USC recruiting roundup
With the recruiting momentum USC coaches have been able to develop since March, it feels like a slow week when the Trojans don't add multiple commitments. But there has been plenty of recruiting news since our last check in, as new offers have been extended, top lists by top targets have been announced, and several future and potential future Trojans have shown out at various camps.
Kingsley's Top Seven
No. 1 overall prospect Korey Foreman (Corona, Calif./Centennial) is clearly the top uncommitted target left for USC in the 2021 class. But offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia (Orem, Utah/Orem) isn't far behind, and is the top target on the offensive side.
Suamataia announced his top seven schools over the weekend and USC made the list. Oregon is the clear leader for Suamataia at this point, but USC isn't going to give up on him. The Trojans have a good start to their offensive line class in a very underrated Mason Murphy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./JSerra) as well as three-star prospects Saia Mapakaitolo (Mission Hills, Calif./Alemany) and Maximus Gibbs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco), but it's not realistic to call Suamataia the cherry on top. He would be far more substantive than that.
If USC can grab Suamataia, it makes this offensive line class a great haul, as he's the clear top prospect in the West region. In addition to that, it halts some of the momentum Oregon is building both in recruiting overall and specifically recruiting the offensive line. The Ducks already hold commitments from USC targets in Bram Walden (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) and Jonah Miller (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro).
The idea of playing with his cousin Penei Sewell at Oregon is something that Suamataia has discussed, though it's tough to believe Sewell will stick around for another year when he could be a top-5 selection in the next NFL Draft. If that's the case, both Oregon and USC could pitch potential early playing time, as USC could have its own first-round selection in Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is likely to play left tackle for the Trojans this fall and then leave early, provided a strong showing.
After signing six offensive linemen in the 2020 class and set to bring back a lot of this offensive line again for the 2021 season, there is no panic when it comes to recruiting the offensive line for immediate production. But the Trojans haven't been able to land major West region targets along the line with enough regularity over the past several classes, making the pursuit of Suamataia an interesting one to watch.
New Offers Extended
Class of 2023 offensive tackle Clay Wedin (Tampa, Fla./Carrollwood Day) grabbed a USC offer. That was part a mini run for the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder, as Georgia offered just before the Trojans, and Alabama and Ohio State offered shortly after USC.
USC also extended an offer to 2023 running back Treyaun Webb (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy). The 6-foot, 188-pound athlete has made an early commitment to Georgia, but will likely be one of the most sought-after backs in his class.
Lakeland (Fla.) High School should have a pretty strong defensive line this season, and USC coach Vic So'oto will be watching. USC extended offers to 2022 teammates, in defensive end Keahnist Thompson and defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy. Both have very strong offer lists already, though Thompson is regarded as a three-star prospect and Brownlow-Dindy is a five-star, top-30 prospect in the nation.
Fields Headed Elsewhere
Grad transfer linebacker Tony Fields II picked up an offer from USC shortly after announcing his intention to transfer. He released his top three schools and did not include USC.
Minnesota, Texas and West Virginia made the cut for Fields.
While he would have brought plenty of experience as a linebacker and as a Pac-12 veteran to the Trojans, USC appears to be pretty set at inside linebacker, with a group ready for playing time that includes Jordan Iosefa, Palaie Gaoteote, Kana'i Mauga, Solomon Tuliaupupu, Ralen Goforth, Eli'jah Winston, Maninoa Tufono and Tuasivi Nomura.
Brandon Campbell Checks In
Under The Radar has put together a few highlight videos, checking in with various prospect this offseason. This week, they had one with USC running back commit Brandon Campbell.
Quarterback Watch
A few quarterbacks with USC connections were on display this week as well.
Class of 2021 commitment Jake Garcia (La Habra, Calif./La Habra) took part in the QB Collective event held in Indianapolis.
Garcia is one of the committed prospects to keep an eye on in this class, as Miami continues to make him a priority, does not have a quarterback committed in 2021, and is putting together a top-1o class that would surround Garcia with talent.
Several of USC's future quarterback targets were in attendance at the event as well, including 2022's Maalik Murphy (Gardena, Calif./Serra) and 2023 Malachi Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos).
Nelson could eventually be in the running for the top quarterback in his class, as well as potentially a top five or ten overall prospect.
Under The Radar also took a look at another of USC's 2022 quarterback prospects, Inglewood's Justyn Martin.
Trojans Make Top 10 for 2022 Defensive Back
USC is going after top 2022 defensive backs in a big way, as the Trojans have offered 11 of the uncommitted cornerbacks within the top 20 prospects at the position. One of those is No. 18 cornerback and No. 150 overall prospect Isaac Thompson (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University).
Thompson released his top-10 schools last week and USC made the cut.
