The USC Trojans have added another crown jewel to their top-ranked 2026 recruiting class. Hun School (N.J.) edge rusher Luke Wafle has officially earned his fifth star in the latest Rivals300 update, vaulting to No. 8 overall, No. 4 at EDGE, and the top-ranked recruit in New Jersey.
Wafle becomes the fourth USC commit to earn five-star status, joining tight end Mark Bowman (Mater Dei), offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe (IMG Academy), and cornerback Elbert Hill (Archbishop Hoban).
A Coast-to-Coast Battle Won by Trojans
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Wafle’s recruitment was a fierce contest between USC, Ohio State, and Penn State. The Trojans hosted Wafle for a spring visit in April, during which he observed practice at the Coliseum and sat in on defensive meetings. USC defensive line coach Eric Henderson and defensive ends coach Shaun Nua followed that up with a May visit to New Jersey—an eastward swing that underscored how seriously USC was pursuing him.
The push worked. Wafle returned to Los Angeles for an official visit in mid-June alongside quarterback commit Jonas Williams, who joked, “We went golfing. I’ve been around him a lot, so I would like to say I played a part in that hopefully.”
By June 19, Wafle was a Trojan.
Five-Star Traits, Multi-Sport Pedigree
Wafle, listed at 6-foot-5.5 and 255 pounds, is more than just a football standout. He’s also a shot put star and standout basketball player. Rivals Director of Scouting Charles Power raved about his polish:
“Wafle pairs ready-made size… with excellent on-field play. He wins with athleticism and also has excellent play strength. He’s a highly physical finisher in the backfield.”
Wafle’s father, Dave, played defensive line at Duke, and his brother Owen plays for Penn State. The football lineage and multi-sport background make Wafle one of the most college-ready defenders in the 2026 cycle.
USC Expanding Its Footprint
With USC’s move to the Big Ten, Lincoln Riley and his staff have pushed beyond California, landing major talent across the Midwest and East Coast. Wafle is not only a marquee addition to the defensive line group but a symbol of USC’s national recruiting evolution.
As Wafle’s father told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong:
“USC was a very special experience… to actually sit down and have a one-on-one with Coach Riley was special.”
Now, that special connection has paid off—in five-star fashion.