Oregon Running Back Chooses USC Over Other Offers
EUGENE, Ore. – In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the Pacific Northwest recruiting landscape, five-star running back Jordan “J.T.” Thomas of Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon, has verbally committed to the University of Southern California, turning down his home-state Oregon Ducks along with a finalist list that included Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas A&M.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior, ranked as the No. 1 running back and No. 12 overall prospect in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite, announced his decision Wednesday evening on Instagram Live from the Southridge field house, surrounded by family, coaches, and a small group of teammates. Wearing a black USC cap he pulled from beneath the table, Thomas smiled wide and said simply, “Fight On. I’m going home. USC is where I belong.”
The commitment is being described by multiple recruiting analysts as the biggest recruiting loss for Dan Lanning and the Oregon staff since the modern era of Autzen Stadium renovations began, and perhaps the most painful in-state defection since the Ducks lost Haloti Ngata to Maryland in 2002 (Ngata later transferred back to Oregon). Thomas grew up less than ten miles from the Oregon campus, attended countless Ducks games as a child, and had been considered a heavy Oregon lean for nearly two years.
Sources close to the recruitment told reporters that Thomas informed Lanning and running backs coach Carlos Locklear of his decision Tuesday night in a face-to-face meeting at Southridge. One source described Lanning as “visibly shaken” after the conversation, while another said the Oregon head coach told Thomas, “We love you, and the door will always be open if things change.” Thomas reportedly hugged both coaches and thanked them for “believing in me when nobody else did.”
So how did Lincoln Riley and the Trojans pull off what many are already calling the steal of the 2026 cycle?
Multiple factors appear to have tipped the scales in USC’s favor during the final 72 hours.
First, relationships. USC running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr., a former Oregon high school standout himself at West Linn, has recruited Thomas since his freshman year. Jones spent significant time in the Thomas home over the last 18 months and was the only position coach from any school who attended every Southridge game this season, home and away. Thomas’s mother, LaToya, told reporters after the announcement, “Coach AJ treats Jordan like his own son. That mattered more than any facility or NIL number.”
Second, the vision Riley sold. During Thomas’s official visit to Los Angeles the weekend of November 8-10, Riley and offensive coordinator Josh Henson laid out a detailed plan showing how Thomas would fit into USC’s new up-tempo, inside-zone-heavy scheme that Henson is installing after arriving from Purdue. Sources say the Trojans showed Thomas edited film of himself superimposed over past USC greats Ronald Jones II and Reggie Bush, with side-by-side cut-ups demonstrating identical footwork and burst. One recruiter who saw the presentation called it “the best edit job I’ve ever seen in recruiting.”
Third, NIL clarity. While exact figures remain private, industry sources with knowledge of the deals say USC’s collective, House of Victory, presented a guaranteed two-year package north of seven figures that significantly outpaced Oregon’s best offer. The structure reportedly includes heavy upfront money and performance incentives tied to rushing yards, accolades, and social media growth—areas where Thomas’s 1.8 million TikTok followers give him immediate leverage. One source familiar with both collectives said Oregon’s offer, while “extremely competitive,” was “heavier on deferred payments and academic bonuses” that did not move the needle as much for the Thomas family.
Finally, the cultural pull of Los Angeles. Thomas, who has trained with Snoop Dogg’s SYFL program since age eight and counts Drake London and JuJu Smith-Schuster among his offseason workout partners, has never hidden his affinity for the USC brand. During his commitment stream, he referenced “growing up watching Reggie in that Cardinal and Gold on the big stage” and said he wants to “bring that vibe back to the Coliseum.”
The loss stings in Eugene for reasons beyond just talent. Thomas rushed for 2,431 yards and 38 touchdowns this fall while leading Southridge to the Oregon 6A state title game. He is the highest-rated Oregon high school running back ever ranked by 247Sports, eclipsing the previous mark held by 2019 five-star Sean Dollars (who ultimately signed with Oregon but transferred out). Losing him to a conference rival—especially one the Ducks face October 31, 2026, in the Coliseum—adds a layer of long-term pain.
Lanning addressed the commitment briefly after Wednesday’s practice. “J.T. is an unbelievable player and an even better young man,” Lanning said. “We recruited him the right way, we loved him hard, and we wish him nothing but the best unless he’s wearing a different uniform against us. Then we’ll try to tackle him low.” The Oregon head coach then smiled and added, “Recruiting’s not over. We’ll keep swinging.”
USC’s 2026 class, already ranked No. 3 nationally, vaults to No. 1 with Thomas’s pledge. The Trojans now have four five-star commitments, including Thomas, quarterback Faizon Brandon (No. 2 overall), defensive end Zahir Mathis, and Louisiana wide receiver Calvin Russell. Riley, speaking on his weekly radio show Wednesday night, called Thomas “the most explosive back I’ve recruited since I got to USC” and promised fans “you’re going to see 34 in the Coliseum doing things that make you remember why you fell in love with this place.”
For Thomas, the journey now shifts south. He plans to enroll early at USC in January 2026 and will graduate high school in December. When asked on the live stream if there was any chance he flips back to Oregon, Thomas laughed and said, “Nah, I’m locked in. This is home now. Fight On forever.”
In Eugene, the search for the next great Oregon running back begins again. In Los Angeles, the Lincoln Riley rebuild just added its cornerstone.