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USC's 2026 recruitment class gets even bigger, literally, with five-star OT
USC head coach Lincoln Riley is building an incredible 2026 recruiting class, and it just got even better in a big way, literally and figuratively.
Keenyi Pepe, a five-star offensive tackle recruit from IMG Academy in Florida, has committed to the Trojans. Pepe is 6-foot-7, 320 pounds and is ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. He's a literal big commitment for Riley and the Trojans, but figuratively, he should be a big recruit as well, considering the rankings.
Pepe was born and raised in California, so this commitment is a homecoming for him.
"Growing up, they were my dream school," Pepe had told 247Sports of USC. "As far as recruiting, they have been so consistent in recruiting me, especially with communication. I'm always getting to talk with (offensive line) coach (Zach) Hanson and (head) coach (Lincoln) Riley."
There was some major competition for Pepe's commitment. Along with USC, Florida, Georgia, Miami and Texas were in the running.
He was on campus this past weekend for a recruiting weekend, though, and that absolutely helped the Trojans. There's also the fact that his cousin, Kobe Pepe, is a senior defensive lineman for the team.
It all made sense, and Riley's 2026 class got much better as a result. Heading into Thursday, the Trojans had the top-ranked 2026 class in the nation, and Pepe's commitment only strengthens that ranking.
With 25 hard commits, Pepe will go down as Riley's second five-star of the cycle, joining athlete/linebacker Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Georgia.
More must-reads:
- USC land coveted four-star WR as Lincoln Riley's top-ranked recruiting class gets even better
- Five-star athlete narrows down list to five powerhouses with decision date set
- The 'NFL stadium names' quiz
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BYU Football Defensive Newcomers in 2025
BYU Football reports to fall camp today, so let’s take a look at the newcomers on the defense. The newcomers could be freshmen, transfers, or those who have returned from their mission. Below is a short bio and a description of what they could contribute to BYU this season. Tausili Akana DE Tausili Akana is a 6-3, 235 lbs sophomore DE from Laie, Hawaii, and a transfer from Texas. He has suited up in one game and had one tackle for the Longhorns last season. He will be a valuable addition to the defensive line and will serve as a reliable backup this season, particularly when injuries start to accumulate. Berkley Alfrey LB Berkley Alfrey is a 6-0, 235 lbs freshman from Auburn, Washington, and is the brother of Talan Alfrey. He probably won’t see the field yet unless needed, but if he does and follows in his brother’s footsteps, he could be dangerous on the field. Crew Clark S Crew Clark is a 6-0, 200 lbs freshman from Sugar City, Idaho. This is another freshman who won’t see the field this year unless injuries pile up, but he will be learning from a great group of players. Hunter Clegg DE Hunter Clegg is a 6-4, 245 lbs freshman from American Fork, Utah. He will join the defensive line and also be able to learn from some of the older guys on the team. If he is needed, we will suit up this fall. Cannon DeVries CB Cannon DeVries is a 6-0, 185 lbs freshman from North Ogden, Utah. He played for Weber High School and could suit up for the Cougars, but I doubt we will see him this fall with all the experience we have at cornerback. Joseph Douglas S Joseph Douglas is a 6-2, 208 lbs freshman from Stansbury Park, Utah. He suited up for Tooele High School and will ride the bench this season because the Safties are packed full of great players. Garrison Grimes DS Garrison Grimes is a 6-2, 220 lbs senior from American Fork, Utah, and a transfer from Baylor. He played three seasons for the Bears. Grimes played in 31 games and had five tackles in punt coverage over those games. The deep snapper position is up for grabs with another transfer who will fight for this position in fall camp. Tyler Payne LB Tyler Payne is a 6-1, 220 lbs freshman from Pleasant View, UT, ah and played for Weber High School. He is the brother of Logan Payne, who will suit up as a running back this season for the Cougars. Payne also probably won’t see the field but will learn from another great group of guys. Anisi Purcell DT Anisis Purcell is a 6-3, 300 lbs junior from West Bountiful, Utah, and a transfer from Southern Utah. He suited up for three seasons for the Thunderbirds and played in 19 games with 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He may be an option for the Cougars if they need it during clean-up in games or if injuries pile up later in the season. Fuller Shurtz K Fuller Shurtz is a 5-11, 180 lbs freshman from Katy, Texas. He won’t see the field this season due to Will Ferrin performing so well last season. Ty Smith DS Ty Smith is a 6-0, 195 lbs freshman from Gilbert, Arizona. He will be in a competition with another transfer for this position this fall. Keanu Tanuvasa DT Keanu Tanuvasa is a 6-4, 300 lbs junior from Mission Viejo, California, and a transfer from Utah. He played in three seasons for the Utes and played in 24 games with 50 tackles, four sacks, five pass deflections, and one fumble. Tanuvasa will be an instant starter for the Cougars and a weapon for Jay Hill’s defense. Vincent Tautua DE Vincent Tautua is a 6-,3 250 lbs freshman from Ewa Beach, Hawaii. He won’t be a starter or maybe even a backup this season with the number of defense linemen BYU has on the roster. Naki Tuakoi LB Naki Tuakoi is a 6-3, 220 lbs freshman from Oakland, California. He won’t play this year because he has already redshirted. Pierson Watson LB Pierson Watson is a 6-3, 230 lbs freshman from Flagstaff, Arizona. Another freshman who will have time to learn this season from the sideline.
