Big Ten Team Dominates Best Recruiters In College Football Over SEC

Ranking the top recruiters in college football. How do the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, USC Trojans, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan Wolverines and Clemson Tigers rank? Three members of USC coach Lincoln Riley's staff are among the top recruiters in college football.

Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans have assembled what has the makings to be the program’s highest-ranked recruiting class in almost a decade. 

After finishing outside the top-10 in back-to-back cycles, the Trojans turned up the heat in their recruiting efforts and the result has been the No. 1 ranked class in the 2026 cycle. 

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

With the early signing period taking place in the first week of December, a number of programs have filled a majority of its recruiting class heading into the fall.

247Sports ranked its top 10 recruiters of this current cycle and three members of the Trojans coaching staff were featured on the list, including defensive line coach Eric Henderson (No. 2), secondary coach Doug Belk (No. 5) and offensive line coach Zach Hanson (No. 7). 

USC is the only team to have more than one "top recruiter" in college football.

Here is the full list:

1. DONTE WILLIAMS, GEORGIA ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH AND DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

2. ERIC HENDERSON, USC CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, RUN GAME COORDINATOR AND DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

3. LOU ESPOSITO, MICHIGAN DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

4. BRIAN HARTLINE, OHIO STATE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

5. DOUG BELK, USC SECONDARY COACH

6. MATT LUKE, CLEMSON ASSISTANT HEAD COACH, CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

7. ZACH HANSON, USC OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive line coach Alex Mirabal reacts during the Pac-12 Championship against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

8. ALEX MIRABAL, MIAMI ASSISTANT HEAD COACH AND OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

9. KENNY BAKER, TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

10. JORDAN PETERSON, TEXAS A&M CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Henderson joined Lincoln Riley’s staff in January 2024 after spending the previous five seasons in the same role with the Los Angeles Rams. 

Henderson made a big splash in the 2025 cycle, pulling Edna Karr (La.) five-star defensive Jahkeem Stewart out of the south. He carried that momentum into the transfer portal and landed former Kentucky defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver and Georgia defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett. 

MORE: USC Trojans' Lincoln Riley Expanding Recruiting Efforts With Elite Safety

MORE: Paul Finebaum Goes After USC Trojans' Lincoln Riley Again Before Big Ten Media Days

MORE: USC Trojans Receive 'Surprising' Ranking Before First AP Top-25 Poll

MORE: Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams Reveals Lofty Goals Under Coach Ben Johnson

The defensive front figures to one of USC’s biggest strengths in 2025 and could become a trend for years to come. 

Henderson has landed eight recruits in the 2026 cycle, headlined by five in the top 200 overall prospects, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, five-star Luke Wafle, four-star Jaimeon Winfield, four-star Simote Katoanga, four-star Tomuhini Topui and four-star Braeden Jones. 

Belk also joined the Trojans staff following the conclusion of the 2023 season. The second-year coach has built his own version of the “No Fly Zone” in the secondary. 

USC went all-in for five-star cornerback Elbert Hill and landed a commitment from the No. 1 overall recruit from Ohio in May. Four-star cornerback Brandon Lockhart, a Los Angeles native, has been committed to his hometown school since his sophomore year. 

Archbishop Hoban's Elbert 'Roc' Hill IV runs with the ball in the first half of a football game against Central York at Panthers Stadium on Oct. 18, 2024, in Springettsbury Township. | Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Trojans landed four-star cornerback Peyton Dyer last month after taking his official visit. Three-star cornerback Joshua Holland, a two-way star from nearby St. John Bosco (Calif.) has the size and skillset to play cornerback or safety at the next level and three-star safety Madden Riordan rounds out the group. 

USC has filled a number of its recruiting spots but still could be looking to add one more safety. 

It’s also worth noting Belk landed five-star cornerback RJ Sermons, who reclassified from the 2026 to the 2025 class earlier this summer. 

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Hanson enters his first year as the Trojans offensive line coach after previously serving as the tight ends coach for the past three seasons. 

Hanson has landed commitments from six offensive linemen in the 2026 cycle, headlined by five-star Keenyi Pepe and four-stars Esun Tafa and Vlad Dyakonov.