By Tim Peterson
USC already has the number one ranked recruiting class for 2026. With GM Chad Bowden leading the charge the Trojans have secured 14 commitments with nine of them being from California. Now they are close to getting another big name in the fold.
Mater Dei five-star tight end Mark Bowman is on campus this week for an unofficial visit. Last season, as a sophomore, Bowman, who is the number one ranked tight end in the nation for ’26, hauled in 32 receptions for 435 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games.
Bowman is just one of several highly touted recruits that have reclassified from the 2027 to the 2026 recruiting class over the last month. Reclassifying use to be the thing in basketball but is now common is football as well. Due to the reclassification, everything has sped up in Bowman’s recruitment. Bowman plans to make his decision this summer.
While this visit was unofficial, Bowman will be on campus in June for his official visit. The Trojans are also trying to flip Bowman’s teammate at Mater Dei, Tomuhini Topui, a defensive lineman who has committed to Oregon. Topui has been on the USC campus a couple of times since January.
Bowman and Topui are just two of a number of recruits from Mater Dei that the Trojans are honing in on. Others are Chris Henry Jr., a five-star receiver and an Ohio State commit, as well as four-star offensive tackle and Oregon commit Kodi Greene. Linebacker Shaun Scott and receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, both four-stars, are also on the Trojans’ radar.
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It’s only a matter of time until we have a college draft, same as the NFL. Today’s situation gives advantage to the highest bidder, and there aren’t enough high rollers to keep the huge collegiate structure afloat.