USC top-ranked 2026 QB commit Julian "Juju" Lewis shines, throws four TDs

The No. 1 prospect in the 2026 cycle came off the board on Aug. 22, as Carrollton (Ga.) quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis committed to Lincoln Riley and USC. The 6-foot-0.5, 185-pounder has already built a reputation as one of the best prospects in the nation.

On Friday night, he lived up to that label, carrying his team to a 20-point win. Lewis threw for four touchdowns in a 33-13 drubbing of Rome (Ga.). Two of those scores were wrangled in by Alabama four-star tight end commit Caleb Odom, the No. 50 recruit in the 2024 cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

Alabama commit Caleb Odom with his second TD of the night from USC commit Julian Lewis. Outstanding balance and coordination from Odom at 6’4, 220. One of the biggest mismatches in the 2024 cycle https://t.co/vrPd0xZJPe pic.twitter.com/2UtuB8XbqS

— Charles Power (@CharlesPower) September 2, 2023

Lewis and Carrollton have now scored 116 points in three games this season. Lewis has already hurled for seven touchdowns as he seeks another run to the Georgia 7A state championship game. He threw for 4,118 passing yards and 48 touchdowns as a freshman a season ago.

The top-ranked prospect chose USC over the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Ohio State. Riley’s ever-growing reputation as a QB guru helped put the Trojans over the top.

“At the end of the day, it is about what Coach Riley does with quarterbacks,” Lewis told On3. “Coach Riley develops quarterbacks, he really knows how to manage the room and he knows how to feature guys at that position. The track record he has with quarterbacks really made a big difference in my recruitment…

“There was no reason to wait any longer. I felt strong about USC, they made me feel like their guy and the timing just happened earlier than I thought it would.”

Lewis’ growing On3 NIL Valuation

Lewis has an On3 NIL Valuation of $497K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s 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.

“Lewis is already primed to succeed in the new era of college sports. While the Georgia High School Athletic Association prohibits athletes from monetizing their publicity rights, the Carrollton High quarterback has done everything else to put himself in a position to eventually cash in on NIL,” wrote On3’s Pete Nakos.

“Multiple sources have made it clear to On3 that multiple brands will be lining up to sign Lewis to a multi-year NIL deal whenever he can begin to profit. USC is obviously a Nike school, but the quarterback has the clout where he could become a valuable chessboard piece for a sportswear brand.”