Following the success of running back Waymond Jordan this season (prior to his injury, at least), Lincoln Riley and USC football have been looking to expand their presence in the junior college ranks in the 2026 recruiting class. On Monday, the Trojans picked up their second JUCO commit of the month in top tight end Josiah Jefferson.
Jefferson comes to USC from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 8 overall JUCO player and the No. 1 JUCO tight end in the class of 2026.
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Prior to this week, Jefferson was committed to former Pac-12 foe Utah. On Monday, however, he flipped his commitment to the Trojans, giving Lincoln Riley and company a recruiting victory over the Utes.
Flipping Jefferson will certainly not make up for USC’s three heartbreaking losses to Utah under Riley in 2022 and 2023. However, to quote Kevin Malone in The Office, “It’s just nice to win one.”
While USC has had some brutal losses under Riley, the program’s focus is not on the past, but on building for the future. With the top-ranked recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, the Trojans have the opportunity to do just that.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Top JUCO tight end Josiah Jefferson flips from Utah to USC football
