The USC Trojans are engaged in a recruiting saga that’s turned into a full-blown bidding war, elite edge rusher Luke Wafle of New Jersey’s Hun School now finds himself at the center of one of the most competitive recruitments of the 2026 cycle.
Just days ago, Wafle left his official visit to USC seemingly ready to commit. Sources indicated it was a near-lock for the Trojans. So confident was USC, in fact, that they canceled the official visit of fellow 5-star EDGE Trenton Henderson, who then pivoted to Texas. But recruiting is fluid—especially in the NIL era.
Recruiting Tug-of-War: USC Trojans and Ohio State Battle for Four-Star EDGE Luke Wafle
On Wednesday morning, the tide shifted. According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Ohio State countered USC’s momentum with an aggressive NIL offer—enough to move Wafle back toward the Buckeyes. USC, however, isn’t backing down. On3 reports that the Trojans have increased their NIL package significantly, possibly putting Wafle in line for a deal exceeding $1 million annually.
“There’s confidence again around the Trojans program,” On3 noted, though Ohio State head coach Ryan Day continues to personally recruit Wafle down to the wire. Penn State and Texas also remain involved.
Wafle, ranked as the No. 10 edge rusher nationally in the On3 Industry Rankings and No. 4 by On3’s internal rankings, is set to announce his decision Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on the On3 Recruits YouTube channel.
Despite the chaos, USC remains well-positioned, holding the No. 1 class in the nation with 29 commitments. While missing on Wafle would sting, the Trojans remain focused on retention—and possibly landing 4-star EDGE KJ Ford, who visits this weekend.
As of now, it’s a high-stakes waiting game with NIL dollars, geography, and development all weighing heavily on Wafle’s looming choice.