USC Claims Stunning Accolade in the State of Ohio

Cornerback Elbert Hill is the state's top overall recruit. And he's not committed to the top university in that region Ohio State. He's verbally committed to USC.

That's not all on USC's end. Running back Shahn Alston cracked the top five, as another Trojans pledge representing that state.

Alston rose as one of the early commits for head coach Lincoln Riley. The Painesville, Oh., native chose USC on Jan. 11. That decision came before the Trojans skyrocketed to the top of the recruiting rankings.

Hill came four months later. He verbally chose USC on May 2. Secondary coaches Doug Belk and Trovon Reed courted the Akron native.

It's rare that USC lands in the top five of a ranking system outside of California. But it shows more than Riley's influence. New general manager Chad Bowen brings ties to that part of the region. He previously constructed the recruiting classes for rival Notre Dame -- ultimately fueling the Fighting Irish's deep College Football Playoff run.

Alston and Hill are the only Buckeye State reps for USC's 2026 class -- now standing at 32 total verbal commitments.

Ohio State, meanwhile, does feature four verbal commits landing in the top 10 of the On3/Rivals list. However, former OSU commit Jakob Weatherspoon made the list too. Weatherspoon flipped to North Carolina and Bill Belichick back on July 16.