Three-Point Stance: Jahkeem Stewart, Gatlin Bair, USC's defense

In this edition of the Three-Point Stance, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney talks about seeing standout 2026 defensive end Jahkeem Stewart again, the ranking of four-star speedster Gatlin Bair and whether USC has an issue with recruiting local defensive players as it works toward a run to the College Football Playoff:

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Jahkeem Stewart took an unofficial visit to USC over the weekend and then decided to stay around for the Under Armour Los Angeles Camp on Sunday. His name wasn’t on the official roster because he was a surprise late add but the 2026 defensive end was more than welcome at Mission Viejo, Calif.

Some media members didn’t immediately recognize him, surprised he would be at a camp in California. Once they figured it out, they watched the New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine standout completely dominate the camp – just as Stewart did last offseason at the Rivals Camp Series in New Orleans. The 2026 prospect, who’s already 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, was unstoppable against much older competition.

It doesn’t even seem to matter that Stewart is still a freshman in high school. He’s so incredibly advanced for his age that an argument could be made for him to be a five-star – in this recruiting class. Seriously, if Stewart reclassified twice to the 2024 group, he would probably be a five-star and could push to be one of the best defensive ends in the class.

Not only is Stewart impressive in 1-on-1s but he’s trimmed up and lost some baby fat. And he’s more focused than ever. He has that unteachable killer instinct to not only win but want to show he can dominate. It’s why Georgia has made such a big impression on him and why LSU is trying so hard to keep him home.

Not many come along like Stewart, especially so advanced at such a young age. Recruiting is already so busy and he still has years to go.

Part of the reason why Nyckoles Harbor ended up as a five-star prospect last recruiting cycle was because he was a talented football player but also because of his world-class speed on the track. He’s best at the 200-meter-race indoors and while Harbor is still coming together as a football player – probably to play tight end in college – his dominating track times did play a significant factor.

And Gatlin Bair just beat him in the 100-meters in Texas. Bair ran 10.18 to post a blazing time in the race after hoping to be in the 10.2-range heading into the event. It was an incredibly impressive – and eye-opening – time.

If Harbor was a five-star because of his outstanding track times and Bair just beat him, what should we do about Bair’s ranking?

It’s going to be a question that’s debated for a long while during our next rankings meetings because an argument could be made that the Burley, Idaho, four-star receiver is already a better, or let’s say, more natural, football player.

In his junior season, and maybe it was against a few guys that looked like Napoleon Dynamite in Idaho but still, Bair finished with 73 receptions for 1,073 yards and 18 touchdowns. And now he’s proven to be literally one of the best athletes to ever come out of that state.

Bair will absolutely be moving up in the rankings. How much is yet to be determined.

Related: Four-star Idaho native WR Gatlin Bair discusses big rise in his recruitment

USC has everything in place for a run at the national title – on the offensive side of the ball. From coach Lincoln Riley to Heisman-winning QB Caleb Williams on down, the Trojans’ offense has very few issues. They continue to load up with elite talent like five-star tight end Duce Robinson to round out the 2023 class a few days ago.

But that’s not the issue here. USC’s defense was woeful during long stretches last season, so much so that there was at least discussion by fans and the media that defensive coordinator Alex Grinch had to go. That did not happen and now one wonders if it’s impacting recruiting in the 2024 class.

After talking to numerous people about this, some parents of recruits, some 7-on-7 coaches, there is a distinct feeling that some elite local defensive players would love to go to USC but they’re concerned about the direction on that side of the ball especially after last season. Many of them saw in person or at least on television the Trojans give up 43 and 47 to Utah, 37 to Arizona, 45 to UCLA and most egregiously 46 points in a Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane.

USC has reshuffled some things to get a fresh start with the 2024 class but so far five-star safety Peyton Woodyard is committed to Georgia. While the Trojans are battling for other top in-state prospects such as Zabien Brown, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Marcelles Williams and others, there is some concern with that side of the ball not showing the same strides as the offense.

USC is rolling and can score at pretty much any time. But does it matter if the Trojans can’t stop anybody?

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