USC’s revamped recruiting technique has the Trojans ranked No. 1 in 2026
Chad Bowden has a method to make USC soccer nice once more.
The Trojans’ new normal supervisor has constructed out a strong entrance workplace employees not solely with our bodies however a few of the greatest recruiting and scouting minds throughout the nation.
Bowden got here from Notre Dame the place he helped construct an Irish roster that made it to the nationwide championship final season. Dre Brown got here from Illinois after an exceptional season the place the Illini received 10 video games for the primary time in additional than 20 years. Max Stienecker is among the greatest younger minds within the recreation and he came to visit from Wisconsin.
An entire host of others have been introduced in as properly and Bowden sees them not solely as co-workers however relations all with the identical mission: To get USC again to nationwide prominence.
“We’ve a collaborative method,” Bowden stated. “That’s how we’re going to do it. Me and coach (Lincoln) Riley are going to work hand-in-hand collectively. We employed the most effective entrance places of work in school soccer. We’ve the very best entrance workplace in school soccer.
“That is the very best entrance workplace that I’ve been round. I’m so happy with what we’ve assembled. All of them love one another. That’s the factor that’s cool. It is a household. This isn’t a employees that’s attempting to determine all the pieces out. All of us sort of know the sport and we’re coming collectively to construct the very best class in our minds and assist coach Riley and this program improve.”
What’s the plan to get that carried out?
It begins with constructing a giant, outdated fence round California and never letting the very best gamers out any longer. USC already has 14 pledges in its 2026 class – 9 from the state – and the early top-ranked class nationally.
The Trojans flipped four-star quarterback Jonas Williams from Oregon. They’ve locked in excessive four-star defensive again Brandon Lockhart. And lots of the greatest fish are nonetheless on the market, particularly now with five-star Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon teammates Richard Wesley and Havon Finney Jr. reclassifying to the 2026 class.
After profitable 11 video games in Yr 1 below Riley, the Trojans stalled out and went 8-5 and 7-6 the final two seasons. With this new entrance workplace employees in place and elite assistants with tons of NFL expertise, USC feels headed in the fitting path.
“We talked about this class once we have been first speaking about me going to USC, we have been actually simply speaking concerning the California class in 2026 and 2027 and what’s actually there and what we are able to do and the way we are able to method it,” Bowden stated.
“It was all the time on high of my thoughts after I first bought right here and we hit the bottom working. Every thing we do is collaborative and all the pieces me and coach Riley do is collectively. It was each of us coming collectively to see how we have been going to assault California. It’s going to be actually optimistic for this system and optimistic for the children and town of L.A. and the state of California to maintain youngsters which can be homegrown house.
“We would like the perfect gamers which can be on this metropolis and on this state to play for USC and keep house. We’ve respect for each highschool and I imagine the very best highschool soccer is performed in California. That’s my true perception and it’s all the time been my perception.
“The primary focus must be retaining these youngsters near house and retaining them in California. California is such a giant state and it has such nice highschool soccer gamers not solely in L.A. however San Diego, Oakland, the Bay Space, in all places in between there’s such nice highschool soccer. We hold these youngsters near house, hold them within the state and construct a fence round California, construct a fence in L.A. it’s going to pay large dividends.”
California is the highest precedence and Bowden stated he thinks USC can get “something we wish” within the state, that means throughout the spectrum of positions, it’s all there within the Golden State.
There was a perception in recruiting circles that in terms of quarterbacks and talent place gamers, there is perhaps no higher place than California however for offensive linemen, edge rushers and the meat to win within the trenches, the Trojans must go nationally.
Bowden doesn’t essentially subscribe to that concept however going nationwide will probably be a precedence in addition to the Trojans have already got a dedication from Williams and four-star defensive finish Braeden Jones, each out of Illinois, four-star linebacker Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Ga., and and have provided many others all through the talent-rich Southeast.
“We’re nonetheless going to exit of the state and get the perfect gamers out-of-state that worth this place that wish to be part of what we’re constructing and doing,” Bowden stated. “They know who they’re.
“I’ve heard that notion which you could’t get good linemen or edge rushers or you’ll be able to’t get the very best corners in California, I simply don’t imagine in that. You may get something you need right here. You’ve gotten to have the ability to purchase and get the very best ones which can be right here.”
USC was snake-bitten by decommitments final recruiting cycle particularly by elite Southeast prospects. At one level, five-stars Justus Terry, Isaiah Gibson, Julian Lewis and Hylton Stubbs have been all dedicated together with four-stars receiver Jerome Myles, Hayden Lowe, offensive lineman Carde Smith, defensive again Anquon Fegans, linebacker Ty Jackson, defensive again Shamar Arnoux and others.
Decommitments will all the time occur particularly in an NIL world however that’s not going to cease Bowden’s plan of assault.
“It’s a must to get the fitting ones,” Bowden stated. “We’ve the fitting ones on our workforce and in our class that worth this place, what USC can do for them not solely after they’re right here as a soccer participant however academically, the community, the diploma, the connections, they’re going to have each alternative when soccer is completed to not solely achieve success within the NFL however to work in the actual world. We’re going to offer them alternatives that nobody else within the nation may give them.
“We’ve all the pieces for them. We wish to make it possible for the children who’re removed from house perceive all that they’re getting. Those we now have on our workforce and those we’re recruiting, they’ll.”
