USC football makes another huge recruiting splash, lands four-star edge rusher Luke Wafle
USC football makes another huge recruiting splash, lands four-star edge rusher Luke Wafle
Stop me if you have heard this one before: USC football just landed another massive recruit. On Thursday morning, the Trojans picked up a commitment from four-star edge rusher Luke Wafle.
Wafle is from Princeton, New Jersey. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 55 overall player and the No. 6 edge rusher in the class of 2026.
Here is 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins's evaluation of Wafle:
"Force-based defensive end that's a tackle collector on the edge," Ivins wrote. "Measured roughly 6-foot-5, 245 pounds spring before senior year and came in with some promising features. Racks up stops when ball carriers near his gaps as he has the strength and power to will his way to wins. Not always the quickest off the snap, but has the awareness to move laterally and beat cutoffs. Heavy hands and a diesel engine tend to produce most of his quarterback pressures as he defeats protection by trying to ram his way through it. Spent junior season working out of a three-point stance in a modified four-man front where he was frequently asked to play over offensive tackles. Likely to find most success in a similar alignment on Saturdays as he's built for box-based football with his toughness and football IQ. Might need some time to find his footing, but projects as a potential impact player for a College Football Playoff contender that can do the dirty work."
Chad Bowden and Lincoln Riley are continuing to land elite talent on the recruiting trail. If the Trojans can hold their 2026 class together, it has the potential to be, on paper, at least, one of the best recruiting classes in USC football history.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech Lands Two Promising WRs in 2026 Class Surge
Georgia Tech Lands Two Promising WRs in 2026 Class Surge originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Ramblin' Wreck just added some serious firepower to its receiving corps, and the buzz around Georgia Tech football recruiting is only getting louder. Advertisement In a 24-hour stretch that shows Brent Key's staff is executing with precision, the Yellow Jackets secured commitments from two 2026 wide receivers: Kentrell Davis out of Birmingham, Alabama, and Isaac Obrokta from Rabun Gap, Georgia. With both prospects pledging their futures to the Flats, Georgia Tech now holds 14 total commitments in the 2026 class, and four of them are wideouts. This is more than just a numbers game. It's a statement. Kentrell Davis: Speed and Swagger from the Heart of Alabama Hailing from Parker High School, Kentrell Davis brings both SEC-caliber attention and raw athleticism to Tech's recruiting board. The 6-foot, 175-pound wideout is ranked No. 975 nationally and No. 36 in Alabama by the 247Sports Composite. He recently wrapped up official visits to Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt but ultimately chose the Yellow Jackets over offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State, Wake Forest, and Missouri. Advertisement Davis is known for his breakaway speed and crisp route-running. He's a weapon in open space, a modern slot receiver with big-play potential, and he fits Georgia Tech's evolving offensive identity. With a senior season ahead and a spotlight growing brighter, Davis could be a major riser in the rankings. Isaac Obrokta: Underrated Georgia Talent with SEC Attention Just one day prior, Georgia Tech added another key piece in Isaac Obrokta, a 6-foot, 176-pound wide receiver from Rabun-Gap-Nacoochee School. Though ranked No. 1,477 nationally and No. 145 in Georgia, Obrokta's recruitment speaks louder than his star rating. Advertisement With offers from Florida State, UCF, Liberty, and Ole Miss, he's flown under the radar but not unnoticed. His game is built on consistency, with strong hands, crisp releases, and high football IQ. Coaches view him as a steady contributor who could thrive in the slot or as a possession receiver. Obrokta visited Tech on May 30 and later toured Florida State, but made his commitment soon after, signaling trust in the Jackets' vision. The Bigger Picture: Building a Receiving Corps with Depth and Versatility With Davis and Obrokta joining previously committed wideouts Darnell Collins and Jeremy Winston, Georgia Tech is putting an emphasis on versatility, speed, and depth at the position. After years of offensive inconsistency, Brent Key is clearly prioritizing long-term stability and dynamic playmakers for the future. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key celebrates after their win against Florida State at Aviva Maher-Tom Maher/INPHO via USA TODAY Sports The Yellow Jackets' 2026 class now ranks in the top 40 nationally, and the staff's recruiting momentum, especially in the Southeast is drawing attention across the ACC. Advertisement Georgia Tech fans, take note: These are the kind of moves that can quietly shape a future contender. Watch these names, and this class closely. Related: Georgia Tech Baseball Lands Top Transfers to Supercharge 2025 Lineup This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
ESPN makes 2025 Georgia football record prediction
The Georgia Bulldogs could be facing an SEC championship rematch in 2025, according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI). The Texas Longhorns (34.1%) and Georgia (26.9%) have the two best odds to win the SEC per FPI's estimate. The Alabama Crimson Tide (17.2%) are the only other SEC team with more than a 5% chance to win the conference. Interestingly, Georgia is scheduled to play both Texas and Alabama at home this season. Of course, playing Texas and Alabama on the road did not stop the Bulldogs from making the 2024 SEC championship where UGA went on to beat Texas in overtime. Texas, Georgia and Alabama are the top three teams in ESPN's FPI metric. They are also the three teams with the best chance to win the national championship along with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Key FPI Metrics Bottom Line ESPN's FPI is pretty high on Georgia entering the 2025 season despite all of the talent that Georgia lost. The Bulldogs lost 13 players to the 2025 NFL draft and had several more key contributors go undrafted. Georgia's 2025 team does not have as much experience as the Dawgs have had in previous years. Georgia will also be trotting out a new starting quarterback in Gunner Stockton. Georgia lost starting quarterback Carson Beck to the transfer portal in the winter. Beck and outside linebacker Damon Wilson highlight 20 Georgia players that left via the transfer portal. Coach Kirby Smart did bring in 10 transfers, but there's no doubt that the Bulldogs lost a lot of key players to the portal. Georgia will have a new look in the trenches. The Dawgs had a trio of interior offensive linemen drafted and lost their six leading sack producers from the 2024 season to the draft or transfer portal. Despite all the turnover, the standard remains the same in Athens. Georgia has a more manageable schedule in 2025 and winning 10 games during the regular season and returning to the College Football Playoff is a very achievable goal for the Dawgs. Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads!
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
USC women's basketball's Kennedy Smith named to Team USA AmeriCup roster
Beginning next week, the 2025 Women's AmeriCup basketball tournament will take place in Santiago, Chile. On Thursday, Team USA released its roster for the tournament. Making the team was USC rising sophomore Kennedy Smith. Smith is coming off an impressive true freshman season at USC. On the year, she averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.0 assists per contest. 'Kennedy. Smith,' USC head women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb wrote on social media following the announcement. 'So dang proud. Great roster.' The AmeriCup tournament will run from June 28 through July 6. The U.S. teams consists of the top women's college basketball players in the country. (WNBA players are not able to participate due to it taking place in the middle of their season.) Were she healthy, USC's Juju Watkins would have likely been the headliner of the team. With Watkins currently recovering from the ACL tear she suffered during the NCAA Tournament, Smith is the only Trojan headed to Santiago.
