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USC lands 2026 commitment from elite Edge from Chicago
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
USC suffered a disappointing overtime loss to Penn State on Saturday to drop its record to 3-3 on the season.
On Sunday, though, the Trojans picked up a major commitment for their defensive line. Braeden Jones, one of the top prospects from the 2026 cycle, announced his pledge to Lincoln Riley’s program, becoming the seventh player in the class to do so.
BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Braeden Jones (2026) has Committed to USC, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’5 255 EDGE from Chicago, IL chose the Trojans over Notre Dame & Ohio State
“Bringing the Midwest to the east coast!!”https://t.co/ocDaRirlVv pic.twitter.com/TCDDdExijr
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 13, 2024
According to 247Sports’ composite ranking, Jones, from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, is the No. 15 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 146 player nationally.
While the Trojans currently have the nation’s top recruiting class for 2026 per 247 Sports, their 2025 class is shaping up nicely as well. It currently ranks No. 10 in the country, with wide receiver Jerome Myles — the No. 5 player in the country at his position — leading the way.
Take a look at some of Jones’s highlights on Hudl:
The current Trojans have underperformed on the field, falling to Penn State on an overtime field goal in Week 7. It was USC’s second straight loss, both coming by a single score.
Riley’s team will next make the cross country trek to College Park for their next game to face off against Maryland. The Week 8 game between the Trojans and Terrapins will mark the first-ever matchup between the two programs.