4-star LB Matai Tagoa’i commits to USC: ‘I’m a West Coast kid, so I feel like I’m at home there’

One month ago, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Washington and USC were heavily in the mix for San Clemente (Calif.) four-star linebacker Matai Tagoa’i. Since then, the Trojans grabbed the momentum in his recruitment. 

Tagoa’i has visited USC four times, with two of those trips happening in a five-day span between March 23 and March 28. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound recruit will be going back to Los Angeles many more times, as he announced his commitment to head coach Lincoln Riley and his staff on Monday. 

“I like the entire atmosphere of the school, the players, the coaches and the culture that they’re building,” Tagoa’i told On3. “From the way they practice, work out and carry themselves off the field, I like them a lot. I’m a West Coast kid, so I feel like I’m at home there. Then, I like how I fit in schematically with their defense. I feel like I could be dangerous.” 

Tagoa’i is the seventh prospect to commit to USC this cycle.

Tagoa’i has ‘100% confidence’ that USC can win a national championship

The Trojans want Tagoa’i to play the WILL linebacker spot, which will allow him to stay in the box, as well as come off the edge and drop back in pass coverage. One of his most recent trips to USC had a “different type of energy” and included a meeting with defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and assistant head coach/linebackers coach Matt Entz. 

During his discussion with Entz and Lynn, Tagoa’i learned about how he would fit in the Trojans’ defense and be utilized as a freshman. The No. 7 player in California ended up being told about “all the perfect things I needed to hear,” such as the opportunity to compete for a starting spot in his first year and make an early impact for the soon-to-be Big Ten program. 

Tagoa’i is excited to play for Entz and Lynn, who came to USC in the offseason as part of the Trojans’ overhauled defensive staff. He has “100% confidence” that USC will be a contender for a national championship in the near future under Riley. 

“It definitely shows me that he wants to put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball because I think he knows that to have a winning team, you need a defense that can stop different types of offenses that they’re running in college football,” said Tagoa’i, the No. 81 overall prospect and No. 11 linebacker in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “It’s definitely big for me to see that.” 

Tagoa’i is excited to play for Riley and Entz

A key reason why Tagoa’i committed to USC is because he started to feel like a priority to the Trojans’ staff. Riley came to his high school a few months ago and ever since then, they have been speaking at least a couple of times a week. 

“That showed me that they were being genuine and that all the things that they were telling me about me being on the top of their board was true,” Tagoa’i said. “All a recruit wants is for a school to show them that they’re being honest about their recruitment and that they want him. Coach Riley calling me definitely showed that.” 

Tagoa’i appreciated the honesty of Riley throughout his recruitment. The four-star also likes that the Trojans’ head man believes he can compete to start as a freshman. 

Entz has also made a positive impression on Tagoa’i. He joined the Trojans after serving as the head coach at North Dakota State.

“Coach Entz, you can tell he’s a football dude,” Tagoa’i said. “You can tell that he puts his nose in the books and he’s going to try to read, watch tape or do anything to get an edge on how he can be a better coach. I know he’s going to hold me accountable as a person and as a player.”