USC back to No. 1 in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings after 5-star commitment

The battle for the top spot in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings has been hotly contested this spring, with USC and LSU going back and forth. The Trojans are once again back in the top spot.

Friday brought a monster commitment from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star tight end Mark Bowman, the top-ranked TE in the 2026 cycle. His surprise pledge has vaulted USC back to No. 1 in the team rankings.

The Trojans were always a top contender for the reclassified in-state star and he’s now in the mix before returning to campus for his official visit next month. He brings USC’s class back to 27 commitments, replacing five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin, who decommitted earlier this month.

Despite nearly having a full class already, head coach Lincoln Riley and Co. remain in pursuit of plenty of top prospects in the 2026 cycle. Bowman is the latest big fish reeled in by the staff in Los Angeles.

Bowman is the No. 15 overall prospect in the cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s now the top-ranked member of the class.

Looking at USC’s stacked 2026 class

Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) five-star cornerback RJ Sermons has reclassified to 2025 and is now set to contribute for the Trojans this season. Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban four-star CB Elbert Hill and Los Angeles Loyola four-star CB Brandon Lockhart still make for a formidable DB duo this cycle, as each check in as top-100 recruits.

Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Catholic four-star EDGE Simote Katoanga is the No. 63 prospect and No. 12 EDGE in the nation. He committed at the end of February.

On offense, Frankfort Heights (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East four-star quarterback Jonas Williams — who flipped from Oregon — is a top-100 prospect and the No. 8 QB in the nation. Painesville (Ohio) Harvey four-star running back Shahn Alston and Los Angeles Oaks Christian four-star RB Deshonne Redeaux are each in the mix as the No. 11 and No. 13 RBs in the cycle.

Santa Margarita Catholic four-star wide receiver Trent Mosley is the No. 31 WR overall and one of four receivers in the mix, alongside Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame four-star Luc Weaver, Opelousas (La.) Catholic On3 four-star Roderick Tezeno and Los Alamitos (Calif.) Sierra Canyon three-star Ja’Myron Baker.

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe is a headlining addition to USC’s class that continues to load up on both the offensive and defensive lines. Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon four-star interior offensive lineman Esun Tafa committed last month and is the No. 18 IOL in the cycle.

On the defensive side, multiple blue-chippers headline. Richardson (Texas) four-star DL Jaimeon Winfield is a top-100 prospect. Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star DL Tomuhini Topui flipped from Oregon and is a top-150 recruit. Chicago Mount Carmel four-star DL Braedon Jones has been in the mix since October and is just outside the top 150.