Gibbs' commitment sends USC social media into celebration mode again
The USC Trojan coaches have been hitting the recruiting trail hard leading up to this dead period as well as through it, and for the second time this week, they were rewarded with a commitment from an important local prospect. And also for the second time this week, coaches and recruiting staffers took to social media to celebrate.
The commitment of offensive lineman Maximus Gibbs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) gives the Trojans another massive big man – he checks in at 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds – as well as a recruiting win over some big time schools – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Oregon had all offered – and the commitment of a well-known local prospect who can move the needle with other recruits.
As is becoming customary, head coach Clay Helton sounded the commitment alarm with Traveler’s entrance.
USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell is a big fan of quarterbacks and wide receivers, but he’s said many times that everything about his offense starts up front with big men.
Gibbs is the second offensive lineman to commit to USC in this class, joining fellow three-star Mason Murphy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./JSerra). USC Director of Scouting Trey Johnson might not have been able to capture offensive line coach Tim Drevno celebrating on camera, but he gives a close approximation to how Drevno might be feeling after the commitment.
Tight ends coach John David Baker gave it a shot as well.
But how did Drevno actually respond?
USC running backs coach Mike Jinks landed a big-time prospect of his own recently in tailback Brandon Campbell (Katy, Texas/Katy), and he knows that his group can only be as good as what USC’s big men provide for them. Jinks also dropped the #TakeBackTheWest hashtag that USC coaches and staffers have used to show recruits in this region where they rank in the recruiting pecking order for the Trojans.
Defensive coaches haven’t been shy about getting on the celebration either, as both Todd Orlando and Craig Naivar have brought a strong USC social media presence with them from Texas.
Fellow defensive coach Donte Williams has been an active recruiter and is one of the keys to USC’s resurgence on the recruiting trail.
USC Director of Player Development Gavin Morris and USC Director of High School Relations Armond Hawkins Jr. threw in a nod to rapper Snoop Dogg, as Gibbs is a former player in Snoop Dogg’s youth league.
Former high school teammate and current Trojan Randal Goforth reached out with his congratulations.
And several fellow commitments commented as well. Four-star running back Brandon Campbell has become the most publicly outspoken recruiting leader for this 2021 recruiting class, as he and his father haven’t been shy about working to put together the best class possible.
And fellow offensive lineman Mason Murphy offered a warm welcome as well.
