USC, Oregon Clash for 2028 California Recruits

USC is pushing to solidify a strong 2028 class while maintaining momentum in its lead for several high-potential targets, including Santa Margarita three-star running back Jaion Smith, whom USC recently offered and has pitched through strong staff and family connections. The program has reinforced its California recruiting footprint by flipping players and signing top talents, including five-star Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and four-star Danny Lang, and remains locked in a broader battle with Oregon for elite in-state prospects like Ca’ron Williams and Jordan Hicks. Lang’s commitment to USC is seen as a boon, but Oregon remains aggressive, with recruiters and players noting continued access to Lang and ongoing conversations that could lead to a flip. Oregon, meanwhile, faces its own recruiting hurdles, such as the potential loss of 2027 defensive lineman Brayden Parks to Notre Dame, which could complicate its plans to build a dominant class. The 2028 recruiting landscape is shaping into a two-front war between USC and Oregon, with Williams and other targets illustrating how visits, coaching relationships, proximity to home, and program momentum are key factors in headlines of the West Coast recruiting battle.