Four-star defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui, who previously committed to the Oregon Ducks after visiting Eugene last fall, has decided to decommit and reopen his recruitment. Oregon’s coach, Dan Lanning, and his staff are expected to continue pursuing Topui.

Topui announced on Tuesday that he has decommitted from Oregon, with the USC Trojans emerging as the clear favorites to secure his commitment.

Although Topui has yet to flip his commitment to USC, he could become the second recruit in the 2026 cycle to switch from Oregon to the Trojans. Four-star quarterback Jonas Williams also committed to Oregon before deciding to join USC under coach Lincoln Riley.

Ranked as the No. 100 overall recruit, the No. 13 defensive lineman, and the No. 15 prospect in California by 247Sports, Topui is a standout at Mater Dei High School in Southern California, a renowned program that also counts five-star offensive lineman Kodi Greene (an Oregon commit) among its students. Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., who is committed to Ohio State, also plays at Mater Dei.

Though Oregon has had success recruiting from Mater Dei in recent years, it seems USC is putting significant effort into keeping top Southern California prospects in-state.

USC’s newly appointed general manager, Chad Bowden, recently spoke about the strength of California’s 2026 recruiting class, calling it the best the state has seen in two decades. He highlighted the potential depth, particularly among the top 30-40 recruits.

Bowden’s addition to USC has already provided a boost to the Trojans’ recruiting efforts, with a focus on keeping top talent within California. Given that Topui is one of the top defensive line prospects on the West Coast, it’s no surprise that USC is prioritizing him. Both USC and Oregon are considered strong contenders when it comes to name, image, and likeness opportunities, and Topui may simply be interested in staying closer to home.

Bowden emphasized his commitment to restoring USC to its former glory, particularly by prioritizing success in California: “History repeats itself. It always does, and if you look into the fine details of how programs are built and how the place is built and when success has happened, that was a key part of USC being at the top. My plan and my vision is to bring that back and to take care of this state. The state deserves it.”