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USC Trojans NIL Video Features JuJu Watkins, Bronny James, Michael B. Jordan, Will Ferrell

In a video released by House of Victory, the USC Trojans' name, image, and likeness collective, general manager Chad Bowden narrates to the backdrop of Kendrick Lamar tunes, while superstars like JuJu Watkins, Bronny James, Michael B. Jordan, Will Ferrell, Allyson Felix, and Matt Leinart appear.

Kyron Samuels

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley holds the championship trophy after the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley holds the championship trophy after the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The USC Trojans are pushing toward one of their best recruiting classes in recent memory. It’s only February, but the Trojans have already secured 10 commitments and currently sit second overall in the On3's industry rankings, only behind Oregon. One of the driving forces behind the uptick in recruiting has been the hiring of general manager Chad Bowden and the newly appointed front office staff.

Additionally, the House of Victory NIL collective has also been integral. In a video shared via the USC Football social media channels, the collective and the administration aim to reiterate one thing: USC is the place to be.

Narrated by Bowden and featuring the No. 1 single “Squabble Up” from 22-time Grammy Award winner and recent Super Bowl halftime performer Kendrick Lamar, the promotional video highlights the past, present, and future of USC athletics. 

“I mean we interviewed more people for this position and talked to more people than any search I’ve ever been involved with, but it was thorough. I mean it was eight, nine months in the making.” Coach Lincoln Riley said of hiring Bowden in an interview with On3’s J.D. Pickell. 

It says something about the standing Bowden has already that he’s the voice chosen to be the focal point of a promotional video that features former Heisman winner Matt Leinart, Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, world-renowned actors Michael B. Jordan and Will Ferrell, and USC women’s basketball superstar JuJu Watkins. It’s not just a representation of the football program, it’s a representation of USC as a whole and Los Angeles. 

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“USC, for me, it meant more to me. When I was a kid, I watched Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush — that was my team. . . . USC kind of held something in my heart,” general manager Chad Bowden said.

USC is clearly all in on restoring the image of Southern California as the place that every player, coach, celebrity, and fan should want to be again. It’s part of what made the program so great in its prime. The football game wasn’t secondary because the team was so good, but the event was more than a football game. The spectacle was captivating. A return to that allure can only help the efforts to secure great players. 

“All I know is as soon as we started having the conversations, it was an aggressive, attacking mindset on behalf of [USC AD Jen Cohen] and Lincoln. It was the place to be. I knew it was the place to be. That’s why I chose USC.” Bowden continued. 

That aggression Bowden spoke of has been on full display since the introductory press conference ended. The Trojan train is full speed ahead and doesn't look like it is going to be slowed down any time soon.

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

Kyron Samuels is a former college and professional football player now a writer, analyst, & digital host. Kyron is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and contributes to Oregon Ducks on SI. A graduate and letterman at Jacksonville State University, Samuels was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference, and won three consecutive conference titles. After a four-year professional stint between the AFL & XFL, Samuels retired from football. In 2022, Samuels was inducted into the Fairhope Athletic Hall of Fame. Post-playing career, Samuels has become a credentialed sports media member covering the NFL, UFL, USFL, & college football. The NFL Combine, Reese’s Senior Bowl, & East-West Shrine Bowl are amongst the events Kyron has covered. As a guest and host, Samuels has been featured on ESPNRadio, FoxSportsRadio, & IHeartRadio. Outside of sports media, Samuels works as a scouting consultant and has experience coaching at the collegiate level.

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