USC 5-star DL signee Jahkeem Stewart ready to recruit 2026 class: 'I know who the real ballers are'

USC won a monumental recruitment on National Signing Day, landing New Orleans Edna Karr five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart.

The Trojans were considered an afterthought by many in the race for Stewart’s pledge, but a November official visit turned the tides for head coach Lincoln Riley, DL coach Eric Henderson and the staff in Los Angeles. USC beat LSU, Oregon and Ohio State for the nation’s No. 16 prospect.

Stewart has signed with the Trojans and headlines the 2025 class — which ranks No. 14 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The 6-foot-5.5, 270-pounder will likely make an immediate impact inside Memorial Coliseum next season.

He’s also ready to play the role of recruiter for the 2026 cycle, too. Just hours after signing, Stewart took to X to let the world know that he’s planning on recruiting the best of the best in the upcoming class.

“The 2026 Class that I’m putting together will go down in (USC football) history,” he wrote. “If you’re not ready to put in work and grind don’t come out west. I know who the real ballers are. Those rankings don’t fool me. I know who’s who.”

The 2026 Class that I’m putting together will go down in @uscfb History #FightOn✌🏾

If you’re not ready to put in work and grind don’t come out west. I know who the real ballers are. Those rankings don’t fool me. I know who’s who

— Jahkeem “THANOS” Stewart (@Jahkeem2026) December 5, 2024

Stewart himself was a member of the 2026 cycle until the fall. He sped his recruitment up by an entire year, reclassifying to 2025 at the beginning of October. He’ll now look to get USC involved with many of the top soon-to-be seniors he was ranked alongside for much of this year.

Looking at USC’s 2026 recruiting class thus far

Riley and his staff will hope the 2026 cycle brings far less drama than the Class of 2025. Things are off to a good start.

As of Dec. 5, USC already has six commits in its 2026 class and checks in at No. 4 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. That includes a pair of top-100 prospects, one of whom is pushing for five-star status.

Gainesville (Ga.) four-star linebacker Xavier Griffin committed at the end of July, continuing what, at the time, was an impressive run of Peach State recruiting victories for the Trojans. Top prospects in the state burned USC this year, but that won’t stop them from continuing pursue talent in the area.

The likes of Georgia and Tennessee have since had Griffin on campus. There’s a long way to go until it’s time for the No. 24 overall prospect in the cycle to sign, but USC has his pledge and continues to make him wanted in L.A.

“I felt that I’m the biggest priority at USC,” Griffin told On3 upon making his decision. “The defensive scheme that they are building is world-class.”

Three commits have already been in the class for over a year. Los Angeles Lockhart four-star cornerback Brandon Lockhart committed last October and is now the No. 57 recruit and No. 5 CB in the cycle. Los Alamitos (Calif.) three-star wide receiver Ja’Myron Baker and Pasadena (Calif.) Sierra Canyon three-star athlete Madden Riordan each also pledged last fall.

Two days after Griffin committed, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco three-star ATH Joshua Holland did the same. Chicago Mount Carmel four-star defensive lineman Braeden Jones is the latest addition to the class, as he committed on Oct. 13. Jones is a top-200 recruit and top-20 player at his position.

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine also currently favors to USC for both Folsom (Calif.) five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons and Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) four-star CB RJ Sermons.