Talanoa Ili is one of the most sought-after prospects in the 2026 class, and the USC Trojans are making a push toward his commitment.
The 4-star linebacker has been trending toward Oregon since early on in his recruiting process, but after a recent visit to USC, the Trojans have firmly put themselves toward the top.
We wrote just a few days ago about how Ili perhaps teased his Top 3 by posting visit photos of USC, Oregon, and Oklahoma, and now On3 is reporting that the Trojans are making a surge.
“What made the visit so good was the quality one-on-one time with the staff,” Ili told On3. “The message from the staff was how important I am to the vision of USC football and how they want to keep me home.”
USC Trojans Sending Strong Message To LB Talanoa Ili
This messaging goes in line with what USC and the staff have been promoting since GM Chad Bowden was hired. Building a wall around the “State of Los Angeles” and keeping the top talent home.
Technically, Ili will finish his high school career back in Hawaii at Kahuku High School, but he made a name for himself at Orange Lutheran in Orange County.
Oregon will still be firmly in the mix, however. Ili has been to Eugene multiple times and has built a strong relationship with the staff.
“Oregon is one of my top schools because of the relationship we’ve built since my freshman year and the direction they are heading,” Ili told On3.
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Oregon has been one of the top programs for quite some time, and reached the College Football Playoff last season under Dan Lanning, before getting blown out in the Rose Bowl by Ohio State.
As we mentioned in our “tease” article, Oklahoma is a true contender as the young LB has really connected with head coach Brent Venables.
“I really like coach Venables and how he goes about things. They are in this because of the type of culture and staff that they have,” Ili said.
Ili is the 4th-ranked linebacker in the 2026 class, per On3 Industry Rankings. If he were to commit to USC, he would join the No. 2 ranked linebacker in Xavier Griffin, giving the Trojans and Rob Ryan two Top 5 LBs.
He currently has 7 official visits scheduled:
- UCLA – May 10
- BYU – May 27
- Oklahoma – June 6
- Notre Dame – June 10
- Texas – June 13
- USC – June 17
- Oregon – June 20
It is going to be a long battle, but the USC Trojans are equipped better than they have ever been, and the recruiting surge that they are experiencing further exemplifies that.
Check Out The USC Trojans 2026 Recruiting Class Here.