Ceyair Wright hears a strong pitch from USC QB commit Miller Moss

USC's 2021 class of defensive backs is nearly complete, but there is still a sizable hole remaining, and a clear target with which the Trojans hope to fill it. Four-star cornerback Ceyair Wright (Los Angeles/Loyola) is the nation's No. 71 overall prospect, the No. 3 defensive prospect in the state and now square in the crosshairs of USC quarterback commit Miller Moss (Mission Hills, Calif./Alemany).

Moss took his recruiting responsibilities up a level this past weekend, as the four-star quarterback organized a brunch with a few of USC's top remaining targets in the 2021 class--Wright, No. 1 overall prospect Korey Foreman (Corona, Calif./Centennial) and four-star tight end Michael Trigg (Tampa, Fla./Carrollwood Day).

Trigg is set to announce his commitment this coming Sunday, and the Trojans appear to be in very good position for him. Foreman and Wright, on the other hand, still likely have months remaining in their recruitments.

Wright said he is in no hurry to narrow down his final list at this point, and guessed that he had somewhere around 8-10 schools that he is still seriously considering. He very much understands what a priority he is to USC, and said he appreciated the time he was able to spend with Moss over the weekend.

He said the event came together following a text from Moss, who told Wright he was looking to put an event together with some of USC's top remaining recruiting targets and prospects he want to join him in the Trojans' class.

With the NCAA dead period extended through at least January 1, 2021, committed recruits have had to take a lead when it comes to in-person recruiting. Oklahoma quarterback commit Caleb Williams (Washington D.C./Gonzaga College) helped organize a big visit for the Sooners, while Foreman has been to LSU twice and Georgia once along with other top targets of each program. Recruits aren't able to interact with coaches, but the idea is to get an idea of the school and the other recruits in the class.

The recruits went to brunch in Malibu and Wright was able to develop a deeper connection with Moss. Wright said he'd spoken to Moss and Foreman before, but not in this way.

"I'd never had longer conversations with them," Wright said. "Miller is a great guy. I didn't know him that well, so I got to know him a lot better. I have nothing but praise for him."

Wright isn't looking to make a commitment any time soon. He's now planning to take more visits and see some of the out-of-state schools that are recruiting him. Over the next few months, he's hopeful to see Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State and Utah. Arizona State and Oregon are a couple Pac-12 schools in pursuit. The Nittany Lions have turned up the heat recently, and Wright is listening. Wright said he doesn't exactly have a checklist for what he's looking to get out of those visits, but said seeing the areas that surround the campus will be important.

Wright said he feels a little pressure to start cutting his list down, because so many people have asked him about it. But ultimately he's in no hurry to make a commitment. He isn't able to enroll early and is unsure still if he will sign during the early signing period.

But USC coaches--led by cornerbacks coach Donte Williams--have the Trojans in a good spot for Wright. USC has three cornerback commits in this class, recently picking up its third in former Notre Dame commit Philip Riley (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale). But Wright is still a priority target to finish the class. He said USC coaches have been open with him prior to the defensive back commitments, letting him know he's still on the board and no commitments have affected their pursuit of him.

"We've had all those conversations," Wright said. "They've told me the number of people and whether a commitment affects my status. I know I'm somebody they want."

Williams and the USC coaches have made that clear to Wright during the process, and now Moss has done so as well.

"You could say it worked," Wright said when asked what affect Moss' recruiting meeting might have had. "Miller's intention was to have a good day, talk to us and let us know what USC is about."