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USC continues torrid run on the recruiting trail, securing elite 2026 corner
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On Friday, USC added another gem to the nation’s best recruiting class.
Elbert Hill, a blue-chip cornerback from Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban, revealed his commitment to the Trojans. He’s the top-ranked recruit from the state of Ohio, and gives coach Lincoln Riley a second top-100 commit in as many days.
The Trojans also landed 4-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe on Thursday. Hill’s pledge gives USC 26 known commitments for the 2026 class. The group ranks first in the nation, according to the industry-generated 247 Composite, and features 8 recruits who currently sit inside the top 100 in the national player rankings.
Hill is the No. 3 corner in his class. Overall, he sits at No. 40 in the national player rankings.
He chose the Trojans over Oregon, Ohio State, and Alabama. Hill has official visits scheduled to all 4 schools over the next 2 months, but it’s not immediately clear if he’ll still take those. He was scheduled to visit Ohio State on May 30, followed by USC, Oregon, and Alabama over the ensuing 3 weeks.
A remarkable athlete, Hill played in all 3 phases of the game for Archbishop Hoban as a junior. He got snaps at receiver, running back, quarterback, corner, and safety while also handling some kickoff returns. He scored 5 total touchdowns, broke up 3 passes, and picked off 4 more. He was a first-team all-state selection as a sophomore when he recorded 7 interceptions — 2 of which were returned for scores — and 10 pass breakups. He also scored 7 times on offense during his sophomore season.
You can see his highlight tape below, via Hudl:
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.