USC Recruiting Roundup: Several new 2022 targets
Over the past few days, USC joined the recruiting races for several 2022 prospects and made another top list for a national standout.
While many of USC’s top 2022 recruiting targets have been known for months, there is always a chance of more recruits popping up on the radar and grabbing offers as the cycle progresses. USC offered at least a trio of 2022 prospects over the past week.
Running back will likely be an important position in this 2022 class. The Trojans are set to lose Stephen Carr and Vavae Malepeai following this season and Keaontay Ingram might not be too far behind. There are some top West region targets the Trojans are focusing on, but USC is looking to get into the mix for three-star back Justin Williams (Dallas, Ga./East Paulding). The 6-foot, 200-pound back is a well-built, physical, downhill runner with some speed as well, who can also help in the passing game. He has June official visits set to Louisville, Nebraska and West Virginia. As a junior, he rushed for 1,477 yards, had 286 receiving yards and scored 19 touchdowns.
The Trojans extended an offer to wide receiver Caleb Douglas (Missouri City, Tex./Hightower), a very intriguing 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect who played quarterback up until this past season and is a multi-sport athlete. He was able to show some of that athleticism at wide receiver and offers began pouring in. He holds offers now from Baylor, Colorado, Houston, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech and others, with a June official visit set to Baylor.
USC also offered 2022 defensive end Samuel Okunlola (Brockton, Mass./Thayer Academy), and that offer was connected to one for 2023 offensive tackle Samson Okunlola, his younger brother.
Samuel is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound, three-star defensive lineman with an impressive offer sheet, which includes Arizona State, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and multiple Ivy League schools. Samson is a major prospect as well, checking in as the No. 78 overall recruit in his class and a top-10 offensive tackle. Not surprisingly, his offer sheet is impressive as well, with Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon and others.
Top list for top 2022 DE
The Trojans continue to make top schools lists for some of the top recruits in the country. Another was announced over the past week, with four-star defensive end D.J. Wesolak (Boonville, Mo./Boonville) putting the Trojans in his top 15 along with Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Texas A&M. It’s obviously quite a list of schools remaining for the 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect and nation’s No. 174 overall recruit.
A new 2023 offer
USC hasn’t been hesitant to jump into some recruitments extremely early, as the coaching staff has made the first offer to several young prospects. Another one on the list now is 2023 offensive tackle Taliafi Ta’ala (Sandy, Utah/Alta), a 6-foot-7, 280-pound lineman whose stock is likely to rise the rest of the summer and into his junior season. Ta’ala is a basketball player as well, and that frame and athleticism is a great combination when projecting him forward as an offensive tackle.
Davis delivers
He might not technically count as a recruit anymore since he’s signed and ready to enroll this summer, but it’s worth taking a look at the hit linebacker Raesjon Davis (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) delivered in the Monarchs big win against St. John Bosco.
Davis might lack overwhelming size at the outside linebacker position, but there is no denying his ability. The early enrollees have already proven that this is an extremely talented incoming class for the Trojans and Davis will only add to that. Davis might have a real shot at quickly pushing his way up the linebacker depth chart early in his USC career.
