On Friday, USC football landed a commitment from four-star cornerback RJ Sermons.
A native of Rancho Cucamonga, California, On3 Consensus ranks Sermons as the No. 32 overall player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 2 cornerback in his class, and the No. 32 player in the state of California.
Sermons chose the Trojans over Oregon, Washington, and Notre Dame.
Landing Sermons is a big early victory for defensive backs coach Doug Belk in the 2026 cycle. The Trojans now have seven players committed in the 2026 cycle, giving them the No. 2 class in the country.
Given how quickly things change in today’s world of college football, however, holding onto that class for the next 12 months will bring along its own set of challenges. Whether or not USC is able to do so could ultimately determine the direction of Lincoln Riley’s tenure.
The Trojans have to build roster depth for the future. This is not a 2025 pickup, but it does point the way to a better long-term outlook for the program.