USC adds three-star linebacker Taylor Johnson to 2026 class
For the second day in a row, USC football added a new commit to its already loaded 2026 recruiting class. On Monday, the Trojans picked up a commitment Taylor Johnson, a three-star linebacker from San Bernadino, California.
Here is what 247Sports had to say about Johnson:
Advertisement
"The 6-foot-1 Johnson joins the linebacker mix with 6-foot-4 five-star prospect Xavier Griffin and the 6-foot-3 Scott. Scott was initially listed as an edge rusher while Griffin could also end up playing on the edge as well. Taylor projects as a true middle linebacker, capable of playing either MIKE or WILL as the next level. Johnson was ultra-productive as a junior with 174 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss (four sacks) and three passes defended."
Johnson is USC's 28th commit in its top-ranked 2026 recruiting class. With new general manager Chad Bowden at the helm, it seems apparent that the Trojans plan to load up in this cycle after missing out on numerous key targets in years past. Now, it will be up to Lincoln Riley to win on the field this fall in order to ensure that the class remains intact.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Three-star linebacker Taylor Johnson commits to USC football for 2026

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tennessee offers 2027 safety from Virginia
Tennessee is making recruiting efforts toward its 2027 football signing class. The Vols offered a scholarship to three-star safety Zayvon Miller. "Extremely blessed to say I've received an offer from the University of Tennessee," Miller announced. Advertisement The 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect is from Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia. 247Sports ranks Miller as the No. 38 safety in 2027 and the No. 11 player in Virginia. East Carolina was the first school to offer him a scholarship on Nov. 12, 2023. Additional schools to offer a scholarship to Miller include Penn State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Appalachian State, Florida State, Liberty, Syracuse, Charlotte, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Old Dominion. Tennessee does not have any commitments in its 2027 football recruiting class. The Vols have eight commitments in their 2026 recruiting class: quarterback Faizon Brandon, wide receiver Tyreek King, tight end Carson Sneed, offensive lineman Gabriel Osenda, wide receiver Tyran Evans, linebacker Braylon Outlaw, defensive lineman C.J. Edwards and defensive lineman Zach Groves. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee football offers scholarship to 2027 safety prospect
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
"If I didn't have that, other than a couple of championships, what is it?" - Larry Bird admits he wouldn't have enjoyed his career if there was no Magic Johnson to compete against
"If I didn't have that, other than a couple of championships, what is it?" - Larry Bird admits he wouldn't have enjoyed his career if there was no Magic Johnson to compete against originally appeared on Basketball Network. For nearly a decade, the NBA's fiercest rivalry was not just the Boston Celtics versus the Los Angeles Lakers, it was Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson. Every bounce of the ball in those 1980s Finals carried the weight of tradition, ego and legacy. Advertisement Bird, cast in the gritty mold of Boston's blue-collar pride, had no intention of ever crossing enemy lines, no matter how much he admired the man wearing purple and gold. The thought of donning a Lakers jersey never once crossed his mind, not even in theory. The joy of competition Theirs wasn't the type of rivalry that inspired thoughts of teaming up; it was one that demanded opposition, sustained by the deep-rooted pride of their franchises and their own competitive bloodlines. "I enjoyed competing against Magic," Bird fondly remembered. "I really did, and I would think he would say the same thing. We're pretty good friends, but once you step on that court, it was all out…When I look back through all that, I had more enjoyment beating him than I had beating anybody. If I didn't have that, other than a couple of championships, what is it?" Their careers mirrored and challenged each other from the start. In 1979, Bird and Johnson turned a college basketball title game into a cultural moment, one that pulled in a then-record 35.1 million viewers. Bird's Indiana State lost to Magic's Michigan State, but that singular contest cemented their parallel paths. Advertisement From there, the NBA needed them. Bird landed in Boston, Johnson in Los Angeles and the league was never the same. By 1984, they had met twice in the NBA Finals. The contrast in style, personality and background was compelling. Bird was precise, stoic, ruthless in execution. Johnson was flash, flair and court vision wrapped in a 6-foot-9 frame. Bird's mindset feels like a throwback to a different code. This wasn't about market efficiency or roster optimization. It was about proving supremacy the hard way by going through the best, not joining them. There was no temptation to blend his genius with his rival. No alternative universe where they ran Showtime together. The rivalry was the whole point. Related: "Lot of teammates don't be as close as us three are after basketball" - Gary Payton on why he keeps close ties with his old SuperSonics teammates Bird vs. Magic Bird and Johnson were living out the continuation of a basketball war that predated them. The Celtics and Lakers had already met in the Finals seven times before 1980. Bill Russell versus Jerry West, John Havlicek versus Elgin Baylor. By the time Bird and Johnson took the stage, they were inheriting legacies. Advertisement Every Finals matchup between them, from college to the NBA, was another chapter in a decades-long fight for basketball's soul. "We started in college; this goes way back," Bird said. "So the intensity plus you got to remember that the Lakers and the Celtics were battling it out in the '60s, so this was just a carryover and man, it was fun." That carryover became a spectacle. Between 1980 and 1989, the Lakers and Celtics combined for eight titles and appeared in every Finals except two. Bird's Celtics won in 1981, 1984 and 1986. Johnson's Lakers claimed the crown in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. Their three head-to-head Finals matchups helped drag the NBA out of its tape-delayed broadcasts and into prime time. But beneath the intensity was always a measure of respect, tough, earned and cemented over the years. Both superstars helped save the league together, but they didn't need to stand side by side to do it. Advertisement In fact, they were better apart. Their dynamic worked because it was oppositional, not collaborative. Related: "Larry came up to Magic before the game and said, 'Sit back, I'm going to put on a show tonight'" - Magic Johnson's agent told a ruthless Larry Bird trash talk story This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
LSU's Kim Mulkey Sends Message to Flau'jae Johnson After Career Announcement
LSU's Kim Mulkey Sends Message to Flau'jae Johnson After Career Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Flau'Jae Johnson is not only a star basketball player for the LSU Tigers. She is also a multi-talented woman. Advertisement Over the last three years, she has helped lead the Tigers to the Elite Eight round of the women's NCAA Tournament. As a freshman during the 2022-23 season, she teamed with Angel Reese, who is now with the WNBA's Chicago Sky, to guide LSU to the national championship with a win over Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes. Johnson is also a rapper who has appeared on "America's Got Talent" and "The Rap Game." She has released three albums, and on Friday, her new single, named "Remember When," dropped. Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey took to X to congratulate Johnson. "Proud of you @Flaujae 💜🤍💛," Johnson wrote. Johnson, who is originally from Georgia and also played baseball as a kid, averaged 11.0 points and 5.9 rebounds a game as a freshman at LSU. Last season, she put up 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals a game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range. Advertisement The 5-foot-10 guard was named to the All-SEC first team this past season. She had the opportunity to declare herself eligible for this year's WNBA draft, but she decided to instead remain at LSU for her senior season. LSU Tigers guard Flau'Jae Johnson (4) drives to the basket at Florida Gators guard Jeriah Warren (20) Matt Pendleton: Imagn Images She has already signed with Unrivaled, a women's pro three-on-three basketball league. She has a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with the league, and she, along with Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings, has ownership equity as part of that NIL deal. Related: Paige Bueckers' Former Teammate Sends Message After Career Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.