When a head coach joins a program, how should they build their recruiting classes? Should it be transfer-reliant or have a heavy focus on recruiting from high school? While both approaches have reaped incredible results over the years for different coaches, Lincoln Riley’s transfer reliance didn’t quite pay off. There were accusations that the head coach was ignoring in-state talents from California, and his recruiting classes were also not very star-studded, to say the least.
That also showed in Lincoln Riley’s record with the Trojans. USC finished 4-8 in the 2021 season. That changed when Riley took over. An 11-3 finish. That was followed by an 8-5 record in USC’s final season in Pac-12. In their first season in Big 10, the program finished 7-6. Every year, the number of losses have gone up for Riley’s program. The only 10-win season could be credited to Caleb Williams, USC’s Heisman-winning quarterback.
Then came the turnarounds around which Lincoln Riley had built his reputation in Oklahoma. Top-notch recruitment and off-season strategies were coming back as Riley started a major overhaul. The result? The 2026 recruitment class, which is still shaping up, ranks second nationally. It boasts players like 2nd-ranked LB Xavier Griffin, 3rd-ranked CB RJ Sermons, and 8th-ranked QB Brandon Lockhart. But Riley didn’t stop there.
The head coach is making sure the 2027 class looks as star-studded as his 2026 one and is pulling all strings to do that. In that spirit, it seems one of the major 2027 class linebackers has made his stance clear, which will worry programs like Ohio State, who were after him. The players’ flirtation with the message to the USC head coach may be a signal for Ryan Day to increase the stakes. The 6-foot-2 and 200-pound Kaden Henderson just met with Riley and enjoyed the time he spent with the former Oklahoma head coach. The player wrote on X, “Had an amazing time at USC #Fighton.” But how good is the player?
Had an amazing time at Usc #Fighton@LincolnRiley @dantonlynn @flowlikerob pic.twitter.com/gEvUfX50F7
— Kaden Henderson 5 LB (@KadenHenderson_) April 20, 2025
The linebacker, a native of Tampa, Florida, is rated as a four-star prospect on 247 Sports (however, the player’s profile on X claims he is a 5-star) and is currently the 4th-ranked linebacker in the country. In contrast, On3 ranks the player as the 2nd national prospect. To date, the player has received 35 offers from major programs such as Ohio State, Florida, FSU, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Regarding visits, Henderson has taken the most visits to Florida (3) and Florida State (2), which may be due to proximity, but also has taken 2 unofficial trips to Ohio State. The Jesuit High School linebacker seems to be keeping his options open for now and would surely be the subject of an intriguing recruitment battle.
How is the LB room at USC looking this year?
The Trojans’ linebacker room seems intriguing this year. We have players like Eric Gentry and Desman Stephens who are returning with good experience. Gentry appeared in just 5 games after his season-ending injury last year, but even then, the linebacker recorded 22 solo tackles and 2 sacks, which surely looks impressive. Desman Stephen II, on the contrary, managed to record 8 solo tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception. But still, as a freshman, Desmond showed that he carries high potential and would be crucial for Riley this year for USC’s defense.
Other players, like Jadyn Walker, who flipped from Michigan last year in 2024, and Matai Tagoa’i, another 2024 freshman, will provide that added depth. Still, the LB room depth has some concerns this year. As we saw last season, injuries can sideline even the best of LBs like Gentry, so apart from these players, Riley would need to sign some transfer additions.
The hiring of a new LB coach, Rob Ryan, who has proven his pedigree in the NFL, will be a welcome change. But beyond Gentry and Stephens, there are no players who bring the required experience to the LB room. This will be a major concern for Riley going forward. But considering his aggressive recruitment stance, maybe the head coach will ultimately land some solid LB prospects from the portal, too.
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