USC Trojans Out On Top Offensive Lineman?

Malakai Lee Does Not Include USC Trojans In Top 4

For most of the recruiting process up till this point, USC was Lee’s top school. Things were trending for the USC Trojans to gain his commitment, and they even earned an expert prediction from On3’s Steve Wiltfong back in February.

However, the recruiting trail is ever changing, and both sides are forced to adapt often. Since February, USC has gained the commitments of six offensive linemen, three of them being offensive tackles, headlined by 5-star OT Keenyi Pepe.

Their current committed tackles are:

• 5-Star Keenyi Pepe
• 4-Star Vlad Dyakonov
• 3-Star Chase Deniz

Ultimately, they could still add one or two more linemen, but their priority will be keeping the six committed and intact all the way to signing day.

So the reality is that while Lee would still be a huge addition to the class, USC ultimately moved on and advised Lee to look at other opportunities.

Lee is the 10th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2026 class, according to On3 Industry Rankings.