USC’s recruitment class gets bigger, literally, with five-star OT

USC head coach Lincoln Riley is building an incredible 2026 recruiting class, and it just got even better in a big way, literally and figuratively.

Keenyi Pepe, a five-star offensive tackle recruit from IMG Academy in Florida, has committed to the Trojans. Pepe is 6-foot-7, 320 pounds and is ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. He’s a literal big commitment for Riley and the Trojans, but figuratively, he should be a big recruit as well, considering the rankings.

Pepe was born and raised in California, so this commitment is a homecoming for him. 

“Growing up, they were my dream school,” Pepe had told 247Sports of USC. “As far as recruiting, they have been so consistent in recruiting me, especially with communication. I’m always getting to talk with (offensive line) coach (Zach) Hanson and (head) coach (Lincoln) Riley.”

There was some major competition for Pepe’s commitment. Along with USC, Florida, Georgia, Miami and Texas were in the running. 

He was on campus this past weekend for a recruiting weekend, though, and that absolutely helped the Trojans. There’s also the fact that his cousin, Kobe Pepe, is a senior defensive lineman for the team.

It all made sense, and Riley’s 2026 class got much better as a result. Heading into Thursday, the Trojans had the top-ranked 2026 class in the nation, and Pepe’s commitment only strengthens that ranking. 

With 25 hard commits, Pepe will go down as Riley’s second five-star of the cycle, joining athlete/linebacker Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Georgia.