USC fired Alex Grinch now, not at the end of the season, to minimize recruiting damage
The USC Trojans’ football weekend ended with a bang. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was fired Sunday afternoon. Shortly thereafter, the Trojans landed one of the prize commits on defense in the 2026 class.
USC pulled in 5-11, 150-pound prospect Madden Riordan, who called USC his “dream school” in an interview with SB Live. Riordan passed up offers from Arizona, Cal, Colorado, Arkansas State, Miami, and Colorado State, UNLV, and San Diego State.
Riordan is one of the top young defensive backs out West. He will be a four-year starter for one of the state’s top high school programs. He can play anywhere in the secondary and has lined up at corner, nickel, and safety. He plays running back and quarterback on offense.
Riordan is the fourth commitment for USC for the Class of 2026. The Trojans boast the No. 1 overall class for 2026 according to the 247Sports composite. The Trojans already have the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 1 quarterback from the Class of 2026, led by Julian “JuJu” Lewis.
It’s very clear why USC fired Alex Grinch now, and not after the end of the regular season on November 18. The Trojans wanted to minimize recruiting damage. They immediately gained positive results. One wonders how many more recruits might turn to USC now that Grinch is gone.
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