USC and Lincoln Riley save signing day with Jahkeem Stewart

It had been a tumultuous morning, at the end of a tumultuous recruiting cycle for USC and Lincoln Riley.

In the last six months, ten interested parties had already withdrawn, including a handful of top 100 talents. Several of the state’s top players had also turned down the Trojans, instead turning to far-flung football powers like Alabama, Texas A&M and Penn State, all of which signed more top recruits from California for their 2025 classes.

Signing Day was headed in a disappointing direction for USC well before Wednesday. Then, just as the class was coming together, one of USC’s prized defensive assistants, Matt Entz, took over the coaching job at Fresno State, leaving the Trojans in an even more difficult situation as they struggled to acquire two top linebackers still on The evening before seemed solid.

It was hardly the preamble Riley had hoped for before the early signing period, at the start of his fourth season as the Trojans’ coach. At one point, Riley even reaffirmed his loyalty to USC after a report linked him to the Central Florida coaching job.

Ultimately, however, Wednesday ended exactly as the USC coach had hoped: with the biggest signing of his tenure with the Trojans.

The success at the end of USC’s class of 2025 was thanks to five-star defender Jahkeem Stewart from Louisiana, a playful central defender who appropriately calls himself “Thanos,” a reference to the intimidating supervillain who appeared in several Marvel films see is.

“It was important,” Riley said of staggering Stewart. “He is one of the most talented defensive linemen I have had the opportunity to help recruit. And it’s just one of those things where everything just fits. We’re really glad he’s a Trojan.”

That became clear when his signing became official and a slew of USC employees, including defensive line coach Eric Henderson, posted photos on social media wearing Thanos’ famous glove, which has the “V for Victory” sign on its two gold fingers USC was pictured. Henderson, in particular, was instrumental in recruiting Stewart, who transferred to Henderson’s former high school, Edna Karr in New Orleans, before reclassifying into the 2026 class.

Whether Stewart will be able to make an immediate impact on a USC defense that could definitely use him is questionable. The 17-year-old defensive tackle from Louisiana hasn’t played in a football game in more than a year and has only played 12 games at the varsity level because of the rules governing his transfer. But after watching him destroy opposing offensive lines up close, Riley didn’t seem to mind.

“There are a lot of people who I don’t think would be physically or mentally ready for it. But he’s one of them,” Riley said. “We had no concerns whatsoever about targeting him, and we had no concerns or questions about what he brings to the table.”

Stewart’s commitment moved the Trojans to the 13th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to 247 Sports, and helped make up for prospects that USC couldn’t match.

In the last few hours, several supposed overtaking moves by USC narrowly failed, while two linebackers who were supposed to sign with the Trojans instead looked elsewhere after Entz’s departure.

Four-star San Juan Capistrano linebacker Madden Faraimo, the highest-rated prospect in the state, decided to sign with Notre Dame, handing USC its biggest recruiting loss of the day. USC also was unable to sign four-star linebacker Jadon Perlotte, who was expected to transfer to Tennessee.

JSerra linebacker Madden Faraimo chose Notre Dame over the Trojans on Wednesday.

(Craig Weston)

USC managed to secure a flip from four-star Michigan cornerback Alex Graham, but made little noise aside from securing Stewart.

Most of the turmoil that defined USC’s recruiting cycle settled down several weeks earlier, when five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet of Corona Centennial announced last month that he would sign with the Trojans. His commitment came on the heels of another five-star quarterback, Georgia’s Julian Lewis, making good on his promise to USC in favor of Colorado.

This dance between two elite quarterback prospects was a delicate affair, as quarterbacks coach Luke Huard was tasked with maintaining a relationship with Longstreet and his family throughout the process, even as Lewis maintained his commitment for more than a year.

This preparation proved prescient.

When it finally became clear that Lewis would not sign with USC, Huard moved quickly to sign Longstreet, who had been committed to Texas A&M and whose arrival, like Stewart’s, was a major saving grace for a class that was otherwise starving There were only two signees ranked in the top 150 nationally.

“This was really about Husan, and the more we got to know him and assessed him, the more we could see his mental state, how team-oriented he was, how serious he was about the game, we just felt like, ultimately there was none better solution for us,” Riley said.

Despite what could have been with USC’s class, Riley assured anyone who would listen that he was happy with the outcome.

USC signed four offensive linemen, including two ranked in the top 150, to bolster its offensive front.

Steps have also been taken to rebuild the secondary and refill a room that is expected to lose seven contributors after the bowl game. The Trojans signed five defensive backs, including four-star cornerback Trestin Castro from Upland, who was one of only three USC signings ranked in the top 20 in the state.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, including adding a third quarterback for “depth” through the transfer portal, Riley said. Other coaches could also leave in the coming weeks, although Riley assured reporters that no further personnel changes are imminent.

But after a rollercoaster of a recruiting cycle, the coach said he leaves Wednesday with “a great feeling.”

The question now, as the transfer portal opens on Monday, is how long that feeling will last.