USC Football: Riley and Staff Hot on Recruiting Trail, Receive Huge News on Elite Quarterback Commit

Checking in on the Trojan’s recruiting efforts over the past 48 hours

Lincoln Riley and the USC recruiting battery have been extremely active on the recruiting trail over the past 48 hours. As the 2024 cycle winds down and 2025 becomes the focus of USC’s recruiting efforts, let’s check in on which recruits have been the focus of these efforts.

USC Offers a Pair of Linebackers

Robbinsdale Cooper (Minneapolis, MN) Linebacker Emmanuel Karmo

Emmanuel Karmo (class of 2025) just wrapped up his junior season as the number one prospect in the class of 2025 (247 Sports). He spent most of his time during his junior season out on the edge of the defense, dominating offensive tackles and wrecking havoc in the backfield. The self-reported 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker doesn’t have a set position just yet, as he also plays wide receiver, but given his size currently, he’ll likely play linebacker in college. He’s a extremely physical player that maintains good leverage throughout his pass rush, and he’s also a stout run defender. He’s got pass rusher written all over him.

Karmo has received offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan State, and couple other big-time programs.

Grayson (Loganville, GA) Linebacker Andre Fuller Jr.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound EDGE defender / linebacker junior Andre Fuller Jr. just took to X/Twitter to announce a scholarship offer extended to him courtesy of Trojan defensive ends coach Shaun Nua. Fuller Jr. is one of the best players on an elite Grayson high school football team, and already holds offers from top programs like Missouri, West Virginia, Arizona State, and Louisville to name a few. Fuller Jr. is a fast-twitch type defensive end, but also banged around in the box from the linebacker positions as well. The way he is used in his defense reminds me of how Micah Parsons is used in the Cowboys defense. He’s a matchup nightmare because he’s too fast for offensive tackles, but also can rush the quarterback from the mike linebacker position as well with excellent closing speed. Like Karmo, Fuller Jr. is in the class of 2025.

Carrollton (Carrollton, GA) Quarterback Julian Lewis To Arrive Earlier Than Expected

Elite quarterback prospect Julian Lewis, who recently reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 class, announced that he’ll be enrolling in college in about 12 months after the conclusion of his final season at Carrollton. This is huge news for the Trojans. as Lewis has been committed to USC for some time. Not only will he be arriving a year ‘early’, he’ll be on campus pretty much the same month that his high school career comes to a close. This time next year, assuming everything goes according to plan, Lewis will be on campus at USC taking valuable reps in preparation for the Trojans’ 2025 football season.

Lincoln Riley Visits Baltimore City College (Baltimore, MD) Wide Receiver Vernon Allen

Riley paid a visit to class of 2025 Trojan recruiting target Vernon Allen today. Allen is a 6-foot-3 wide receiver with over 15 division-one offers. Vernon received a visit from the Notre Dame recruiting staff just days ago, but Notre Dame has yet to offer him. He will be one to watch for Trojan fans, as its not often that players with his size are as fast as he is. He averaged nearly 100 receiving yards per game during his junior season and hauled in 13 touchdown catches.

USC currently has just one commit in their 2025 recruiting class, that of reclassified 2026 quarterback Julian Lewis.