The USC Trojans 2025 recruiting class is starting to come together following a string of commitments that cost Lincoln Riley and Co. multiple five-star prospects. Fortunately, the Trojans are beginning to make up for it by securing the commitment of one of the biggest players in the 2025 recruiting class.
One of the themes of USC’s 2025 recruiting class is its emphasis on trench play. Even after losing five-star defensive linemen Isaiah Gibson and Justus Terry, 25 percent of the Trojans commits either play on the offensive or defensive line.
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Riley and his staff are still working to fill the voids left by Terry and Gibson flipping. While their replacements haven’t come yet, USC did potentially add to its depth in the trenches with one of the largest recruits in the entire 2025 class.
On Tuesday, Santa Margarita Catholic offensive lineman Elijah Vaikona announced his commitment to the Trojans. The California native becomes the first offensive tackle commit in 2025 for USC and he’s the second offensive lineman.
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Elijah Vaikona Recruiting Ranking
- Rivals: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- 247 Sports: ⭐️⭐️⭐️,
- On3: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vaikona is one of the biggest players in his entire recruiting class. Among the 100 offensive tackle recruits ranked by On3.com, Vaikona is one of only eight measuring in at 6-foot-8. Only four of those eight weigh over 300 pounds and Vaikona hits the scale at 370 pounds, making him one of the heaviest players in the class.
USC did face significant competition for the 6-foot-8 offensive tackle, with the Washington Huskies and UCLA Bruins also in the mix for him. The Trojans still secured his commitment even after his last visit to Washington (June 21). While USC didn’t offer him a scholarship until June 13, Riley and the Trojans coaching staff did enough to land his commitment.