Ohio State Loses Top Defensive End Target Luke Wafle to USC After Trojans Reportedly Make Last-Minute Lucrative NIL Offer

The race for elite defensive end prospect Luke Wafle has officially ended—and not in the way Ohio State had hoped. On Friday, the four-star recruit out of Rumson, New Jersey, stunned the Buckeyes and several other high-profile programs by announcing his commitment to USC. The Trojans, who had been seen as a longshot for Wafle until recently, reportedly made a substantial last-minute Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) offer that turned the tide and sealed the deal.

Wafle’s decision reverberated across the college football recruiting world, particularly in Columbus, where Buckeyes fans and coaches alike had considered the talented edge rusher a near-lock for Ohio State’s 2025 class. Instead, USC continues to make a strong statement that it will not be outbid or overlooked in the national recruiting arena, particularly under head coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans’ increasingly aggressive NIL operation.

For Ohio State, this is a tough pill to swallow. The Buckeyes had built a long-standing relationship with Wafle, who had visited the campus multiple times and maintained close contact with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Wafle praised the Buckeyes’ player development, their consistent production of NFL talent, and the culture inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. By most accounts, Ohio State had done everything right in this recruitment—except close the deal.

But in the new era of NIL-driven recruiting, doing things “the right way” often comes with no guarantees. According to several recruiting insiders, USC entered the picture late with an eye-catching NIL package. Details remain unconfirmed, but multiple sources close to the situation suggested that the Trojans’ offer included a guaranteed seven-figure deal tied to brand sponsorships, performance-based incentives, and a Los Angeles media partnership that would give Wafle immediate exposure on the West Coast.

It was a bold move by USC, and one that paid off.

Wafle, who ranks among the top 15 edge rushers in the 2025 recruiting cycle and is widely regarded for his athleticism, strength, and motor, now becomes a key defensive centerpiece for a USC program that’s been trying to shed its reputation for offensive imbalance. Lincoln Riley’s teams have been potent on offense since his days at Oklahoma, but the knock has always been on his defenses, particularly their ability to generate pressure and stop the run.

By landing Wafle, the Trojans not only shore up a position of need, but also send a loud and clear message: USC is willing to spend and compete at the highest level to return to national prominence, especially with the transition to the Big Ten looming.

Wafle, for his part, kept things classy in his announcement. He thanked Ohio State and other programs that recruited him, including Michigan, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Penn State, and expressed appreciation for the relationships he built throughout the process. He said USC gave him “a vision for my future that aligns with my goals both on and off the field,” and emphasized the opportunity to build a brand in Los Angeles.

While Wafle didn’t reference NIL directly in his statement, the implications were obvious. In the modern landscape of college football recruiting, NIL is not just a footnote—it’s often a deciding factor.

Ohio State has been competitive in the NIL space, particularly through its internal collective infrastructure, but sources indicate that the program has intentionally avoided the “arms race” of overbidding for high school talent. The Buckeyes emphasize development, culture, and on-field opportunity. But that strategy, while noble, increasingly leaves them vulnerable to last-minute flips when top programs arrive at the eleventh hour with financial packages that are too good to turn down.

It’s a trend that Ohio State fans are growing familiar with. Just last cycle, the Buckeyes lost another high-profile target in defensive back Peyton Woodyard to Alabama, in a decision also believed to be swayed by NIL considerations. Now, with Wafle’s decision, questions are again being raised about whether Ohio State is adapting quickly enough to this new reality.

For head coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the loss of Wafle leaves a noticeable hole in their 2025 recruiting class, particularly along the defensive front. While the Buckeyes are still in the running for several elite edge rushers, including five-star Elijah Griffin and rising four-star prospect Zahir Mathis, losing a player they invested in so heavily so late in the process will sting.

Larry Johnson, widely considered one of the best defensive line coaches in college football, is also facing mounting pressure in this NIL environment. For years, his reputation alone was enough to bring in blue-chip linemen from around the country. His résumé includes the development of Chase Young, the Bosa brothers, and a host of NFL standouts. But as NIL dollars now rival development and scheme as primary motivators for recruits, even coaches with elite pedigrees must adjust.

That said, Ohio State isn’t waving the white flag. The Buckeyes will regroup quickly. This staff has proven time and again that it can pivot, recalibrate, and still land elite talent. The 2025 cycle is far from over, and the Buckeyes continue to lead or remain in contention for several top defenders across the board.

But Wafle’s commitment to USC is a jolt—a reminder that in today’s game, programs must bring not only tradition, vision, and coaching excellence to the table but also an aggressive and organized NIL strategy.

For USC, this is a crowning moment in what’s already shaping up to be a strong 2025 class. The Trojans are flexing their financial and geographical advantages more than ever before. With NIL as a powerful recruiting tool, Los Angeles is now not only the entertainment capital of the world—but perhaps a rising mecca for football recruiting too.

Lincoln Riley and his staff have clearly bought in. They’ve leaned into NIL and embraced a new recruiting formula: combine Southern California’s lifestyle and media exposure with top-tier athletic facilities, and back it all with strong collectives ready to capitalize on the moment.

For Wafle, the opportunity to be a brand in L.A., while playing for a high-profile Power Five school headed to the Big Ten, was simply too compelling to pass up. And for USC, landing a player of his caliber on defense could be a game-changer.

Meanwhile, the story in Columbus becomes one of adjustment and resilience. Ohio State’s 2025 class remains strong and loaded with talent. But the Buckeyes will now need to evaluate how they position themselves in future high-profile battles. The NIL conversation is no longer peripheral—it is central.

Recruiting in 2025 and beyond will continue to reward schools that are not just persistent and persuasive, but also bold and strategic in the NIL space. Wafle’s commitment is one more case study in a rapidly evolving game.

As the Buckeyes recalibrate their approach and focus on the next wave of talent, one thing remains certain: the line between winning and losing in recruiting is thinner than ever—and more expensive than ever.