
USC edge Simote Katoanga brings big-frame upside, national top-100 pedigree, and instant trench juice
In the 2026 cycle, Simote Katoanga arrived at USC as a four-star defensive end/edge prospect with elite size and a strong national profile, including rankings as high as No. 93 overall by ESPN and No. 95 by On3; other services place him in the top 200, with consensus value as a high-end pass-rush talent. He’s a 6-foot-5, 250-pound local recruit who enrolled early in 2026, which usually signals maturity and urgency. The appeal is obvious: length, power, and upside off the edge. For a team, he looks like a fit if you want a developmental, high-ceiling defensive end with real Big Ten body type.





