New general manager Chad Bowden and USC already have the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the country for the 2026 cycle. Over the weekend, that class got even bigger with the addition of three-star defensive lineman Malik Brooks.
Brooks is quite literally a massive addition to USC's class. Despite still being a junior in high school, he is already 6'4" and weighs 330 pounds.
Brooks is a local product, coming to USC from nearby Downey, California. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 785 overall player and the No. 77 defensive lineman in the class of 2026.
With the addition of Brooks, the Trojans now have 17 commits in the class of 2026. Of those commits, 10 are ranked among the top 200 players nationally by 247Sports. Finishing strong will be crucial, but Bowden is setting USC up in great position to add a massive influx of talent to the program.
We can't emphasize it enough: USC is beginning to retain local talent which, before Bowden's arrival, slipped away and went to Midwestern or Southern schools. The Trojans, by building a fence around their back yard, are beginning to do what they have always been expected to do in recruiting. Their organizational alignment has finally elevated recruiting results to the high level Trojan fans rightly expect from this program.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Defensive lineman Malik Brooks commits to USC as recruiting rolls on
