Spring football practice is approaching, and the USC Trojans are starting to invite high school recruits back to campus now that the recruiting dead period has ended. Esun Tafa, a four-star interior offensive lineman from Draper (Utah) Corner Canyon, made his first visit to Los Angeles on Monday.
“I loved everything about it,” Tafa shared with USC Trojans reporter Kendell Hollowell. “The campus is fantastic, the football facilities are impressive, and meeting all the coaches was great…the whole atmosphere was amazing.”
USC jumped into the recruitment process a bit late, offering Tafa just at the end of January. However, after he decommitted from Washington in early February, the Trojans quickly started gaining traction with the highly regarded offensive lineman from Utah. His visit this week allowed him to start building a solid relationship with coach Lincoln Riley and offensive line coach Zach Hanson.
“Coach Riley was really great,” Tafa remarked. “He made me and my family feel very welcome and at ease during our visit. He seems like a genuinely down-to-earth person, and I appreciate that. I’m really excited to develop our relationship further. I’m also looking forward to being part of the momentum they’re creating with coach Riley, his staff, and the team.”
While Tafa is considering offers from Utah, SMU, and Washington, he stated, “right now, USC is in the lead” for his recruitment. He has planned an official visit with the Trojans starting June 13 and intends to announce his commitment by July. He’ll also make a return visit for a game in the fall as he continues to get to know the campus and USC coaching staff.
Despite having grown up in Utah, Tafa has always felt a connection to Southern California due to strong family ties in both Orange County and Los Angeles.
“I love California. I used to tell my parents I was meant to be born there,” Tafa expressed. “My mom is from Tustin, Orange County, so we visit California frequently and have a lot of family there. USC has always been a favorite in our family. I do have an uncle who played football at UCLA, and my aunt played softball there as well; her team won back-to-back national championships, so there’s a bit of rivalry there.”
USC has a storied legacy of outstanding Polynesian athletes that spans several decades, featuring legends like Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau and safety Troy Polamalu, along with more recent stars such as receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu, and current starting quarterback Jayden Maiava and receiver Makai Lemon.
The Polynesian community has played a significant role in USC football, and Tafa recognizes that the opportunity to be part of this rich tradition is certainly exciting for him.
“It matters to me a lot,” Tafa shared. “Junior Seau, Fred Matua, Troy Polamalu, and many other Polynesian players have left significant legacies at USC. The 2026 class is incredibly talented, with a lot of elite Polynesian athletes from the west coast, many of whom are considering USC or will be heading there soon. It would be an amazing honor to be part of the next generation of outstanding Polynesian players at USC.”
USC currently has 11 commitments in their top-ranked recruiting class for the 2026 cycle, as indicated by 247Sports and Rivals, which includes seven four-star recruits. Tafa has been in touch with some members of the Trojans’ recruiting class, as they encourage him to join what could be USC’s highest-rated recruiting class in ten years.
“I haven’t met Chad (Bowden) yet, but from what I can see, he’s really putting a lot of effort into recruiting, and it’s definitely showing results so far,” Tafa remarked.
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