California high school football recruiting notebook: USC piling on the 2024 picks

Long Beach Millikan four-star receiver Ryan Pellum announced Monday (SEE STORY) he was committing to the University of Southern California, but earlier in the month he called it something different.

Not "USC," but "WRU," an acronym for Wide Receiver University.

With Lincoln Riley starting his second season, the Trojans indeed have taken on a new identity and wide receivers everywhere are flocking.

Pellum, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound incoming senior, is considered a home-run hitter, a game-breaker who also can break up some passes as a defensive back.

He's the second Southland wide receiver prospect to commit to the Trojans in the last two weeks as Sierra Canyon's four-star wideout Xavier Jordan pledged on June 16. Pellum is rated the state's No. 11 recruit from the Class of 2024 and Jordan No. 9.

They'll join a USC receiving lineup that currently includes college sophomores Kyron Hudson and Raleek Brown (switched positions from running back) and freshmen Zachariah Branch, Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon.

Juniors Michael Jackson III, Mario Williams and Dorian Singer will be eligible to return for their senior years but could opt for the NFL.

Needless to say, the depth chart is loaded if not full at USC, but Pellum doesn't mind the competition.

"USC has a dynamic passing offense and has developed some great receivers," Pellum told Greg Biggins of 247Sports. "You know at USC, they will always have a great quarterback in place too. ... They feel i can be an impact guy for them and I see that as well. I love the direction they are going."

Trojan flurry: It's not even the end of June and USC has already secured five of the state's top 15 recruits from the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports, including the two receivers, St. John Bosco cornerback Marcelles Williams (No. 6), Serra-Gardena Dakoda Fields (No. 13) and Central Catholic-Modesto tackle Manasse Itete (No. 14).

USC has 13 committed 2024 recruits, but the rest are from out of state.

The only other school with more California Top 100 recruits is Stanford with six: quarterback Elijah Brown (Mater Dei-Santa Ana, No. 3), receiver Emmet Mosley (Santa Margarita, No. 24), edge rusher Naki Tuakoi (Fremont-Oakland, No. 29), offensive lineman Justin Tauanuu (Huntington Beach, No. 36), athlete Jaylen Sumlin (Sierra Canyon, No. 52) and wide receiver Chase Farrell (Oaks Christian, No. 73).

Busy time: This is a busy month for recruits to visit schools. Most aren't wasting any time to commit.

Since Wednesday, here are 17 more recruits (not counting Pellum) from California to make commitments (according to 247Sports).

DL Ratumana Bulabalavu (Army and Navy Academy-Carlsbad) to Washington
LB Frank Cusano (Granite Bay) to Washington State
QB Dermaricus Davis (Etiwanda) to Washington SEE STORY
TE Decker DeGraaf (Glendora) to Washington
QB Brody Fortunati (Vacaville) to Air Force
ATH Devin Green (Grant-Sacramento) to UNLV
LB Khmori House (St. John Bosco) to Washington
OT Justin Hylkema (Wilcox-Santa Clara) to Arizona
RB Josh Joyner (Pacifica-Oxnard) to Washington State
LB Jordan Lockart (St. John Bosco) to Texas A&M

ATH Matt Long (Vista del Lago-Folsom) to Air Force
DL Brandon Nazworth (Vista del Lago) to Air Force
OL Phillip Ocon (St. Francis-La Canada) to Colorado State
ATH Jordan Pierro (Clovis West) to Fresno State
WR Jason Robinson (Long Beach Poly) to Washington

RB Carter Vargas (St. Joseph-Santa Maria) to Nevada

WR Justice Williams (Oaks Christian) to Washington