'USC is now the biggest threat' to flip 5-star safety prospect
Five-star class of 2025 safety Jontae Gilbert visited USC earlier this month. Gilbert, who attends Douglass High School in Atlanta, is committed to Ohio State, but if he were to move off that commitment, USC is the favorite to land him, according to Rivals.com's Adam Gorney.
"USC is now the biggest threat to flip the 2025 Ohio State commit after he visited campus over the last few days and fell in love with the coaching staff," Gorney wrote earlier this week. "The Trojans are now the team to watch for the standout although it might just be a post-visit high and we’ll see if there is sustainability there. Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama are also very involved."
Gilbert is ranked as the No. 22 prospect nationally in the 247Sports.com composite. He's the No. 2 rated safety prospect.
WHO'S COMMITTED TO USC IN JUNE?
USC hosted 12 official visitors the first weekend of June and the Trojans staff has landed seven commitments from that group so far.
Three-star Cherry Creek (Englewood, Colo.) offensive lineman Hayden Treter was the first player who visited to give a verbal to the Trojans. He announced his decision on June 4. Later that day, four-star Clearwater (Fla.) safety Jarvis Boatwright also picked USC.
A day later, four-star Serra (Gardena, Calif.) cornerback Dakoda Fields and four-star Booker T. Washington (Atlanta) defensive end Kameryn Fountain committed, but USC still wasn't done. The Trojans secured a verbal pledge from four-star Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.) offensive lineman Manasse Itete later that day too.
In the last two weeks, four-star Cheshire Academy (Conn.) linebacker Elijah Newby and four-star Hiram (Ga.) tight end Walter Matthews committed.
Four-star St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) cornerback Marcelles Williams and four-star Clearwater Academy (Fla.) offensive lineman Jason Zandamella both committed this past week.