Progrums

Trojans Make One Last Hail Mary for Dixon-Wyatt

The USC Trojans are leveraging every resource they have to convince four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt to flip his commitment from Ohio State. A standout at Mater Dei in California, Dixon-Wyatt ranks No. 136 nationally, No. 18 among receivers, and No. 15 in the state. Despite his May pledge to the Buckeyes, USC coach Lincoln Riley and a cadre of committed Trojans—including five-star tight end Mark Bowman—are pressuring him to stay close to home. USC already boasts the top recruiting class of 2026, with 56 percent of pledges hailing from California. While Dixon-Wyatt remains steadfast in his Buckeyes decision, the Trojans’ history of developing NFL-caliber receivers and the promise of immediate chemistry with fellow Mater Dei peers could sway the final call before signing day.

At this point, USC’s recruiting strategy looks like a Hollywood sequel nobody asked for: “Die Hard 27: The Never-Ending Recruiting Cycle.” Instead of terrorists, Lincoln Riley is battling commitment letters, and his sidekicks are star-struck high schoolers begging their pal to turn blue and cardinal. Meanwhile, Dixon-Wyatt must dodge phone calls with the same finesse he uses on defenders—“Sorry, coach, I’ll have to get back to you after this season.” One can only imagine US Cell Phone Co. sending Riley a bill so massive it rivals college tuition. But hey, if a Trojan’s gotta poach a Buckeye, might as well do it in style—complete with dramatic slow-motion phone calls, emotional high school pep rallies, and maybe a cameo from the Trojan mascot chanting, “Flip or else!”