Kirby Smart and Dan Lanning have been on the wrong end of the recruiting battle. Georgia Bulldogs still boast a recruiting machine that finished second only to Texas Longhorns in this year’s class with four 5-star commitments. But the days of the Bulldogs effortlessly stockpiling blue-chip talent may be slipping away. Oregon Ducks, meanwhile, saw its grip on the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026 disappear last month, and now, the bad news just keeps rolling in. The latest blow? It comes courtesy of Cali dons Lincoln Riley, who has his sights set on locking down one of the nation’s premier SoCal 5-star TEs.
USC Trojans’ resurgence on the recruiting trail has been fueled by an aggressive approach, particularly in its own backyard. Tight ends and inside receivers coach Chad Savage was indeed savage in building ties with local standouts, and the latest beneficiary of that effort appears to be Mater Dei Monarchs’ five-star tight end, Mark Bowman. After showing out in week 2 of the OT7 game, Bowman has become a prime target for the Trojans, and On3’s Chad Simmons delivered some unsettling news for Georgia and Oregon. “USC is surging here. Nobody is recruiting Mark Bowman as hard as the local program. The Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei tight end visited Alabama, then USC a day later earlier this month, and Lincoln Riley’s program is picking up some steam.”
That’s a nightmare scenario for Smart and Lanning, both of whom have been heavily involved in Mark Bowman’s recruitment from the jump. Simmons made it clear that Georgia and Oregon aren’t backing down, though, saying, “Georgia has been there from day one, and the Bulldogs aren’t going anywhere. Bowman will be back in Athens in April. Oregon is another one to watch. He has a great connection with Drew Mehringer.” Those relationships are keeping both programs in the race, but there’s a shift happening in real time, and USC is forcing its way to the front of the line.
What makes this all the more frustrating for the Dawgs and Ducks is that, up until recently, USC wasn’t viewed as a major player in this battle. “Georgia and Oregon have been talking a lot, USC not as much,” Simmons pointed out. “But the Big Ten program in Los Angeles needs to be talked about more.” That last line says it all—USC, under Riley and with its revamped recruiting staff, is becoming a legitimate threat in these high-profile battles, something that wasn’t always the case. Texas, another program eager to make noise, will get its shot when Bowman visits Austin next weekend, but the Trojans have already built a real advantage.
This isn’t an isolated incident, either. USC has been flipping key targets left and right, including four-star quarterback Jonas Williams, who originally pledged to Oregon before making a late switch to the Trojans in February. That one stung for Lanning, but Bowman’s potential commitment would hurt on a different level. Mater Dei, Bowman’s high school, is the top-ranked program in the country and a factory for elite talent. The fact that USC is not only in the mix but favored over Alabama in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) should set off alarms in Athens and Eugene.
The bigger picture here is clear—Lincoln Riley isn’t letting Southern California’s best players leave the state without a fight. The Trojans’ personnel and coaching moves have been aimed at fortifying their recruiting efforts, and GM/recruit-whisperer Chad Bowden took the lead in making sure USC stays aggressive. The NIL arms race is in full effect, and while Georgia and Oregon still have plenty of firepower, they’re quickly realizing that locking down elite talent isn’t as easy as it used to be.
Mark Bowman got the VIP treatment at USC—and he loved it
Mater Dei’s star TE Mark Bowman is one of the most sought-after recruits in the country, and USC rolled out the red carpet for him during his visit. Ranked No. 20 overall, No. 2 tight end, and No. 4 in California per the On3 Industry Rankings, Bowman has elite programs battling for his commitment. But after his recent visit to Los Angeles, the Trojans might have taken the lead.
“They showed a lot of love,” Bowman said. “The whole coaching staff was waiting for me when I got there.” That’s the kind of reception you give to a priority recruit, and USC made sure he felt it. His visit included some one-on-one time with Lincoln Riley, where they broke down how Bowman would fit into USC’s high-powered offense. After that? A campus tour, dorm visits, a big dinner, and then the grand finale—an unforgettable moment inside the Coliseum.
“They took us in a sprinter van to the Coliseum, and Chad Bowden told me, ‘I want you to try to envision yourself here, like you’re walking down on game day.’” With a hype video on the big screen and the torch lit, Bowman was the center of attention. Smart and Lanning? They’re probably not thrilled.
The post Kirby Smart & Dan Lanning Receive Upsetting Recruiting News as 5-Star Target’s College Football Inclination Confirmed appeared first on EssentiallySports.
