Rumors have been circulating about the commitment decision of 5-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn. Although the USC Trojans were initially considered a long shot, they gained momentum near the end due to Coach Entz’s efforts. However, much to the disappointment of Trojans fans, Pettijohn officially announced today that he is committing to Ohio State.
The Texas product had been leaning towards the University of Texas for most of his recruitment. Ohio State emerged as a significant contender with a late push. As of Friday evening, the On3 prediction machine had Texas at 60.9%, Ohio State at 34.6%, and USC at just 1.5%.
Earlier in the week, Pettijohn’s mother, Juliet Pettijohn, appeared to hint at her son’s commitment decision. However, she might have simply been praising USC LB Coach Entz, and no final decision had been made at that time, which now appears to be the case.
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This represents another significant setback for the USC Trojans on the defensive front. However, they still have the chance to pursue and potentially sway Pettijohn until signing day. At this point, USC’s top priority is to excel in the fall and demonstrate substantial improvements in their defense.
The Future of the USC Trojans’ Linebacker Corps
Pettijohn would have been part of a recruiting class that currently includes only one other linebacker: 4-star local prospect Matai Tagoa’i. By the 2025 season, Tagoa’i will join a relatively inexperienced linebacker group, assuming the transfer portal doesn’t bring in additional players. The most likely departures include four veterans: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Eric Gentry, Mason Cobb, and Raesjon Davis.
With only one linebacker currently committed for the 2025 class, USC will need to either secure another talented recruit or attempt to flip Riley Pettijohn. USC has previously managed to secure recruits in similar situations, such as Isaiah Gibson. Will they be able to replicate that success?
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