Makai Saina on why he chose USC, crazy story that made Trojans a contender

USC picked up their fourth offensive lineman commitment Tuesday evening in Arlington (Tex.) Martin’s Makai Saina.

I was able to speak with Saina to get the details on what led to his decision to commit to USC as well as what he sees in the future. Saina described how the Trojans made a move in his recruitment and how Josh Henson was able to win him over.

Since the time of his first visit this spring, USC was the leader for Saina and the official visit was the time the staff was able to lock things down. He chose the Trojans over Texas A&M and Texas.

The relationships were the driving factor

Offensive line coach Josh Henson has been rolling this summer, picking up four commitments in June alone coming out of the official visits. We have heard all strong reviews of Henson, analyst Zach Crabtree and of course Lincoln Riley this summer. Saina explained why that is.

“I would say what sticks out the most for me with USC is how the coaches and all the staff care about your family. Like coach Riley, he hits my mom up like every other day, just checks in. And like, he knows what they talked about, he doesn’t forget anything. And my mom was a big part of my decision. So my mom being very happy with the coaches and everyone there, that really like put USC up for there up for me.”

“And another thing is I just feel with the coaches, like with Coach Henson and coach Crabtree, I feel like I could just sit down and talk to them. If I really need anything for real if something’s going wrong and that really stick out the most for me and with the players there, I feel like I can get along with them well and that’s pretty much what I would say about USC is like the family, how they make sure family’s together with them.”

Saina can thank his younger brother for landing him at USC

In recruiting, sometimes things seem very cut and dry in terms of how a prospect landed with a certain school. For Saina, it was anything but. Just a few months ago, USC was not even on the map for Saina, but a random school orchestra trip and an idea from his mother changed the course of this recruitment.

“If we’re taking it all the way back when I got the offer from USC, if I’m real with you, I wasn’t very interested in going to USC. But the thing that happened was me and my mom went on an unofficial visit for the spring game. Honestly, we really just went out there because my brother plays for the orchestra at our school. His orchestra went to California to perform out there, so my mom asked if I wanted to go check out USC since my brother went out there too. And we did.”

“And that visit right there, it really changed everything. USC was like pretty much nothing for me and then went all the way to the top. And Coach Henson and Coach Crabtree, the way they treated me out there, that’s what made me want to go there. Coach Henson has always had a great energy and he’s never said anything bad about other schools or about anyone to be honest. And just the way he is as a person is what made me want to come to USC.”

Texas A&M was once the school for Saina, until they weren’t

There are certain schools in the country that are regarded as elite institutions, for one reason or another. USC is one of those by far and Saina fell in love with that.

“One of the things that sticks out with me and my family is that going to USC, you’re gonna have one of the top academic degrees. Of course the goal is to go to the NFL, but even if I don’t go, I’ll be set up there after with the degree and their network.”

Until USC entered the equation with that spring visit, Saina was positive he was headed to Texas A&M.

“Texas A&M was my first visit ever. And to be honest, after I left A&M, I thought that was the place for me. Everything that they showed me, you know. I’m close to home, like two hours. And I thought I wanted to go there. But for me, playing, and the way USC coaches, I would rather go to USC than Texas A&M or Texas. But like everything A&M and Texas did, there’s nothing they did wrong. It’s just I liked USC better.”

Where to expect Saina on the line

Saina is 6-foot-5, 285 pounds right now, which gives him some positional flexibility.

“They told me they’re going to play me at tackle, but honestly, I think I could play anywhere on the O-line. I’m big enough and I’m long enough to play tackle, but at the same time I could play center or guard.”

Saina sees a bright future for USC

Talking to Saina, he is both physically and mentally locked in with the Trojans. It sounds like he’s a part of the team already.

“Obviously they’re going to Big 10 the year I get there and with Coach Riley there, it just really puts USC up right now and they’re hot right now. So I really want to see them win next year, like the whole thing and the Pac 12. Because I feel like they don’t really have any competition the way they’re going.”

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