The USC Trojans landed the commitment of defensive lineman Jake Johnson this morning, bringing their 2026 class to 21 total commitments. Based on the latest Crystal Ball, they are far from being done.
We have talked about how Lincoln Riley and his staff are planning for a 30-35 player 2026 class, a massive class, and most of which being from the state of California. Currently, 62% of the class is from California.
This morning, they picked up another prediction for another elite local player.
USC Trojans Get Crystal Ball For Mater Dei Prospect Shaun Scott
The USC Trojans have picked up a crystal ball from 247 Sports for dynamic high school EDGE Shaun Scott.
Scott is a 4-star prospect and the 26th-ranked EDGE in the Country, per 247 Sports Composite.
However, Scott is being pursued as an inside linebacker for the Trojans and is being recruited primarily by new linebackers coach Rob Ryan. He has elite athleticism and would be able to crash down from the EDGE in certain pass-rushing situations but would be used as a stack backer on first and second downs.
He has offers from all of the top programs in College Football, including Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, and Oklahoma.
Per Greg Biggins of 247 Sports:
“Scott is one of the best pure pass rushers in the region right now, regardless of class. He has a really nice all around game and is more than just a pass rush specialist, he can play in space, drop, and is strong in the run game as well. He has a well built 6-3, 230 frame, and looks like he’s not done growing yet. Shows natural pass rush ability who can win with speed, power, and has a very good spin move he uses often.”
Currently, 5-star commit Xavier Griffin is listed as the lone linebacker (though he can be used as an elite pass rusher, as well) in the 2026 class, so Scott would be a great addition here as USC is in pursuit to add others as well.
Scott’s Mater Dei teammate, Tomuhini Topui, just committed to USC last week. Could Shaun Scott be the next Monarch to join the Trojans?