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Former USC Star Ja'Kobi Lane Turns Heads After Calling Out Recruit For Stealing

Former USC Trojans receiver Ja'Kobi Lane accused a recruit of stealing his cleats from the USC locker room.
Charlie Viehl|
Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) participates in pregame warmups against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.
Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) participates in pregame warmups against the Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

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Former USC Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane took to social media to call out a recruit, accusing him of stealing Lane's cleats and other gear from the USC locker room. Lane posted a picture of Brawley Tuitupou's social media profile, revealing the class of 2027 recruit from Utah.

Ja'Kobi Lane Calls Out Recruit for Stealing

"This kid stole my cleats and a bunch of stuff from the sc locker room. All yall kids out there just know this is simply unacceptable," Lane wrote in his social media post.

usc trojans ja'kobi lane recruit stealing call out brawley tuitupou gloves cleats visit nfl draft prospect wide receiver
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) celebrates after a touchdown in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Lane posted a photo, one that appears to have been originally shared by Tuitupou, featuring eight pairs of USC receiver gloves, three pairs of cleats, four towels, and more accessories. While programs might give recruits some team gear while on a recruiting visit, a photoshoot in full uniform has become the norm for high school prospects making the trip onto campuses.

It's typical for recruits to wear college gear during their high school games or recruiting camps, often revealing which school they are leaning towards. Some recruits will also wear a team's gloves to try and create some suspense in their recruitment, and others might enjoy collecting different cleats and other gear from some of the bigger programs in college football.

However, Lane's accusations hold more weight when looking at how much USC equipment is in the photo.

usc trojans ja'kobi lane recruit stealing call out brawley tuitupou gloves cleats visit nfl draft prospect wide receiver
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) is congratulated by wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) after catching a touchdown pass in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Ja'Kobi Lane's Influence

Alongside former Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon, Lane was part of a dynamic offense with USC quarterback Jayden Maiava. Lane's highlight catches often drew national attention, and his calling out of Tuitupou has also received some attention on social media.

Lane's tweet with Tuitupou's profile has been seen 1.5 million times on X as on Monday, Feb. 23.

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Former players turned college football analysts like Langdon Tengwall have offered their takes:

"We use to hide our gear in the locker room when we knew recruits would be coming in. Some recruits try to snag some gloves but that is an absolute heist. Really bad look here," Tengwall said.

Lane is set to participate in the NFL Combine before he waits to see which team will select him in the 2026 NFL Draft. Lemon is expected to be a first round pick, but Lane's projections are less clear. A good showing at the combine from Lane could improve his draft stock, but he is currently projected to be selected in the second or third round of the draft.

usc trojans ja'kobi lane recruit stealing call out brawley tuitupou gloves cleats visit nfl draft prospect wide receiver
Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) talks to a coach before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Lane also became a fan-favorite among Trojans fans, partially because of his willingness and excitement to interact younger fans. USC Trojans on SI's Kendell Hollowell captured a moment of Lane and some fans after USC's home win over Northwestern in 2025.

Lane isn't the most active on social media, either, making his call out feel even more impactful.

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Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is the deputy editor for the Oregon Ducks, Colorado Buffaloes, and USC Trojans on SI. He has written hundreds of articles for SI and has covered events like the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician, holding a degree in Music and Philosophy from Boston College. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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