BREAKING: 2026 DL Viliami Moala Commits to USC

USC remains hot with recruiting after starting the season 2-0. The Trojans took down LSU in the season opener in Las Vegas and shut out Utah State 48-0 on Saturday night.

One of the top 2026 prospects for USC in the 2026 recruiting cycle is 2026 Utah defensive lineman Viliami Moala.

Moala was at the USC vs LSU and the Utah State game a few nights ago and announced his commitment to the Trojans on Tuesday morning.

First and foremost I wanna thank all the coaches that have recruited me since my journey began, with that being said I’m proud to say I’m a TROJAN!!!✌🏾 My Recruitment is shut down! #FTFO @Coach_Henny @CoachNua @AaronAmaama @DaveEmerickUSC1 @uscfb pic.twitter.com/N9F0MHX5Cq

— VILIAMI MOALA (@AmiMoala56) September 10, 2024

USC has the No. 6 ranked 2026 recruiting class with pledges from Moala, three-star CB Madden Riordan, four-star CB Brandon Lockhart, four-star Edge Xavier Griffin, four-star WR Ja’Myron Baker and three-star ATH Joshua Holland.

Last Saturday was Moala’s third visit to USC and the most impressionable. USC was at a point where they had everything working with the recruiting this offseason, but needed to show top targets they could play good defense. Mission accomplished through two games this season.

Trending for USC

If you look at their On3 profiles, every notable 2026 visitor is either committed to USC or trending for the Trojans, except Simote Katoanga (Notre Dame) and Sam Utu (Nebraska). These trends are per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

In years past, we’d expect the trend to change at some point and it still likely will with some, but USC is in the strongest position its been in with a junior class in a very very long time. 

1.) QB Ryder Lyons – USC leads 97.8% to <1% over Oregon

Lyons could announce a commitment in the relatively near future, but with him talking an LDS Mission after high school graduation, he’ll be a class of 2027 enrollee.

2.) Edge Xavier Griffin – Committed USC

We often hear fans talk about the low chances of hanging onto a 2026 player Georgia of Griffin’s caliber, but his recruitment won’t be anything like that of Justus Terry or Isaiah Gibson. Griffin has the strong backing of his mother, he has a mentor and advisor 100% onboard with Coach Henny and USC.

By the time Griffin signs his letter of intent, he will have visited USC more than any out of state prospect we’ve seen since Zion and Zachariah Branch. The plan is for him to get to several games this season and get back to USC as often as possible in 2025. This is obviously very significant. 

3.) CB Brandon Lockhart – Committed USC

There’s been much speculation about Lockhart ultimately signing with another school, but that talk has been going on since January or February. Doug Belk did get a bit of late start on communicating with Lockhart, but the fact he’s among the priority 2026 prospects attending Saturday’s game, that’s a very positive sign for the Trojans.

4.) CB Brandon Arrington – USC leads Nebraska 27.1% to 23.7%

Arrington is another prospect USC has had to play catch up with, but him showing up for the USC vs Utah St. game on Saturday is a very good sign. There are several top programs monitoring the La Mesa standout this season. Arrington is faster than dodo, so that always catches a coaching staff’s attention. 

We expect Arrington to return to the Coliseum at least one more time this season. He could become a primary target at some point as a defensive back, along with Madden Riordan, Lockhart, RJ Sermons, Davon Benjamin and Joshua Holland.

5.) WR Ja’Myron “Tron” Baker – Committed USC

Not much to report on Baker, but his commitment has never seemed tenuous since his announcement last September. 

6.) TE Caleb Tafua – USC leads LSU 27% to 23.6%

Michigan State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak extended an offer to four-star Lakewood (Calif.) tight end Caleb Tafua, one of the top tight ends in the 2026 class, on March 29. 

Tafua (6-5, 220) holds 12 other offers, including those from USC, Oregon, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Florida St., Stanford, among others.

The top local tight end is the No. 177 player, No. 8 tight end and No. 21 player from California in his class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He’s already visited USC three times this years and we expect him back later in the season when the Trojans return home after Ann Arbor on September 21.

7.) IOL Tommy Tofi – USC leads Cal 48.6% to 22.3%.

At only 16-years, Tofi is quite a sight as he measures in at 6-foot-7, 350 pounds. It’s not often you see a rising sophomore with that kind of size. And given that USC offered early, he knows what he is doing and is able to handle his body. 

Although he already looks extremely impressive and well put together, he’s still growing into his body even more with time. There is no telling what size he could end up in 2-3 years. 

Tofi has 26 offers and is ranked among On3’s Top 150 prospects. 

8.) DL Viliami Moala – Committed USC

A week after taking in the USC vs LSU game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Moala will be watching the Trojans play again. He is another top priority defensive lineman for Eric Henderson and Shaun Nua.

This will be Moala’s fifth visits to USC and third this year, if you count Las Vegas.

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