On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported that USC Football narrowly missed out on Taven Epps, who the Texas Longhorns secured a commitment from, a highly regarded linebacker from the 2027 recruiting class.
Epps, a native of Tustin, California, and a standout player from Tustin High School, is listed at an imposing 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. His talent had attracted considerable attention from prominent programs across the nation, as he held offers from institutions such as the UCLA Bruins, USC Football, Washington Huskies, Georgia Bulldogs, and Arizona Wildcats, among others.
USC Football Narrowly Missed No. 6 California Prospect
Ultimately, Epps’ decision came down to the Longhorns, the USC Football, and the Bruins, with Texas successfully securing his commitment. Notably, Epps becomes the first prospect from the 2027 class to pledge his allegiance to the Longhorns.
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Epps is recognized as a four-star prospect and the No. 4 linebacker in the 2027 class nationally. He also holds the distinction of being the top-ranked player at his position within the state of California.
The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine strongly indicated Texas as the frontrunner in Epps’ recruitment, giving the Longhorns an 86.5% chance of landing him. UCLA (6.3%), USC (2.2%), Washington (1.9%), and Arizona (less than 1%) trailed behind in the predictions.
Epps’ familiarity with Austin, Texas, grew following an unofficial visit to the Longhorns’ campus in September. In contrast, he made five visits to UCLA, two each to Washington and USC, and one to Arizona.