5-star Jahkeem Stewart picks USC over LSU, Oregon, Ohio State

USC's on-field performance suffered in 2024, but Lincoln Riley was still able to grab one of the top players in the country Wednesday to start the Early Signing Period.

Five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart announced his commitment to the Trojans, electing to head west from Louisiana rather than join other top programs LSU, Oregon, and Ohio State.

"It's opportunity," Stewart told Steve Wiltfong of On3. "Coach Riley, he told me a word: 'transcendent.' Be a trendsetter and come over there and turn the program around. They have positive things with the program. The new defense is now ranked No. 32; last year, it was No. 131. That's a big jump."

Stewart is ranked by ESPN as the top defensive end in the class of 2025 and the nation's No. 11 overall prospect. He was initially set to leave high school in 2026 before reclassifying to hit the college ranks a year early.

While USC's defense did improve drastically overall in 2024, the Trojans still ranked 92nd in the nation in sacks. That's an area where Stewart could immediately help next season.

Stewart's commitment gives Riley two players in ESPN's top 50 after quarterback Husan Longstreet signed with the Trojans earlier in the day.