Lincoln Riley and USC have made a major addition to their 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of four-star defensive end Xavier Griffin.
Griffin, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound pass rusher, is ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the ESPN Junior 300 and the third-best defensive end for 2026. The standout player from Gainesville, Florida, is also the fourth-ranked recruit from his home state. He chose USC over offers from top programs like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon.
With this commitment, Griffin becomes the fifth and highest-rated player in Riley’s 2026 class at USC. He joins cornerbacks Brandon Lockhart (No. 67 in the ESPN Junior 300) and Dominick Kelly (No. 248) as part of the Trojans’ third ESPN 300 recruit for the class. The class also includes wide receiver Ja’Myron Baker and safety Madden Riordan.
Last season, Griffin recorded 54 tackles, 15 sacks, and two forced fumbles as a sophomore at Gainesville High School. His decision to commit to USC follows visits to Alabama and Florida State this spring.
Griffin’s commitment represents a significant boost for Riley’s 2026 class, especially in light of recent challenges. USC’s 2025 class had dropped to 24th in ESPN’s rankings after the decommitments of highly-rated defensive linemen Justus Terry (No. 7) and Isaiah Gibson (No. 30) earlier this summer.
