
USC goes into Texas, adds commit from defensive lineman
It did not take long for USC recruiting to start out the new week hot. On Monday, the Trojans made an early morning splash, going into the Lone Star State and landing a commitment from three-star defensive lineman Jake Johnson.
Johnson currently plays for Prosper High School in Prosper, Texas. On3 Consensus ranks him as the No. 674 overall player and the No. 61 defensive lineman in the class of 2026.
With the addition of Johnson, USC now holds 21 commits in the class of 2026. Of those 21, more than half are either four or five-stars and ranked among the top 230 players nationally in the class.
Under new general manager Chad Bowden, the Trojans have been extremely aggressive on the recruiting trail. Do not expect that to stop any time soon, as USC continues to add elite talent to its program.
In addition to recruiting the 2026 class, the spring transfer portal window will be huge for the Trojans. Expect Bowden to make some significant moves this spring as USC looks to improve its roster ahead of the 2025 season.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Former Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson comments on his 2017 AFC Wild Card sack of Marcus Mariota
This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Kansas City Chiefs legend and franchise leader in tackles, Derrick Johnson, about his new children's book, 'Super DJ Saves Field Day,' Defend The Dream Foundation, and his memorable sack of Marcus Mariota in the 2017 AFC Wild Card playoffs. "Right now, the littles (Derrick's children) love it because their names are in the book. But at the beginning of the book, it says, hey, you know, this is Derrick Johnson and Brittni Johnson, and this is their family, and they have six kids. They're like, Oh, snap, that's us right there. So that's kind of cool." said Johnson, "So that made them be like, alright, that I got the upper hand for them to really dive into the book, and they enjoy it because now they know it's about Dad and it's, it has them at the beginning of the book and the end of the book. So it's kind of cool. Cool seeing their reaction. I'm talking about the littles, the big boys. They're like, Oh, that's cool. They read it, but it's mainly for little kids." Johnson had eight tackles in the 2017 AFC Wild Card Game and sacked quarterback Marcus Mariota in an electrifying manner that could have resulted in a turnover. The Chiefs' 22–21 loss to the Tennessee Titans also served as Johnson's last with the team after 13 seasons. "When you're at home and in the playoffs, up 21-3, you book it. I don't care if it's the end of the second or third quarter. I don't care what it is. You figured out how to win the game; unfortunately, we didn't. Some things happened in that game, where, if they go our way, we probably win," said Johnson, "I'm always reminded by Chiefs fans when I see them play. 'Man, that Mariota hit.' That Titans game in 2017 was tough. It was obviously a bad call. They look at it now and, like, there's no way you call that. I think they called it forward progress. I mean, it was a hit-and-out. I had a really good game, my last game as a Chief, and, man, I got some really good championship moments. Never won the big one at the Chiefs, but was there for 13 years. So I learned a lot and was blessed a lot." Super DJ Saves Field Day, an inspiring story about a dad-turned-superhero who flies in and helps kids overcome challenges and find their own super powers, will be released under Black Rose Writing. Super DJ Saves Field Day is available on August 7th. Follow the link to order now! Check the website for more information on Derrick Johnson's Defend The Dream Foundation.


USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
2026 3-star ATH is 'locked in' with Texas A&M despite Auburn offer
Texas A&M's 2026 recruiting class features one of the more intriguing athletes in the cycle, who is expected to play tight end with the Aggies once he makes his way to campus. As the starting quarterback for Fort Bend Marshall HS in Missouri City, Texas, the school where former standout running back De'Von Achane played, three-star athlete Kaeden Johnson has now become a coveted prospect in the SEC. Sometimes, it takes just one notable program noticing an under-the-radar prospect's ability to create a momentum shift, which has become the case with Johnson, who has now received an offer from Auburn, where his father, Spencer Johnson, played for the Tigers from 2000 to 2003. Johnson also reportedly has other family members who live in the Auburn, Alabama area. Johnson has now shut down his recruitment, like many of the program's 26 commitments in the class. However, during a recent interview with On3/Rivals Auburn insider Jeffrey Lee, Johnson stated that he is "pretty locked in with Texas A&M," compared to the excitement surrounding the offer from his childhood team. "I'm still trying to gt a date set," Johnson stated. "But it's going to take a lot. I'm pretty locked in with A&M." Johnson further explained that, while the offer is both exciting and personal, Texas A&M remains the leader to sign him in early December. "It's a cool opportunity to get offered by Auburn where my dad played, but it's going to take a lot to change my commitment." Johnson's 2024 season included 2,109 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air, completing 60% of his passes, while also rushing for 571 yards and six touchdowns. Johnson is now the 174th-ranked prospect in the 2026 cycle and the 24th-ranked prospect in Texas. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Victor Wembanyama Reveals How Much Weight He's Gained Since Entering The NBA
Victor Wembanyama Reveals How Much Weight He's Gained Since Entering The NBA originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Victor Wembanyama was the most hyped prospect to enter the NBA in years in 2023, and he has certainly lived up to all the hype. The one big concern regarding Wembanyama at the time was his slender frame, and he revealed during an appearance on Cold as Balls that he has gained 30 lbs since entering the NBA. "I gained probably like 30 lbs," Wembanyama said. Wembanayama stated he came in at around 215 to 220 lbs and is at 245 now. Host Kevin Hart wondered how the 21-year-old had managed to do that. "Strength training, of course, but the main thing for me is I could, in theory, put on a lot of weight, but I would lose some of my mobility," Wembanyama stated. "Some of my athleticism. So, it's something that needs to be done really carefully, and I have a lot of eyes and a lot of minds thinking about me in this instance." There were many calling for Wembanyama to bulk up as they feared his slender frame wouldn't be able to handle the rigors of the NBA. He and his team didn't pay any attention to the outside noise, though, and were focused on strength training. Wembanyama played 71 games in his rookie season after the San Antonio Spurs drafted him with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and ended it with averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. He won Rookie of the Year and finished second in voting for DPOY. Wembanyama looked set to win the award and play over 70 games this season, but it wasn't to be. He was ruled out for the season at the All-Star break due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. That had nothing to do with Wembanyama's frame, of course. It was just an unfortunate health problem, but it isn't expected to be a problem moving forward. We should be able to see Wembanyama at his best in the 2025-26 season. He averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game before going down this past season, and it will be interesting to see if he takes a leap. Victor Wembanyama's Agent's Strong Message To Those Who Wanted His Client To Bulk Up Wembanyama's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, had addressed all the talk about his client needing to bulk up. Ndiaye made it clear that they will fight to not put weight on his body. "Did you see an issue here in Vegas? No. People are wrong," Ndiaye said. "We're not focused at all on weights. I don't want to put weight on his body. We're going to fight to not put weight on his body. Weight on his body [is] a big mistake. We focus on strength, core. We were very pleased that he linked up [with] Jabbar who played until [41] years old. That's the path that we want to take …" "I'm very glad they, they connected because uh, have a similar body type," Ndiaye continued. "Kareem was not heavy. Victor is more mobile, gaudier and taller than Kareem. So, that difference in height is a challenge and is something that we are working on every day. Making him heavy? We don't want to do that." Wembanyama's frame is somewhat similar to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's. Abdul-Jabbar never had to bulk up a lot to go down as one of the greatest players in NBA history, and the Spurs star's camp believes he won't have to story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.