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Elite USC 2026 LB commit Xavier Griffin visits Florida State

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Popeabout 9 hours

bykeeganpope

Xavier Griffin 12 copy 1
Photo by Chad Simons/On3

Xavier Griffin committed to USC back in July, to the surprise of many who had followed his recruitment.

The Gainesville (Ga.) star linebacker wasn’t expected to come off the board that early, but the Trojans made a big impact on him during his visits in June and July. Six months later, he still remains pledged to Lincoln Riley and Co., but other schools aren’t relenting in their pursuit of him.

Among the schools he is hearing from the most are Florida State and Tennessee. He visited the Seminoles on Saturday and will head to Knoxville on January 25 for the Vols’ junior day.

“I’m in constant communication with both coaching staffs, so it speaks a lot that regardless of being locked in [with USC] they still are building that organic relationships with me and my mom,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons earlier this month.

The trip was Griffin’s first time in Tallahassee since he camped there last summer before he committed to the Trojans. And he was one of more than 20 visitors on campus with the ‘Noles on Saturday as they look to build off some of the momentum they closed the 2025 cycle with.

It will be a challenge to pull Griffin away from the Trojans though.

“The biggest things that keep me committed to USC are the great coaches, the development, the fan base and L.A,” he told Simmons. “There is not a lot to not like about L.A. The guys coaching me on my side of the ball have coached where I want to go, so that is big for me too.”

USC, did however, recently hire a new linebackers coach in longtime NFL defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. What role that will play in Griffin’s recruitment remains to be seen.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Griffin is the No. 24 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks No. 2 linebacker and No. 2 recruit in Georgia.