Modern recruiting in college football has become a high-stakes game of talent, timing, and, obviously, dollars. In rare cases, money cannot shift the situation, but USC made sure that would not be the case here.
Five-star EDGE rusher Luke Wafle appeared to be leaning toward Ohio State after a surge of momentum. However, Lincoln Riley and the Trojans stepped in with a bigger NIL package that gave them an immediate win in the bidding war.
Luke Wafle Picks USC After Trojans Dominate Bidding War With $2.6M Offer
We may have just witnessed one of the most dramatic recruiting twists of the 2026 cycle. USC has secured a commitment from Wafle, ranked as the No. 6 Edge and No. 55 overall player in the class by 247Sports Composite. To win him over, though, the Trojans had to outbid Ohio State in a fierce NIL bidding showdown.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound defensive standout from The Hun School in Princeton had just wrapped up his official visit to Los Angeles when USC made its move.
4️⃣⭐️ and highly sought after edge-rusher, Luke Wafle, commits to USC ✌️ @WafleLuke pic.twitter.com/gEcoJijUAn
— Trojan Football ✌️ ᶠᵃⁿ (@TrojanFBx) June 19, 2025
On3 explained that, at first, Ohio State upped its NIL offer and briefly became the favorite on Wednesday morning. But that lead didn’t last. Riley responded with a counteroffer and ultimately sealed the commitment. Reports continue to confirm Wafle’s deal falls between $2.2 and $2.6 million over two years.
“Over the weekend I thought Luke Wafle was going to go to USC following his official visit to the Trojans campus. They came to terms from an NIL perspective and it was the best offer on the table financially… At the end of the day USC wins the bidding war, modern recruiting, to land one of the most coveted defensive players in the country in Luke Wafle and they add him to the No. 1 recruiting class in the land,” recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong said.
However, we can’t say that it was all about money. He had previously mentioned his strong connection with defensive line coaches Shaun Nua and Eric Henderson, as well as defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, as major reasons for his interest in USC.
During his visit, he also spent time with USC legends Marcus Allen and Ronnie Lott, which also made a lasting impression.
Coming off a junior season where he recorded 53 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks in just nine games, Wafle’s commitment now adds firepower to a loaded USC roster that already includes five-star tight end Mark Bowman and four-star quarterback Jonas Williams.
Ultimately, USC’s speed and confidence made the difference. They moved so quickly that other programs didn’t have time to react. In the blink of an eye, Riley ended the recruiting battle and landed one of the biggest defensive playmakers in the class.
