One of the last remaining prized recruits that the USC Trojans are targeting is 4-star linebacker Talanoa Ili. He just wrapped up his official visit with USC, and it went very well.
Last week, I spoke on the fact that even though (at the time) Ili still had some official visits with some big programs lined up, I believed that it was ultimately going to come down to a battle between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins.
Now it has been confirmed by Hayes Fawcett of On3 that Ili has canceled his remaining visits and will announce his commitment between the USC Trojans and UCLA.
NEWS: Four-Star LB Talanoa Ili is down to USC and UCLA, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 9, 2025
The 6’4 225 LB from Laie, Hawaii will announce his Commitment on June 15th
He has cancelled his OVs to Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Texas, & BYU
Where Should He Go? ⬇️https://t.co/KwHZLzng9x pic.twitter.com/rAB9cYK30m
Talanoa Ili Down To USC Trojans And UCLA Bruins
Despite what many might think, the UCLA Bruins are a real player and have a real viable shot to land Ili. The program is heading in the right direction under the leadership of DeShaun Foster, and the linebacker position has seen some real success in the NFL Draft over the past two seasons.
Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Carson Schwesinger was the first player taken at the top of the 2nd round this year.
That kind of development speaks volumes, and add in the fact that Nico and Madden Iamaleava are cousins of Ili.
All this being said, however, USC is the team to beat and where I believe he ends up committing to, and there are a few reasons why.
Ability To Headline The Room, Play Early
Even when Xavier Griffin was still committed, the Trojans were in hot pursuit of Ili and still had a very good chance of landing him. However, once they decided to move on from Griffin, it allowed them to go all in on Ili and make him the top LB in the 2026 class.
Not only will he be the top-rated LB, but he will also be one of the top-rated overall players in the class, and will have an opportunity to lead this group back to the top, where USC should be.
Coaching Development
Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s system is already a great fit for Ili and his talents, but the addition of Rob Ryan is a game-changer in terms of coaching development at the positional level. You cannot replicate the kind of experience that Ryan has.
Coach Shaun Nua has also been heavily involved in the recruitment process, and I would not be surprised to see Ili used off the EDGE in certain packages. The theme of the new defensive regime is versatility, and Ili has that in spades.
More News: USC Trojans Ranked Laughably Low In Big Ten Preseason Rankings
Let’s also not understate the importance of Coach Aaron Amaama during this entire process. He has been instrumental in putting USC in the running for Ili and has continued to foster that relationship, which thrust them into the pole position.
NIL Power
The USC Trojans now have one of the most powerful NIL arms in all of college football, strengthened even more with the latest House settlement approving revenue sharing.
Ili’s recruitment has never been about the money or even the highest bidder, necessarily, but when you are one of the top players in the country, you deserve a competitive NIL offer.
UCLA can offer a much better package than many will give them credit for, but it cannot compete with USC.
Talanoa Ili is set to announce his commitment between UCLA and USC on June 15th, Father’s Day. I believe that he will be picking up the USC Trojans hat.