Lincoln Riley getting USC back into rhythm on recruiting trail

Lincoln Riley’s run in Norman seemed determined to last as long as his predecessor’s — if the Oklahoma brass could hold off the NFL.

Instead, the wildest coaching carousel in recent memory led Riley to La La Land. As the first-year coach of USC, Riley has quickly flipped a few early OU commits, and the Trojans are sitting as the early favorite for the nation’s top 2023 recruiting class.

Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Malachi Nelson, the nation’s No. 2 player and No. 2 quarterback, headlines the class along with newly minted five-star receiver Zachariah Branch. They’re two of the nation’s 15 best players and the top recruits from California and Nevada this cycle. Riley also managed to convince top-50 wideout Makai Lemon, Nelson’s high school teammate and a follow OU commit, to get on board early.

Riley has been immersed in headlines, but he’s remained focused on the big picture behind the scenes. USC’s early recruiting momentum is a result of the same coach who thrived in Central Oklahoma continuing to produce in Hollywood.

“He’s very genuine,” Branch told On3 when asked what separates Riley from the other coaches involved in his recruitment. “When I first made the trip up to Oklahoma, he took us in. He took my family in and treated us like we were his family members. I remember being comfortable around him and genuine whenever he came into our house or wherever we were. He’s welcoming to everybody.”

“… Every time I get on the phone, I know I can be myself,” Branch continued. “I don’t have to change for anyone. I don’t have to change my vocabulary, how I talk — I can just be myself and he accepts me as who I am. He can be himself, and it flows perfectly.”

The Trojans’ re-emergence has also been a topic of concern for programs in the Pac-12, and to some degree, around the country.

“I hate to say this, but we’re already seeing USC and Oregon taking some big leads on guys in Los Angeles and other key recruiting areas for us,” a rival Pac-12 coach told On3’s Jeremy Crabtree. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

“It’s been USC and Oregon for a while out there,” added a Big 12 recruiter. “But it’s going to be even more that way moving forward. If I’m a school like UCLA or Washington, I’m really worried.” 

Lincoln Riley is a perfect fit on the West Coast

Riley was pegged as a future NFL coach by most. In the new NIL era of college football, however, Los Angeles might have a similar allure. The brass at USC courted the offensive-minded coach to get the Trojans back to the heights of Reggie Bush and Heisman-contending quarterbacks like Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer.

Riley has the made transition seamlessly.

“He fits in perfectly,” Branch said on Riley’s fit in Los Angeles. “His personality fits in with USC. The things it can do for him, the experience there and the opportunities it gave him. That’s why he took the job at USC — and he’s definitely going to change things around. That’s why I jumped on board.”

NIL and playing big-time college football in a major market in Los Angeles is enticing for the athletes. It also might also benefit the 38-year-old coach who has already made three trips to the College Football Playoff.

Momentum on the trail

Two of the nation’s top-10 players are already committed to USC, which early on boasts the nation’s top haul for 2023. Branch made the early decision to commit to USC to further momentum.

“USC was always a top school due to academics,” Branch detailed. “After the visits, the in-home visits, I wasn’t saying I was definitely going to USC. But his presence, feeling comfortable and being comfortable around him at USC, made the decision quick. You can see things are changing and everybody is buying back into the program. They’re invested in making USC how it used to be.”

The same applies to another On3 Consensus top-100 recruit: DeAndre Moore Jr.

Moore, who committed to Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma, told On3 the Trojans are assured an official visit. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine has USC in the driver’s seat for the four-star wide receiver.

“SC is home,” Moore previously told On3. “SC is SC. The new coaching staff there is all from Oklahoma and I felt that type of way when he was there at Oklahoma and it’s the same thing now. They’re in my backyard, so it’s a no-brainer.”

Moore isn’t alone either. Top-30 wide receiver Brandon Inniss, a one-time Oklahoma commit himself, is strongly considering the Trojans after Riley brought along wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons from Norman.

“I feel like they recruited me early and after I took a visit, I felt like it was home, but it just opened my eyes even more,” Inniss recently told On3’s TheBengalTiger. “I got to make sure I make the right decision. Coach Lincoln Riley is a great guy. His offense is one of the best offenses in the nation. Coach (Dennis) Simmons, great guy, develops their receivers.”

Both Branch and Nelson have been vocal recruiters since their pledges, and the Trojans could realistically end up with four of the top 12 receivers in the 2023 class. Riley has severely upgraded USC’s talent this offseason both from high school prospects and the transfer portal, and he is looking to make an even bigger splash in 2023. The Trojans are currently considered the favorites for five-star offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, as well as top-150 in-state defensive back Aaron Williams.

USC’s biggest splashes thus far have been at the offensive skill positions, but the momentum is palpable on the interior and on the defensive side of the ball.

“Talking to teammates, other guys I’m recruiting to SC, I can feel the energy that’s sparked in them,” Branch said. “They can definitely see the changes now. It feels like we’re gonna be back and other recruits, we’re excited.”