No. 1 2026 Recruit Julian Lewis commits to USC

Elite 2026 quarterback Julian Lewis of Carrollton (GA) High announced his commitment to USC Tuesday morning.

The 6-foot-1, 185 pounder chose the Trojans over Alabama, Georgia, and others.

“USC has a lot of history as a program and going out there you can feel the excitement around the program,” Lewis said. “Coach Riley and Caleb have them back in the Top 10 already after 1 year. Coach Riley is the Head Coach and OC so that stood out a lot for me as well. He’s developed the best QB’s in college football over and over again and that’s what I want to be. They have a great strength program and I know that will help get the most out of me. The more I learned about the school and academics it just all made sense.”

Lewis’s relationship with the coaching staff and their plan for him played a key role in his decision as well.

“Coach Riley and I have built a good relationship. We’ve watched a good amount of film and the things we talk about are exciting. He likes my skillset and the things that I can do and says we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

The Peach State quarterback is the first commit in USC’s 2026 class.

Julian Lewis Recruiting Profile

Lewis ranks as the No. 1 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia.

Scouting Summary

On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about him as a prospect:

“Polished signal caller who turned in the most productive freshman season among 2026 quarterbacks. Has been touted as a high-profile prospect, earning offers as a middle schooler. Measured in at around 6-foot-0.5, 185 pounds with a 9.5-inch hand prior to his sophomore season. Turned in a strong freshman campaign, completing 65.5% of his passes for over 4,100 yards and 48 touchdowns against 12 interceptions while leading his team to a state title appearance. Played well while facing some of the strongest competition among 2026 quarterbacks. Has advanced accuracy and overall polish at this early stage. Very consistent on a throw to throw basis in the camp setting. Shows the ability to locate passes to several areas, including over the middle of the field. Shows nice touch and ability to layer the football. Navigates the pocket well, sliding up to elude pass rushers. Can make defenders miss in space. Has plenty of time to continue growing, but is not overly physically imposing at this stage. Flashes a good arm, but his upside as a pure, top arm talent remains to be seen. Can also continue improving as a creative playmaker as he gets more varsity experience. Figures to be among the top quarterbacks in 2026 as the cycle progresses.”

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $169K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.