Recruiting Battle Between Oregon and USC Intensifies Over Four-Star DL Tomuhini Topui
With the Early Signing Period fast approaching, the Oregon Ducks are making a late push to bolster their 2026 recruiting class — and one of their top priorities is flipping four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui away from the USC Trojans.
Topui, a standout from Mater Dei High School, was originally committed to Oregon for five months before decommitting in March and pledging to USC. Now, just weeks before signing day, the Ducks are working hard to bring him back to Eugene.
Oregon’s Final Recruiting Push
According to Adam Gorney of Rivals, Oregon is going all in on Topui as they try to sway him from the Trojans.
“Even though he flipped from Oregon to USC earlier in the year, the Ducks continue to recruit him hard,” Gorney said. “It would still be surprising if he changed his mind again — USC is close to home, and that proximity played a big role in his decision the first time.”
Ranked as the No. 9 defensive lineman and No. 78 overall prospect in the nation by 247Sports, Topui has been one of the most coveted players on the West Coast. Before committing to USC, he held 28 scholarship offers from top programs across the country.
Why Oregon Still Has a Shot
While Oregon can’t match USC’s hometown advantage, the Ducks offer something equally appealing — NFL development and proven defensive success. Under head coach Dan Lanning, Oregon has become a pipeline for elite defensive linemen.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, three Oregon defensive linemen were selected, highlighted by Derrick Harmon, who went No. 21 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This year, A’Mauri Washington is emerging as the next potential first-round pick from Lanning’s defense, further reinforcing Oregon’s track record of preparing linemen for the pros.
With less than a month before the Early Signing Period, Oregon’s pursuit of Topui is one of the most intriguing storylines on the West Coast recruiting trail. The question remains: Can the Ducks pull off another flip — this time back from USC?
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