USC’s Added Eight Summer Commitments, Could More Come in August?
There’s still a ways to go in the recruiting process for quite a few 2025 prospects, but top USC targets have been coming off the board every week this summer.
As of August 9, there are 16 verbal commits for USC and the plan is to sign a full class of high school players. If signing a full class doesn’t happen, the Trojans will hit the transfer portal a bit harder than they’d prefer.
Although Lincoln Riley and Trojans suffered three huge losses when DL Justus Terry, Edge Isaiah Gibson and Drake Stubbs decommitted, there have been multiple USC commitments since Summer officially began on June 21.
USC summer commitments
USC just gained a verbal pledge on Monday (8/5) from four-star Mobile (AL) OL Carde Smith, four-star Carrollton (GA) CB Shamar Arnoux committed on June 26, four-star St. Louis (MO) WR Corey Simms on June 30, three-star Santa Margarita (CA) OL Elijah Vaikona on July 2, four-star Houston (TX) WR Tanook Hines on July 15 and four-star Buford (GA) LB Jadon Perlotte on July 30.
A few other very notable commitments came from future five-star 2026 Gainesville (GA) Edge Xavier Griffin on July 27 and from four-star St. John Bosco ATH Joshua Holland on July 29.
Upcoming August announcements
2025 safety Jonah Williams (On3)
There are multiple commitment announcements coming in the next few weeks from USC targets.
Elite five-star Safety Jonah Williams from Galveston (TX) will reveal his school choice on August 23. Despite multiple predictions for Oregon, we’re hearing Texas feels pretty good about their chances in landing the dual-sport athlete.
Williams is also a big-time baseball prospect and the hiring of Jim Schlossnagle has apparently made a significant impact with his recruitment. Williams will choose among USC, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and LSU.
Most articles probably won’t mention USC as having a legit shot, but based off feedback we’ve gotten from multiple sources, USC’s definitely still in the race.
Two team race for OL Nick Brooks
Loganville (GA) Grayson OL Nick Brooks was committed to Iowa at one time, but he recently moved back to Georgia from the Hawkeye State and he is closing in on a decision.
“I am down to Georgia, Texas and USC,” Brooks told On3. “I had great official visits to all three schools and all three schools have done a great job recruiting me. The coaches at each school are strong, I have relationships with them and I am close to committing to one of them.
“At different times, I have the different schools on top of my list. It has been fluid because of the relationships and how I like all three a lot, but I want to make a decision soon. I thought I would be committed already, but I know it is coming this month.”
We believe this is a USC vs Texas battle for Brooks. NIL will be a top factor with Brooks’ decision and Georgia isn’t willing to go as high as the Trojans and Longhorns. Not because they don’t have the funding or think he’s a top prospect, but Kirby Smart and staff already have guys committed they’re high on.
USC vs Ohio State for Phillip Bell?
Four-star Mission Viejo (CA) wide receiver Phillip Bell is coming off a state championship season and the four-star will kick his senior season off in Hawaii in a couple of weeks. He is able to put all of his attention on his senior season because his recruitment is all but done.
He took his official visits in the spring and summer and the No. 177 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking will reveal his commitment on Aug. 31.
“My mind is made up,” Bell told On3. “The main things for me throughout my whole recruitment stayed the same. They were development, a place I know I can be happy at every day and the place that I feel can help get me to where I want to be. That is what my decision came down to.”
Word is it’s a USC versus Ohio State battle. The Trojans have tightened this race up in recent weeks and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he chose either school. Staying closer to home may be a bigger priority now than it was a few months ago.
Owusu-Boateng in no hurry, but….
Four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng from IMG Academy is another prospect the Trojans made up a lot of ground with this Spring/Summer.He took two visits in less than a month after we’d thought USC was basically out of it. He took an unofficial visit on May 3 and then his official May 31.
Now we’re hearing USC is very much a serious option for Owusu-Boateng, along with Notre Dame and Michigan. A few sources believe it’s a USC vs Notre Dame battle right now, but it’s hard for us to believe Michigan isn’t right near the top, too.
As of now, a December decision appears highly likely for Nathaniel, but he could announce this month for all we know, too. He’s simply undecided and in no particular hurry to decide. The longer he waits the better for Matt Entz and the Trojans in our opinion.
A solid start to the season could make a huge impact for several top USC targets.
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