DT Kobe Pepe Commits to USC
The USC Trojans have gone big on the recruiting trail over the past week, both in the numbers of offers handed out, as well as the size of the prospects they've seen commit to them.
After grabbing verbal pledges from offensive tackle Joey Wright (Reno, Nev./Bishop Manogue) and two-way lineman Kyle Juergens (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./St. Margaret's) last week, the Trojans received a commitment from defensive tackle Kobe Pepe (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) on Friday morning.
Pepe was a standout at USC's elite camp on Wednesday, walking away with an offer from the Trojans. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound lineman had 68 tackles and a sack for the Braves last season, and has been impressive at events throughout the spring.
He possesses surprising athleticism and quickness for a player of his size and could be a prospect who fits at several spots along the USC defensive line.
After signing just three defensive linemen in each of the past two classes, the Trojans will need a better showing in the trenches with the 2020 class, and Pepe adds to the solid start over the past week.
Pepe holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, and Washington State, and is the kind of solid, productive, local recruit that has been heading elsewhere in the Pac-12 in the 2019 and 2020 classes.
USC now holds commitments from seven prospects in the 2020 class, including quarterback Bryce Young (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei), wide receiver Josh Jackson (Harbor City, Calif./Narbonne), tight end Jack Yary (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley), and kicker Parker Lewis (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro), in addition to the three linemen.
