The USC Trojans are on fire, leading the nation with the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026. Well, with 26 commits already locked in—and possibly 9 more on the way—this class is stacked. But when you’re building a powerhouse, tough calls come with the territory. With so much talent on deck, not every story ends in Cardinal and Gold. Today, Lincoln Riley’s USC made one of those tough decisions. Sometimes, the path changes. And for one recruit, the journey will continue elsewhere.
He’s a 310-pound force. A 4-star mauler in the trenches. Malakai Lee—Hawaii’s No. 2 prospect and the No. 10 OT in the nation—is making waves. With 19 offers stacked up, the Kamehameha standout has narrowed it down. Four schools are still in the hunt. But here’s the shocker—USC didn’t make the cut. Despite early interest, Lincoln Riley and the Trojans were left off his top four. A tough blow for the nation’s top class. Sometimes, even the biggest names get a surprise. And this one stings.
On May 25, the buzz got real. On3 Recruits dropped Malakai Lee’s top four, and it’s a powerhouse lineup: Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. No USC in sight. Lee, a 310-pound bulldozer up front, is rising fast. On3 ranks him even higher than most—No. 85 overall and the No. 9 OT in the 2026 On300. Now, the Bulldogs got first crack with an official visit back on April 12. Next up? Alabama on May 30. Then it’s Texas on June 6 and Michigan on June 20. So, the race is heating up. And Malakai Lee’s path to the big stage is just getting started.
NEWS 4-star OT Malakai Lee is down to Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Texas, @Hayesfawcett3 reports
Lee ranks No. 85 NATL. (No. 9 OT) in the 2026 On300.
Read: https://t.co/H8QBz2yUUu pic.twitter.com/gZdHks4Rul
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 24, 2025
But not long ago, USC looked like the clear front-runner for Malakai Lee. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine had the Trojans leading the pack for the 6-7, 310-pound island giant. Lee was set to get a deep dive into the program with an official visit locked in for June 6. It’ll be his first trip back to L.A. since catching USC’s regular-season finale. Moreover, defensive ends coach Shaun Nua even made the trek to Honolulu in January to keep the connection strong. And Lee had plenty of love for the Trojans. “The history and the culture are things I really like about USC,” said Lee. Adding, “The coaches are great at USC. They are on the west coast, and they have a lot of Poly’s there, so having that family foundation there would be nice. They have developed a lot of Poly’s too, so that is another thing I like about USC.”
So, for a moment, everything seemed to align. But recruiting is a wild ride. Now, USC is out of the picture. That’s recruiting—fast, fluid, and full of twists. Since February, the Trojans have loaded up in the trenches, locking in 6 OL. Three of them are tackles, led by 5-star monster Keenyi Pepe, 4-star Vlad Dyakonov, and rising 3-star Chase Deniz. With that kind of depth building, priorities shifted. USC could still grab one more, maybe two, but the focus now is on keeping their core 6 solid through signing day. As for Malakai Lee, the interest was real, but the fit changed. In the end, USC made the call. They encouraged Lee to explore other options.
Simply, it wasn’t personal. It was business. But now, with USC left off Lee’s top four, it feels like a major loss, especially with CFB giants still in the hunt. However, the race for Malakai Lee is heating up fast. He’s already made unofficial visits to Alabama and Michigan, and both trips turned heads. So, what factors influenced Lee to choose his top four? Were they just the visits, or was there more behind the decision?
USC is out—but why did these four schools make the cut?
Malakai Lee’s visit to Athens left a lasting impression. Georgia rolled out the red carpet—and Lee felt every bit of it. From the moment he arrived, the connection with HC Kirby Smart and the entire Bulldogs staff felt different. The visit hit home. “Georgia knocked it out of the park,” stated Lee. Adding, “They were so caring for me and my family. The southern hospitality at Georgia was great.”
He was in town for G-Day, and what he saw was more than just a spring scrimmage—it was a glimpse into a championship culture. “Then seeing G-Day was awesome too. I got to see the players work and the coaches coach. Then right after the game, coach Searels was already grading the players like a real game, so that was great to see too,” said Lee.
So, it’s clear that Georgia’s attention to detail, family atmosphere, and relentless drive made an impact. “Georgia football is going to be Georgia football, especially under coach Smart, and it was an overall great experience at Georgia,” according to Lee.
Honestly, no doubt about it—the Bulldogs are firmly in the mix. Then Michigan and Alabama have been in the thick of the race for Malakai Lee all year. And the Tide aren’t letting up. Next up, Lee returns to Tuscaloosa—where Kalen DeBoer and OL coach Chris Kapilovic are turning up the heat. “Alabama football is great and I really like coach DeBoer and coach Kap,” mentioned Lee. Adding, “They both seem like great guys. I saw a lot on the unofficial visit. They answered a lot of my questions and I like how the program is going in the right direction.”
So, the vibe in Tuscaloosa impressed him. The coaching staff gave him clarity. The direction of the program gave him confidence. With his next visit lined up, Alabama’s momentum is real—and the Tide are rolling in this recruitment.
On the flip side, when it comes to Michigan, it’s all about development, and that’s exactly what has Malakai Lee’s attention. The Wolverines’ track record in the trenches speaks for itself, and under HC Sherrone Moore, the standard keeps rising.
“Coach Newsome and coach Moore are both super-good offensive line coaches. That, their offensive line production and how they develop players there are things I like about Michigan,” said Lee. But it’s not just about football. Michigan’s academics also stand out, giving Lee more to think about. “They offer a great education too,” he added. “They got Bryce Underwood, a great quarterback last year too, so there are some big things for me to look at, at Michigan.”
So, with elite coaching, player development, and a future star QB already in the fold, Ann Arbor is giving Lee plenty of reasons to take a serious look. Now, let’s see who checks all the boxes for Malakai Lee this season…
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