USC Trojans and Lincoln Riley hit a snag in the recruiting trail after a terrible season in South California. The #FireLincolnRiley hashtag continues, and it’s not just about his inability to win big games or make clutch decisions. Fans are also criticizing his recruiting efforts, particularly his struggles to land top talent from the transfer portal. The NIL-dominated era triggers a high competitive edge among many schools as they continue to outdo each other in terms of a quality roster. Things become even more challenging with the free flow of talents from one school to the other. However, in the 2026 recruiting class, Riley doesn’t look that bad, clinching a second rank in the nation.

One of the high-rated names on their 2026 defensive roster is Xavier Griffin, who committed to the Trojans back in July 2024 and stayed firm in his words ever since. But that doesn’t mean Riley has the luxury to go easy on him.

Lincoln Riley receives an early warning on retaining Xavier Griffin

With the sneaky inclusion of money, the recruiting picture isn’t the same as before. It becomes a much more tricky game altogether. Schools need to be on their toes to snatch a commitment toppling the lurking competitors and have to keep a wide-awake eye on retaining the commits at the same time. It’s not easy, but with two underwhelming seasons (8-5 in 2023, 7-6 in 2024) under the belt, you can’t afford to keep missing opportunities.

Griffin has been a multifaceted defender who can play linebacker and also rush the passer. He’s great against both the run and the pass, making him a hot commodity among SEC and Big Ten powerhouses. Some of them made serious moves, paying a visit to him in an attempt to pitch. The list includes Florida State, Ohio State, and Clemson.

So, a slight wrong move can cost Riley his solid grasp of the top college football prospect. ”We all remember what happened with Justus Terry and Isaiah Gibson 12 months ago, you know they committed to USC in the spring, but then they didn’t make it back on the campus. And look, when you are talking about a five-star guy in the state of Georgia, Kirby Smart, Hugh Freeze, Kalen DeBoer, they are going to be in contact with Xavier Griffin up until he signs up his papers,” ROC Boys football host sets an alarm for Riley and the team.

Well, Riley should clearly try to avoid a repeat of past recruiting woes. As the host puts it, “The biggest problem with Justus Terry and Isaiah Gibson [was that] they never made it back to USC. They committed to USC on their visit, never made it back, and eventually ended up de-committing.” And just a week ago, Griffin took a junior day visit to see Mike Norvell and the Seminoles.

But he is also up for a junior day visit at USC, and Riley can’t miss the chance to make it a sealed deal. He was in attendance at the Coliseum twice in the fall, on September 7th against Utah State and on November 16 against Nebraska. But for now, ”Getting Xavier Griffin on campus really really big, continuing to make sure you are protecting that commitment is a really big deal,” as per the insider.

Well, despite all the risk factors involved, Griffin himself is making it a chill deal for Riley.

Is Xavier Griffin still heavily inclined toward the Trojans?

Xavier Griffin is keeping his options open. Over the weekend, he took a visit to Florida State, marking his first trip to Tallahassee since pledging to the Trojans last summer. And that’s not all—he’s also scheduled to check out Tennessee in the coming days. As Griffin himself put it, “I’m in constant communication with both coaching staffs (Florida State and Tennessee), so it speaks a lot that regardless of being locked in (with USC) they are still building that organic relationship with me and my mom.”

Now, before you jump to conclusions, Griffin maintains he’s still committed to what Lincoln Riley is building at USC. “The biggest things that keep me committed to USC are the great coaches, the development, the fan base, and LA,” he explained. He’s even raved about his visits to USC, saying, “My visits were good as always. This trip was more exciting because I finally got to see USC play in person and see that great defense. The defensive coaching staff is insane. So excited to see all they will do next season.” And if you think his enthusiasm might have waned, a quick glance at his social media will tell you otherwise.

Griffin recently posted a thank you message to the visiting coaches from other schools, and he did it while decked out in USC Trojans gear. It’s a subtle but clear message to Riley: I’m still here, but everyone’s watching.

Well, who wouldn’t want him? In just eight games during his junior year, Griffin racked up a staggering 43 tackles and six sacks. It’s no wonder other schools are still trying to woo him—any team desperate for a winning season would kill to have him.

The fact that Griffin is still taking visits isn’t necessarily a red flag. Recruiting is a long and winding road, and it’s not uncommon for top prospects to explore multiple schools even after committing. For now, however, Griffin’s recruitment saga is on the minute watch, with Lincoln Riley holding the torch.