The week started out well for USC recruiting. The Trojans had one of the best classes in the 2025 cycle and held the commitments of some of the elite players in the country. Star quarterback Julian Lewis was set to begin competing in the Elite 11 Finals against the rest of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 class.
Then, the dominoes began to fall and Lincoln Riley‘s class took a tumble. First, five-star EDGE Isaiah Gibson took an official visit to Ohio State and decided to recommit. Then, five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry went back on his commitment. These decommitments came on back-to-back days, striking a massive blow to the Trojans’ 2025 class.
USC Recruiting Suffers a Massive Setback
According to 247Sports, there is no better EDGE recruit than Gibson in the 2025 class. He’s also the 17th-best in the country and sixth-best overall recruit from the blue-chip state of Georgia. The six-foot-four, 235-pound player is highly sought-after with offers from all of college football’s best. His scouting report is a glowing ledger for a potential star. He has a seven-foot wingspan and excels as a two-point, wide edge who can attack both inside and outside. Gibson has a high ceiling with his athletic profile but 247Sports posits that he may need a year of development. His decommitment occurred as he was taking a visit to Ohio State. Perhaps the Buckeyes swoop in and flip the prized recruit or it’s just a coincidence.
The second and more painful hit to the USC recruiting efforts was Terry’s decommitment. Also hailing from Georgia, Terry is the second-best defensive lineman in the class. Additionally, he’s the 12th-best overall player in the nation and third-best from the Peach State. He’s a massive presence on the interior of the defensive line. Terry was measured at six-foot-five and 275 pounds before his junior season in 2023 and moved more fluidly than his size would assume. His technique needs a little refinement but he’s shown that he can plug gaps and win against double teams.
Georgia is going to be one to watch with both of these in-state talents. USC can still woo Gibson and Terry back but it may be an uphill battle.
