While we still have a ways to go in the 2026 recruiting cycle, the USC Trojans are already preparing themselves for the 2027 class.
He may just be entering his Junior Year at Tustin High School, but Joe Ioane is already a highly sought-after defensive line recruit.
According to Rivals, the 6-3, 280-pound 4-star prospect already has 18 offers, many coming from the top programs in the country.
One of those programs, of course, is the USC Trojans, but where do they currently stand?
USC Trojans At The Top For DL Joe Ioane
Currently, Ioane’s top schools include the USC Trojans, UCLA, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Washington, Oregon, and North Carolina.
As with a few other Tustin prospects, when it is said and done, this recruitment may come down to a battle between USC and the UCLA Bruins.
Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster is a Tustin alumnus, so he has great ties to the school and has been building relationships with players there, including Ioane.
However, at the moment, USC looks like the school to beat as Ioane spoke very highly about the program and the staff.
“USC has a big marketing opportunity with football and the school as well,” Ioane said in an interview with Rivals. “It has a lot to offer. I love the d-line staff. I’ve known them for a while now, and we have a good relationship. They’re pretty versatile on the d-line, and I like that. (Henderson’s experience) just solidifies that you can’t argue with that. There are some resumes you see and you’re like, ‘Hopefully one day I can get some of that coaching.'”
Rivals’ recruiting prediction machine currently has USC as the clear frontrunner at 97.1%.
Ioane is the 17th-ranked defensive lineman in the 2027 class, per Rivals Industry Rankings, and he is the 153rd-ranked overall player.
We have a long way to go before the 2027 cycle really ramps up, but the Trojans are in a really good spot with Joe Ioane if they decide to continue their pursuit in what will be a more selective and smaller 2027 class.