Class of 2026 defensive lineman Jake Johnson committed to USC on Monday.
The three-star recruit chose the Trojans over top contenders Wisconsin, SMU, North Carolina and Vanderbilt. He announced his commitment nearly two full months before the June official visit season, during which he was scheduled to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, on May 31.
247Sports ranks Johnson as the No. 741 player in the class of 2026, the No. 71 player at his position and the No. 101 recruit from his home state of Texas. He joins a USC class of 2026 that currently ranks No. 1 in the nation with 21 players committed (12 blue-chip, one five-star).
Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley is sending a message to the Big Ten with his program's early success in the 2026 recruiting cycle. While the team went just 7-6 last season, including a 4-5 mark in Big Ten play, it appears set to rise into contention in the coming years.
There is also an important subtext to Johnson's commitment: Wisconsin lost ace general manager Max Stienecker to USC earlier this offseason. The fast-rising personnel staffer had led the Badgers to consecutive top-25 finishes in the 2024 and 2025 cycles. Now, he's off aiding the Trojans' highly successful recruiting efforts.
COMMITTED, @uscfb is the pLAce for me! My recruitment was an amazing process and I'm thankful for every moment of it! Thanks @Hayesfawcett3 for the graphic!@LincolnRiley@Coach_Henny@CoachNua@dantonlynn@flowlikerob@CoachSkyJones@_maximus347@WestonZernechel@AddiGoodson… pic.twitter.com/4IlrNmixlP
— Jake Johnson (@Jake_Johnson_) April 7, 2025
Wisconsin's class of 2026 sits at No. 65 in the nation at this early stage in the cycle. It has just two players committed: wide receiver Tayshon Bardo and
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