DL Floyd Boucard commits to USC: 'I am shutting everything down'

There was some chatter after Floyd Boucard‘s official visit to USC in June that he was close to committing to the Trojans. He held off, eventually committing to Oklahoma, but last month, the three-star defensive lineman out of Miami Central backed off that pledge.

USC never gave up on Boucard, and after returning to Los Angeles last weekend, he has decided to lock in with Lincoln Riley.

“I see a great opportunity at USC,” Boucard told On3. “I was locked in with Oklahoma, but watching USC this season is really what changed my mind. Seeing how they rotate defensive linemen, how they play underclassmen and seeing an opportunity to play early is what caught my attention.

“What coach Riley and coach Henny (Eric Henderson) had told me, they were doing. And I really want to play early, so I just saw a great opportunity.”

Boucard is commitment No. 21 for USC this cycle.

USC, Riley never gave up on Boucard

The effort by USC paid off. Henderson was involved, but Riley led the way. And that played a big role in this decision.

“USC kept recruiting me. They even upped their game once I committed. We were talking before I committed to Oklahoma, but even more after I committed. It is like they knew what was going to happen in the future.

“I have been talking with coach Riley almost every day. My relationship with coach Riley is very strong. My bond with him is the best bond with any coach. And he is the head coach. Our relationship is amazing.

“When I was committed, coach Riley told me he was going to change my life. He said I was going to be a star. I believed him. That relationship with the head coach was different. Everyone is looking for that and he made a difference in my decision.”

Boucard’s recruitment is done and he is locked in with USC

When Boucard committed to Oklahoma, he felt great about his decision. USC caught his attention early in the season, and after this commitment, he doesn’t plan on changing his mind again.

“This is it,” Boucard said. “I am shutting everything down. My decision is made and I am going to focus on my teammates and winning a state championship.”

He is excited about being a Trojan.

“I didn’t know a lot about USC when I first started getting recruited. I am from Canada, so I didn’t know about their history, tradition and things like that. Getting on campus, I learned a lot more and I am going to a great school to get an Ivy League-like education and play for a historic program.”

And he is excited about the coaches he will be playing for.

“Coach Henny and I have a great relationship. We are really close and he coached Aaron Donald, a player I grew up watching. I can’t wait to play for him.

“Then coach Riley, he made me feel like family. I met his family, he will talk to me any time and he is like my best friend. Coach Riley was the biggest part of my commitment. He is someone I can learn a lot from and look up to. He will be a great mentor for me.”