While the Houston Cougars had been picking up some momentum on the recruiting front in the second year for Willie Fritz, they missed out on a prized 2026 recruit on Wednesday evening.
Roderick Tezeno Jr., a 6-foot-2 wide receiver from Opelousas, Louisiana, chose to attend USC over Houston, Tulane, and Kentucky.
Coming out of Opelousas High School in the Class of 2026, Tezeno is listed as a four-star prospect by the 247Sports index and the nation’s 485th-ranked player. He also checks in as the 78th-ranked player at his position and the 13th-ranked player in the state of Louisiana.
“Obviously, the campus, and I had a good conversation with a lot of really good people,” Tezeno said about his unofficial visit. “Like genuine. There’s a lot of opportunity around here, besides football, too. They could be good in the future. My official visit should be June 6-8. What stood out was how Coach Riley dialed everything up during the scrimmage at practice. He puts his playmakers in position to make plays to be successful.”
An impressive player in his class, Tezeno turned down offers from 20 different programs, including Houston, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Missouri, UCLA, and more.
Despite the hot start in the Class of 2026, a group that includes the nation’s No. 2 quarterback, Tezeno Jr., is one player staying away from the Lone Star State.
