USC Fans Will Love This Viral Play From Four-Star Recruit Gavin Williams

The USC Trojans look like they've landed their next hardest hitter on the recruiting trail, thanks to this viral play.

Sep 27, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before an NCAA football game with the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The USC Trojans topped off their 2027 recruiting class back in May, even though prized quarterback Trey Wright represents USC's last verbal commitment for the 2028 cycle.

Nevertheless, USC fans should feel newly energized about one recruit representing the 2027 recruiting cycle, especially after going viral after his high school season-opening debut.

The USC Recruit Who Went Viral

Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley celebrates with fans after the game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Coach Lincoln Riley, but also defensive coordinator Gary Patterson and his defensive staff, likely will love this moment involving four-star safety Gavin Williams.

Trojan fans should also fawn over this play too, showcasing the type of hard-hitting potential the Damien High of La Verne star provides, literally.

Williams crashed down on a screen pass then detonated into the receiving option, looking reminiscent of a young Troy Polamalu or Ronnie Lott.

USC commit Gavin Williams came DOWNHILL with bad intentions 😳💥 Absolutely blew up the receiver on this play. Trojan fans, y’all ready to see hits like this on Saturdays?✌️🔥 @gavinnwill #USC #FightOn #CollegeFootball #USCFootball #TheConnectSport pic.twitter.com/EPgFfHvZ54

— Theconnectsport (@theconnectsport) August 23, 2026

Williams turned to smarts, then instincts and finally, bad intentions in exploding into the Aquinas High of San Bernardino wideout. His Spartan teammates definitely hollered with joy seeing the destruction Williams left behind.

USC fans became just as energized, realizing that Riley and the Trojans have a future defensive tone setter on their hands. Williams will soon earn a chance to keep a strong safety lineage alive in the land of troy that can trace all the way back to the legendary Lott.

Gavin Williams Looked 'Advanced' Before Senior Season Started

Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Williams showed some uncanny closing speed for a high school safety prospect. Which helps highlight why he emerged as one of the top college-ready talents for Damien High.

Yet Williams looked "advanced" for a prep prospect, as Andrew Ivins of 247Sports described in his prospect evaluation of the 5-11 defender.

"Advanced safety prospect with the eyes and trigger to be a difference-maker in any secondary," was the first nugget Ivins wrote in his scouting report of Williams. Ivins also added that Williams "charges forward with conviction and looks to make a play."

Williams presented more than just a threatening downhill presence to the field, though. He's a route jumper in knowing when to identify where the ball is heading. That shows Williams has hit the film room hard before his senior campaign and way ahead of his USC chapter. He broke up eight passes while intercepting the ball twice in 2025.

Williams can jar the football loose too, as proven by three forced fumbles attached to his 2025 stat line, including two recoveries. He entered this season with 11 pass breakups and six interceptions in the last two seasons at the varsity level.

Whether Gavin Williams Could Start Immediately in 2027

Nov 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans cornerback Alex Graham (27) safety Christian Pierce (24) cornerback Decarlos Nicholson (17) and safety Kennedy Urlacher (28) celebrate after Iowa Hawkeyes turn the ball over on fourth down during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

USC fans still must wait one more year for Williams to arrive. He can't sign his National Letter of Intent until December and then can look into enrolling early.

But in looking ahead, Williams' chances of starting hinges on what Kennedy Urlacher ends up deciding. The junior could entertain entering the 2027 NFL Draft in the event he delivers his best college season yet. Urlacher testing the draft waters can certainly swing the door open for Williams to take one of the safety spots.

Or he can even aim to pursue the spot Christian Pierce soon bequeaths as a senior this fall. Regardless, USC already has a 2027 prospect who could shark his way up the roster right away thanks to his ball skills and his thunderous hits.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, and X for the latest news.