2026 LB Taylor Johnson commits to in-state USC

San Bernardino (Calif.) Cajon linebacker Taylor Johnson has committed to USC, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

He chose the Trojans while also holding offers from Arizona, Cal, West Virginia, San Diego State and others. USC offered on May 7 and quickly landed a pledge from the in-state prospect.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is the latest to join a jam-packed recruiting class in Los Angeles. He put together an electric junior campaign for Cajon, compiling 174 total tackles, four sacks and three pass deflections.

Cajon put together a nine-win season in 2024. The Cowboys finished as the No. 60 team in the Golden State, according to the On3 Composite Rankings.

To date, USC now has 28 commits in its 2026 class that ranks No. 1 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Johnson becomes the second listed linebacker recruit in the Trojans’ class, alongside Gainesville (Ga.) five-star LB Xavier Griffin, the top-ranked commit in the mix to date.

Looking at USC’s stacked recruiting class

USC has already nearly filled out its entire class before the summer gets underway. The 28 commitments are far and away the most of any program this cycle. There’s a slew of elite recruits committed to the Trojans on both offense and defense.

Gainesville (Ga.) five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin is the No. 2 LB in the cycle. Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) five-star cornerback RJ Sermons, Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban four-star CB Elbert Hill and Los Angeles Loyola four-star CB Brandon Lockhart form a formidable DB trio. Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Catholic four-star EDGE Simote Katoanga is the No. 61 prospect and No. 9 EDGE in the nation.

On offense, Frankfort Heights (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East four-star quarterback Jonas Williams — who also 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. 29 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.