Chicago Blackhawks at Risk of Losing First Round Pick as Other Teams Pitch Big-Money Offers
Mason West is a talented prospect of the future for the Chicago Blackhawks, but it appears he may look to leave hockey for big opportunities in football. The Chicago Blackhawks landed Anton Frondell with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but it was perhaps their second first-round pick that drew the most intrigue, as they drafted centre Mason West out of the USHL. That pick was intriguing for many reasons, with the 6-foot-6 centre having potential with his talent and his physicality, but now, the team may be in danger of losing the talented 17-year old. According to a report from The Athletic, the No. 29 overall pick has been drawing interest from several NCAA programs to join their team as a football player. Standing at 6-foot-6, the Minnesota native is a star in both hockey and football, tallying 49 points in 31 games at the high school level while also being a star Quarterback, and after putting up 9 points in 10 USHL games with the Fargo Force, the future is bright for him in both sports. Ultimately, at 17-years of age, the future is very bright whichever way West ends up going, but given that the Blackhawks used a first-round pick on him in this past seasons draft, they're clearly confident that they can not only keep him in hockey, but make a good NHLer out of him moving forward.
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
The Boston Bruins have been under pressure to retool after a disappointing season, and now a potential blockbuster move could shake the entire NHL. A major trade proposal has surfaced that could send a star goaltender to the Edmonton Oilers, a move that would give them the elite presence they've lacked in net while forcing Boston closer to a rebuild. The deal being floated by multiple outlets would send Edmonton's current starter, Stuart Skinner, along with Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, and a 2028 first-round pick to Boston, while the Oilers land a goaltender capable of changing their Cup window overnight. Edmonton's push for a franchise goalie could reshape the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars' path to the Cup If this trade goes through, the Oilers would instantly address one of their biggest weaknesses, setting up a showdown with teams like the Dallas Stars, who already see Edmonton as one of their toughest rivals. Boston, on the other hand, would fully commit to a rebuild, pairing Joonas Korpisalo with Skinner in what could be one of the NHL's weakest tandems, likely boosting their draft lottery odds in one of the most hyped draft classes in recent memory (NHL.com). An insider noted, "They weren't the only ones who had inquired about Swayman, but yes, I was told they poked around." That comment shows just how wide the interest is for this level of goalie talent (Heavy.com). I think this kind of trade would completely shift the balance of power in the West, making Edmonton even more dangerous for teams like Dallas, who could end up facing a vastly upgraded Oilers team in the playoffs. If Boston truly embraces a rebuild, moving their top goaltender could be the first domino in a massive roster overhaul, something that could shake the market for weeks.
Commanders reportedly hesitant about one issue with Terry McLaurin deal
The 2024 offseason expanded the $30M-per-year wide receiver club to six members. D.K. Metcalf, Ja’Marr Chase and Garrett Wilson have taken it to nine this year. Terry McLaurin is undoubtedly pushing to bump that number to 10, after seeing 2019 Day 2 classmates Metcalf and A.J. Brown land among that contingent. McLaurin reported to training camp Sunday and landed on the active/PUP list. As our Rory Parks explained, skepticism exists about how injured the Commanders’ top wide receiver really is. An ankle injury has keyed the PUP stay, but it can be safely assumed McLaurin would be ready to practice if an extension comes to pass. Nevertheless, the Commanders have been surprised by the difficulty of these talks. Using an injury to avoid practicing while negotiating — developments the Jonathan Taylor and Micah Parsons sagas brought — represents a third tactic, joining the holdout and the increasingly utilized hold-in amid extension talks. McLaurin shifted from a holdout to the injury route; no matter how he is accomplishing not practicing, the seventh-year veteran is aiming to land a lucrative third contract. His age provides a complication for Washington. McLaurin is going into an age-30 season, separating him from Brown and Metcalf. Both Ole Miss products were drafted just before McLaurin, a 2019 third-round pick, but they are each two years younger. This strengthened their cases for big-ticket third contracts. McLaurin went first to ignite the second-tier boom on the receiver market in 2022, agreeing to a three-year, $69.6M extension. That shaped the Metcalf and Deebo Samuel extensions, both of which coming in higher than McLaurin’s despite the latter’s consistency with suboptimal quarterback situations. McLaurin’s AAV has dropped to 17th at wide receiver. The Commanders are prepared to extend their top wideout, but Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline indicates the "holdup" is regarding the $30M-AAV number. Some around the league point to the team not wanting to go into that neighborhood for McLaurin, despite his five 1,000-yard seasons. Courtland Sutton and McLaurin are nearly the same age, and the Broncos’ top target signed a four-year, $92M extension. That matches where the Titans went for Calvin Ridley (now 30) in 2024. McLaurin, though, has a better resume than both and should be aiming higher. The Commanders have a Jayden Daniels rookie contract to structure another McLaurin extension around as well. Adam Peters was around for the 49ers’ 2022 Samuel extension but not Brandon Aiyuk‘s $30M-per-year deal. (The Samuel extension also did not work out for the 49ers, who proceeded with a salary dump of sorts by trading him to the Commanders.) The second-year GM taking a hardline stance with McLaurin would be an interesting route given the WR’s importance to a sudden contender. Peters confirmed talks are ongoing, with that comment coming after McLaurin expressed frustration about the negotiations. A potential gap between the pack of 20-somethings (and Tyreek Hill) north of $30M AAV and the Tee Higgins–Jaylen Waddle–D.J. Moore tier could be relevant here, and it will be interesting to see if McLaurin settles for something just south of that $30MM benchmark. Guarantees and contract structure, of course, will be important to determining the value as well. A short-term extension should be reached soon, per Pauline, but if the Commanders hold the line at or around $30M, the McLaurin matter could drag on for a while longer.
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