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Lincoln Riley Warned About ACC Powerhouse’s Threat For Elite USC Commit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated May 17, 2025 6:18 PM ET

Head coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans are attempting to hold on to the top recruiting class in the nation.

USC's talented class is made up of a nation-leading 27 commits, including one five-star and 17 four-star recruits. And it's still early in the 2026 cycle, making the push by the Trojans even more impressive.

The challenge remaining, though, is holding on to that talent, as almost nothing is a certainty when it comes to the recruiting trail. Riley and Co. know that first hand after losing five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin earlier this week.

Arguably USC's top remaining pledge is elite offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe. The 6-foo-7, 325-pound lineman is rated as a five-star by both 247Sports and ESPN.

Pepe committed to the Trojans on May 1 out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

According to On3's Chad Simmons, USC will need to hold off in-state power Miami to keep Pepe in the fold.

"The kids come out now and say, 'Hey, I've shut my recruitment down.' What does that really mean?" Simmons said Friday via On3. "There's still conversations being had. And we know all of them have agents. Their ears are always open, too. So, it's a it's a different game in recruiting now."

Head coach Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes are surging after landing five-star offensive tackle and No. 1 player Jackson Cantwell. Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal were credited by Cantwell for their expertise at the position.

For Pepe, Simmons believes the Trojans are still in a "very good position" to ultimately sign the highly-coveted recruit. However, Miami is expected to make a push.

"I would say that USC is in a very good position to hang on to Pepe as of right now," Simmons said. "But ... Mario Cristobal does not back down. He's not going to give up on a guy like that."

Pepe has an official visit scheduled to Miami on May 30. He also has official trips slated to Florida (June 6) and Georgia (June 13) before finishing his summer schedule at USC on June 17.

The Trojans stand alone as the only frontrunner from the West Coast. That's where Pepe and his family hail from as Long Beach, California, natives, giving USC a key edge.

All things considered, the Hurricanes aren't expected to give up on what would likely be a "tough flip" to secure.

"Miami is not going to give up, but he's going to be a tough flip in my eyes," Simmons said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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