Why USC Could Be The Choice for Top 100 Texas Safety
2024 Four-Star safety Aaron Flowers took his first unofficial visit to USC earlier this month. Flowers, out of Forney HS (Tex.), is set to make his commitment on April 7th. He also released his top 10 schools at the start of March where USC made the cut along with Baylor, Michigan State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Alabama, Washington, Louisville, Oregon and Tennessee.
Flowers told WeAreSC’s Scott Schrader that he already knows which school he’ll be committing to and USC seems to be in prime position for the No. 10 player in Texas.
Academics play a large role
Flowers listed many reasons as to why USC is so high on his list. Academics seemed to be the main point that stood out.
“The academics, they’re almost Ivy League at that point. The way coach Riley talked to me and the whole staff has a great relationship with me. They’re like family over there and it really felt good being there, it was a great visit.” Flowers said.
The 6-0, 185 pound defensive back already has an idea on what he wants to pursue at school. “I want to be a pharmacist and study biology, the staff told me that it was a top 30 or top 40 program. They also said their dental school was really good, so I either want to be a pharmacist or an orthodontist.”
The staff has been key in Flowers’ recruitment
While he usually focuses on the offensive side of the ball, coach Riley “has been involved in my recruitment a lot because he has known my head coach since he coached Kyler Murray in high school. We have a great relationship with him and he’s been facetiming me a lot recently since my offer. He’s one of the top head coaches that has tapped in with my recruiting.”
With some recruits, the head coach being involved with their recruitment is a big deal. It’s no different with Flowers, “for sure, that definitely one of the reasons why, even though I know when I get to college, you don’t really see the head coach that much but for him to come out and take time out of his day for me as a recruit has been a big reason why I have interest in USC.”
Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has been Flowers’ primary recruiter throughout his recruitment and said that their relationship is “really good, he talks to me a lot, when I was at SC he took me to the meetings and sat down with all the players, learning all the systems and everything, we just clicked in while I was there.”
Expecting the defense to be better in 2023
It’s no secret that the USC defense had struggles down the stretch of last season. What are they doing to ensure it’s better in 2023?
“(Alex) Grinch told me that the media was clowning the defense for sure, but I never really payed attention to it because I know it takes a lot. It wasn’t their recruits, they came in and had to bring some guys. It was the tackling that was a key part of it, he (Grinch) told me that we can turn it around. They already have the offense, they just need some size on defense.”
Flowers said that he spoke to USC safeties Calen Bullock and Zion Branch, “it was quick conversations, they love it here, they were honest with me, told me how the system was and they have no problems with it. They said that if they didn’t love it they wouldn’t be here.“
No surprise for Flowers
WeAreSC asked Flowers, “We’re you surprised on how much you liked the visit?”
“Not really because I always had high interest in USC, so when I came in there I wanted to make sure it was as true as I thought it was. I was surprised by how nice the campus is, it was out of the ordinary nice, definitely the nicest campus I’ve been to so far.” said Flowers.
The No. 10 safety in the country was able to watch a rainy USC practice while on his visit. “I got there just before it started raining, even with the weather USC was nice. I was able to see the DB’s do tackling drills. It was a heavy competition day too, a lot of team against team.”
If USC is the choice, why?
“The relationships I’ve built with the coaches so far, that has stood out from every other school so far and I just want to change the program and the defense around. USC probably has the best wide receivers in college football. So if you go against the best of the best, you can play against anyone.” said Flowers.
Like most recruits, conference prestige plays a huge role in their recruitment. Everybody wants to be able to compete for a national championship. Flowers is the same, “the Big 10 would also be a key part of it. That will definitely change the program, change the narrative. USC has been one of my dream schools since I was a little kid.”
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