Madden Riordan's Back at USC Twice in the Upcoming Weeks
Last November 5, USC has landed a class of 2026 commitment from Sierra Canyon ATH Madden Riordan. Riordan’s commitment came just two weeks after he earned his offer from the Trojans. An offer Donte Williams extended.
Williams is now at Georgia, but new USC Defensive Backs coach Doug Belk and Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn have made sure Riordan understands he’s still a priority for the Trojans.
The Sierra Canyon standout had a stellar sophomore season, racking up 25 tackles and a team leading three interceptions. Riordan also had a team leading nine pass deflections as well as three forced fumbles. He was all over the defensive backfield for Sierra Canyon, displaying some of the most impressive natural cover skills we’ve seen from a 2026 cornerback.
Riordan’s currently teammates with a pair of 2024 USC commits in wide receiver Xavier Jordan and defensive back Marquis Gallegos.
USC
His commitment came one day after he visited USC for the game against Washington. The visit was his third total to see the Trojans in person. His first visit came in the spring, his second coming for the season opener against San Jose State.
Riordan has been attending USC games at the Coliseum since he was in elementary school. His father is a big fan of the Trojans. The younger Riordan followed his lead. Once that offer from Lincoln Riley had time to settle in, the 5-foot-11, 145-pound sophomore was ready to commit to his dream school.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Riordan told On3 about his commitment. “Being committed to USC is hard to process. I started going to USC games when I was 8 or 9 years old, so to be committed is like a dream coming true. I’ve probably been to 15-16 games and I love it at USC.”
It is still early, and Riordan will take other visits with him being in the 2026 class, but being in USC’s backyard and growing up a fan of the Trojans, this felt like the right time to make that call.
“This was a pretty easy decision. USC is home for me. It is close, I love the coaches and it’s where I want to be.”
Riordan informed WeAreSC he plans to be at USC Saturday March for an unofficial, then return on April 4 for another. He’ll also be at UCLA on April 3.
Riordan’s Positional Versatility
Riordan is not yet ranked by any of the major recruiting services and while he is listed as an athlete, it is likely he will be ranked in the future as a defensive back.
He can play any position in the defensive backfield. Riordan has also made an appearance this season on the offensive side of the ball, so his skillset is vast.
The Trojans have recruited Riordan to play on the defensive side of the ball.
2026 Class for USC
The 2026 class is off to a solid start for the Trojans. The headliner of the class (and country) is Carrollon (Ga.) five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, who committed to USC earlier this season.
Lewis ranks as the No. 20 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also tabbed in as the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia in the 2026 class.
Also, committed in the class are local standouts, Los Angeles (Cal.) Loyola cornerback Brandon Lockhart and Los Alamitos (Calif.) wide receiver Ja’Myron Baker. Lockhart is the No. 11 overall prospect in the class.
