CTghBzAogy pic.twitter.com/kTcrR9sgCw
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) May 2, 2025
The Archbishop Hoban star is one of the best cornerbacks in the 2026 class, and the Trojans are likely to benefit from his skills right away.
Despite being undersized at 5’10”, Hill showed up and showed out as a junior last season, recording four interceptions.
Lincoln Riley Needs to Win in 2025
After winning 11 games and reaching the Cotton Bowl in his first season with the program in 2022, Riley has posted just 15 wins in total over the last two seasons. While at Oklahoma, Riley posted four 10-win seasons in five years before becoming USC’s head coach. He also made multiple College Football Playoff appearances.
With the amount of money he is making and the history surrounding the USC program, Riley cannot afford to post another seven—or eight-win season. He needs to keep this team in contention in 2025. Adding future recruits like Hill is a good step in the right direction, but it has to lead to progress on the field.
KEEP READING: USC Football Recruiting Update: 32 Prospects Set To Visit This Weekend
This season, USC will face teams such as Oregon, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Iowa. With that schedule, it is hard to say how the Trojans’ season will turn out. But if this team wants to put last season’s record to bed, they will have to take care of all or most of those big games.
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