5-star 2026 prospect Brandon Arrington Jr. shares 3-word reaction as USC head coach Lincoln Riley drops in for a visit 

USC’s head coach, Lincoln Riley, visited Mount Miguel High School (CA) on Monday to meet Brandon Arrington Jr., a five-star athlete and the No. 1 player in his position for the 2026 class.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Arrington also ranks as the No. 8 overall prospect. Following Riley’s visit, the dynamic recruit shared his excitement on Instagram, posting a story with the caption:

“5 of em.”

Credits: @brandon2jubie Instagram

The Trojans are heavily prioritizing elite Southern California talent for the 2026 cycle and are in fierce competition with Texas A&M and Oregon to secure Arrington’s commitment.

Despite Texas A&M’s strong position following Arrington’s multiple visits to College Station in the fall, USC remains a serious contender due to their consistent presence at his high school in recent months.

Brandon Arrington Jr., who first experienced a USC game day on Nov. 16 when the Trojans defeated Nebraska 28-20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, was highly impressed.

“The environment out there was fun to see,” Arrington shared with On3. “The first school I’ve seen out there with a DJ playing music what continues to excite me about my opportunity with the Trojan is that I see the love.”

The young athlete also expressed his admiration for USC’s legacy.

“Growing up, I just liked USC,” Arrington told On3. “I’ve seen their history. I went to Helix and Reggie Bush went to Helix, so I looked up to Reggie Bush. I looked up to Adoree Jackson. I looked up to all those guys. I used to watch them a lot, so they’ve influenced me to always want to go to USC.”

USC has already secured two Southern California four-star commitments: RJ Sermons, the No. 2 cornerback, and Brandon Lockhart, the No. 5 cornerback, strengthening their recruiting class as they vie for Arrington’s pledge.

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USC Faces stiff competition in recruiting 5-star athlete Brandon Arrington Jr.

Brandon Arrington Jr. has already made multiple visits to USC, including his first game-day experience in November. Arrington watched the Trojans defeat Nebraska and left impressed by the program.

“I had a great experience at USC,” Arrington told On3. “It was a great game and I had a great time with the players and the coaches. The atmosphere was fun. The band, the people, the DJ’s – everything was fun.”

Despite USC’s efforts, Texas A&M remains the favorite, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). USC, which holds the No. 2 recruiting class for 2026 per On3, has seven commitments.

Brandon Arrington Jr. had a productive junior season, recording 527 receiving yards, five touchdowns and an interception, while also excelling on special teams with 309 kick-return yards.