USC head coach Lincoln Riley has secured the top recruiting class in the country for the 2026 season, and he is now a serious contender for consecutive wins after gaining the commitment of a homegrown four-star lineman who initially announced his intention to play for the Dan Lanning-coached Oregon Ducks in 2027.
How Lincoln Riley Flipped Oregon Commit Drew Fielder to USC
Riley has helped USC improve its recruiting rankings for the class of 2027 by persuading four-star offensive tackle Drew Fielder to switch his commitment from Oregon to the Trojans. Fielder’s decision follows two Ducks commits for the 2026 class, quarterback Jonas Williams and defensive tackle Tomuhini Topui, who also changed their pledges to USC.
USC flipped quarterback Jonas Williams and defensive tackle Tomuhini Topui from Oregon in the 2026 class.
And now they flip Servite (Calif.) four-star offensive tackle Drew Fielder from the Ducks in the 2027 class.
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) March 29, 2026
The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Fielder, who plays for Servite High School in California, is ranked as the No. 81 overall prospect, No. 10 offensive tackle, and the No. 9 player in California, according to 247Sports. He initially committed to Lanning’s Oregon in early February, but USC came knocking on his door weeks later with an offer, leading him to change his mind and switch schools.
A major factor in Fielder’s change of heart was his close family ties to Southern California, as his uncle and grandfather were part of the Trojans’ 1967 national championship team, and his father was a USC alumnus.
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Another sign that USC was about to steal the Anaheim, California, native from Oregon was when the offensive tackle was spotted at the Trojans’ practice sessions during the first two weeks of spring training. Fielder returned to the practice facility on Saturday to finalize his commitment change.
Fielder’s pledge secured Riley’s second notable commitment in the 2027 class this week. On Wednesday, Mater Dei (California) four-star cornerback Danny Lang committed to the Trojans, who hosted Lang four times in a week span this month.
USC beat Oregon and Ohio State to secure Lang’s commitment. The move strengthens the Trojans’ defense after initially getting approval from Aaryn “J.O.” Washington to join the team.
The Trojans also secured the commitment of Santa Margarita three-star defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade. The son of former Trojans offensive lineman Lenny Vandermade, Vandermade honed his skills in the Trinity League, a conference that has produced Power Four talent in recent years.
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Five-star recruit Honor Fa’alave-Johnson committed to USC on March 14, making the Trojans the top-ranked team with the No. 1 athlete and the best player in the state. To show his full commitment to Riley’s team, the 6-foot safety stated he planned to attend practice every day the following week.
The development has secured seven commitments for the Trojans’ 2027 class, making them the top recruiting program in the Big Ten Conference and the fifth-best in the nation for that class.
