USC Hanging Tight with Ohio State for 5-Star Georgia Defensive Lineman
One thing that’s clear is, official visits were be a big factor for 5-Star Buford (GA) DL Eddrick Houston. USC had him on campus a little less than two months ago and that official visit opened his eyes. Distance will not be a factor and there’s a lot of buzz around USC and Ohio State.
Houston is one of the best in Georgia, and Alabama, Clemson and others are working to keep him closer to home. One thing that seems likely is Houston will leave the state of Georgia for college.
“It was just amazing,” said Houston about his USC official visit. “The school was great. Met a lot of people, a lot of coaches that I just talked to over the phone. It was great just to see them in person, spend time with them the whole weekend, and just get to know them.”
Initial interest in USC
Even when USC wasn’t a strong program, the Trojans managed to get guys from all over the country to visit. While the USC brand remained strong across the country, the confidence in the football program was lacking from most. It seemed like USC got close or even gained verbal commitments from elite prospects like Mychel Williams, but even Williams decommitted and signed with Georgia in 2022.
Houston shared why he decided to take an official visit to USC.
“One thing for me was the move to the BIG-10 and then Coach (Shaun Nua),” said Houston. “He coached Aidan Hutchinson at Michigan, before he got to USC. And he’s just an amazing coach. I really like the personality of Lincoln Riley and everyone on the coaching staff is great. Had to get up there and see what it was all about for myself.”
The USC visit went extremely well for Houston, as he expected.
“I knew LA it was gonna be a fun city and there’s a lot of connections just with all the pro teams that you have there,” Houston said. “I saw a lot of people like LeBron (James) and all that while I was out there.”
NIL
Inevitably we get asked how significant NIL opportunities are for Elite players like Houston.
“It is not my main priority really, I just want to be developed by whatever coach I choose at the end,” said Houston. “The coach I think will develop me best, I’ll commit to it (school).”
Shaun Nua
WeAreSC asked Houston what led to him believing Coach Nua might be a coach that could really benefit him developmental wise?
“Just him being able to show me on film what he can do, like in practices,” Houston said. “What he works on, and then shows me how to use it in the game. That, that’s a big thing. Coach Nua was able to show me how his drills can transform to the games.”
Role in the USC defense
“They said I would play from a five to a nine technique“
5-Star DL Eddrick Houston
Lincoln Riley
Whether it’s an offensive or defensive target USC really wants, USC head coach Lincoln Riley plays a vital role with recruiting them. Riley not only spends a lot of time communicating with Houston, Riley’s a primary reason for his strong interest in the Trojans.
“He’s a big one,” Houston said of Riley. “He’s always texting me every day, just trying to see how I am,” said Houston. “Just being able to get his coaches to text me no matter where they’re at. Coach Nua last week was not even in the United States, and he called. He was Samoa and called me and showed me pictures of it….and that’s a really good connection.”
Vibing with the USC players
One thing not many fans are aware of is, the players are almost always very honest with recruits. While it may seem like a smarter move to keep it nothing but positive, but if ain’t nothing but positive, the players will share that reality. It may cost a school a recruit here and there as a result, but keeping it real is by far the best approach.
Houston’s host on his official visit was Arizona DL transfer Kyon Barrs, but he had opportunities to speak with several USC players May 19-21.
“My player host was Kyon Barrs, who just got over there this year,” Houston said. “Great guy and already loves it in L.A. and what they have to offer. What the players had to say was all good things. And not just from the stars, but also like the walk ons and different people like that. They love it, love the coaching staff, but the all know they have to work to get their spot.”
Why USC could be the move
“Definitely Coach Nua and the way he coaches,” said Houston. “Then I would say just the city in general, with all connections you can have that’ll help you in the long run. Just after football, you can maybe find a connection while you’re in college and it’ll carry you a lifetime.”
USC Turning up the Heat
Houston said Clemson initially was the school contacting him the most. But since the visit, USC has been the school in contact with him the most.
Houston will announce his commitment on his 18th birthday, August 22. He has official visits still to take and there’s plenty of time for changes to occur in his recruitment. But the standout defensive lineman said he does have a leader at this point. Though, he declined to name which school that is.
The Trojans will need to hang in there after getting the early official visit. Lincoln Riley, Shaun Nua and company have to hope they did enough on Houston’s first and possibly only visit to the campus.
If Houston ends up taking a quick trip to Los Angeles at the end of July, that could be very telling.
Oho State currently has a 88.1% to 3.6% lead over Georgia for Houston per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
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