Highly-touted Georgia defensive linemen Justus Terry and Isaiah Gibson commit to USC
The Trojans made a big-time splash in the recruiting landscape this weekend, led in large part by the efforts of new DL coach Eric Henderson
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES – In his first public address wearing a Trojans uniform, new defensive line coach Eric Henderson assumed the podium inside USC’s John McKay center and spoke to media with gusto booming in the bass of his voice.
“I wanted, quote-unquote, all the smoke, when you talk about going back to college to get involved in the recruiting process,” Henderson said in mid-February, formerly the Rams’ defensive line coach for five seasons.
And he and USC have launched firestorms across the national recruiting landscape ever since.
On Sunday morning, Georgia defensive lineman Justus Terry – a 6-foot-5, 275-pound DL ranked as one of the top recruits in the class of 2025 – announced in an Instagram commitment video he’d flipped his recruitment from Georgia to USC. Shortly after, Georgia four-star defensive lineman Isaiah Gibson committed to USC, causing a contained uproar across social media.
Suddenly, USC has three true blue-chip recruits from Georgia – Terry, Gibson and crown-jewel quarterback Julian Lewis – verbally committed in the class of 2025, a top three as bright as any program’s in the country.
All signs for the surge point back to Henderson, who recruited both Terry and Gibson and hosted them out at USC this weekend in a big-time recruiting push. On Saturday, none other than the recently-retired Aaron Donald was out at USC’s third spring practice, the former Rams defensive lineman out in support of his former coach Henderson.
“As long as this D-line got Coach Henny, man, they gon’ be great,” Donald said in a video on USC Football’s Twitter account.
After a strong weekend, USC now needs to build depth in its 2025 class, as well as secure the commitment of Lewis. The quarterback’s father T.C. told the Southern California News Group he’d target an official visit likely in early June; their interest in USC, T.C. said, was largely formed around the fit in Lincoln Riley’s offense and not so much geared towards the trajectory of the program entering the Big Ten.
“As a family, as a player, like, you have to understand where things are today is not where they’ll be tomorrow,” T.C. said. “It’s almost like, if you can walk into a situation and do what’s asked of you as a quarterback, take care of the football, execute your coaches’ offense – at USC, you’re never going to have a shortage of athletes.”
And behind Henderson, USC is beginning to ink that same statement on the defensive side of the ball.
ocregister.com
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USC women are pulling away in this terrific Galen arena. Rowdy, happy crowd.
Such a talented, tough-minded team. No quit in the Jayhawks either. So much athleticism on the Lady Trojans.
Juju is a foul magnet and so versatile, quick, and always on the attack. 68-50 with 3 mins to go.
It’s a real treat to see the USC women in person. These Trojans are so terrific at blocking shots and playing D. USC 17-9 at end of 1st Q.
JuJu gets roughed up a lot.
USC’s Lindsay Gottlieb Named A Finalist For Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year In her third year with the Trojans, Gottlieb is one of four women’s coaches in line for Naismith honors. USCTrojans.com — In her third season at USC, Gottlieb has guided her No. 3 Women of Troy to their highest national ranking since 1986, coming off USC’s run to the Pac-12 Tournament Championship. That run included wins over two top-10 opponents — No. 7 UCLA and No. 2 Stanford — to give USC its most wins over top-10 opponents since 1985-86 with five such victories. After… Read more »
Now we are talking……finally some meat to chew.
Aaron Donald on campus — more than I could have hoped for.
Eric Henderson was such a huge get for LR, as were D’Anton Lynn, who kicked it all off, Doug Belk, Matt Entz and Anthony Jones, Jr. Anything’s possible with these guys.
Illinois, SC has simply not been competitive nationally since PC left. While I have no proof at al, I still think the SEC decided to “take out” SC and used the NCAA to do just that. In my conspiracy theory mind, the SEC knew every major collegiate football player was on the take, so they went after Reggie. In this speculation, Paul Dees was paid off to “take down” SC. And that is exactly what he did. The PAC 12 was at the time extremely poorly led, and it applauded this “take down.” This joyfully joining in the destruction of… Read more »
I will believe this scenario about the take-down of SC by the SEC, Fat-f*ck Paul Dees, ESPN and CBS. It is always about the money.
The now-deceased Committee on Infractions Chairman of the Evil Empire. Similar to a George Lucas Star Wars creature?
You’re scenario is right RJJ and to add to your “take out” words, the one man who knew what was going on and said so only to get fired was MG. The perfect storm happened with a new USC president who clearly didn’t have any use for USC football did try to take the program down & out. Oh how the NCAA & and the envy ones in College football loved seeing this evolve. But now, USC is part of a conference and its leadership that will cover our backs with all its might. The sleeping giant has awakened.
A fine writeup. Our long nightmare may be coming to an end.
Your analysis covered a lot of related USC topics concisely, and more importantly, with veracity and clarity. At the root, imo, of many of USC’s FB challenges over two decades, aside from some bad personnel hires, has been and still remains; the green eye monster: envy. The devious leadership in the NCAA and his nasty collegiate allies flat out wanted USC out of the picture.
You are right about one thing RJJ, that is one huge conspiracy theory you have fabricated. Do we really want to rehash the Bush Scandal? Oh well. In November 2007 Lloyd Lake sue Reggie’s parents for $300K, the free rent and cash he provided them in hopes of marketing deals with Reggie that didn’t happen. Reggie tried to settle quietly with Lake but Lake wanted to make a name for himself. No conspiracy, it was all out there. The SEC and Paul Dees didn’t need to conspire. USC did cooperate and the charges were brought by the NCAA in 2010.… Read more »
I’m at the game. Fantastic atmosphere here at Galen. JuJu is just so smooth and quick.
Fight On Lady Trojans!
Elite Florida Safety Drake Stubbs Commits to USC Scott Schrader (WeAreSC) — There are quite a few schools closer to home than USC in hot pursuit of Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin 4-star 2025 safety/team captain Hylton Stubbs (6-2, 175), but the Trojans had done everything they could to lock down a pledge from the Top 100 Sunshine State prospect. On Sunday, Stubbs was the fourth big-time prospect from the heart of SEC country to commit to USC. Stubbs first visited USC last month and was back on campus Tuesday for Spring Practice No. 1. He was joined by his parents. Stubbs and his… Read more »