Duce Robinson Pushes USC's 2023 Recruiting Class into Top 10

It took nearly two months after February’s traditional signing day, but the USC Trojans officially have a top-10 recruiting class for the 2023 cycle. The commitment and signing by five-star tight end Duce Robinson cemented that status on Thursday evening. The USC Trojans surged four spots on the strength of the commitment, finishing at No. 9 nationally.

USC finished signing day with the No. 13 overall class but hung in the Robinson sweepstakes as the 6-foot-6, 225-pound, two-sport star lengthened his recruitment as he decided between baseball and football, as well as Georgia, Texas and USC as his finalists. There is still a decision to be made if Robinson is taken high in the 2023 MLB Draft in July. He could still go that direction. But for now, Robinson is securely in as a member of USC’s 2023 recruiting class. The Trojans officially announced his signing on Thursday evening, declaring him a wide receiver in the process.

Looking at the 2023 Recruiting Numbers

USC holds the No. 9 recruiting class and the No. 2 class in the Pac-12, one spot below the Oregon Ducks in both rankings. But ranking the classes by the average rating of each player, USC moves comfortably ahead of Oregon into No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 8 overall.

USC also finishes as one of just five programs to sign more than two five-star prospects in the 2023 class. The Trojans and Oklahoma Sooners both landed three. Georgia and Texas signed four. And Alabama signed an impressive seven such prospects.

Landing Robinson also means the Trojans signed four of the top-40 prospects in the 2023 On3 Industry Rankings. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch (No. 4) and quarterback Malachi Nelson (No. 11) both finished as Five-Star Plus+ prospects. Robinson is No. 23 overall and wide receiver Makai Lemon is No. 37.

Robinson’s Impact

Robinson was one of USC’s highest-priority prospects in this class. He is a major weapon in the passing game as he uses all of his 6-foot-6 frame to go up and get the ball. And he possesses surprising speed for that size. He’s listed by all recruiting services as a tight end, but it made something of a statement that the USC football twitter account named him a wide receiver in announcing his signing.

We’ve seen some tight ends blur that distinction in college and the NFL. Robinson will be flexed out plenty and a major weapon in the passing game.

The addition gives the Trojans a phenomenal tight end recruiting haul. Robinson joins four-star Walker Lyons and three-star Kade Eldridge in this class for USC. Lyons should be treated as a 2024 recruit. He’ll serve an 18-month mission before getting to USC for the fall of 2024. Eldridge is ranked lower than the other two but is a dynamic player who saw time at running back and defensive end in high school. He arrives at USC this summer and seems a natural fit for the physical H-back spot while Robinson and Lyons are more receiving options.

If Robinson is considered a wide receiver, the Trojans signed one of their all-time classes at that spot (and USC has had some good ones). That’s two five-star receivers in Robinson and Branch, plus a top-40 prospect in Lemon (who was rated a five-star and top-15 overall prospect by one service). And four-star receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, the No. 264 overall prospect in the 2023 On3 Rankings is set to join the roster this fall.

USC’s 2023 Recruiting Class

With Robinson in the fold, here’s a look at USC’s 2023 recruiting class.

Early Enrollees and Participating in Spring Ball

Five-Star Plus+ WR Zachariah Branch – No. 4 overall, No. 1 WR
Five-Star Plus+ QB Malachi Nelson – No. 11 overall, No. 5 QB
Four-star WR Makai Lemon – No. 37 overall, No. 6 WR
Four-star LB Tackett Curtis – No. 121 overall, No. 10 LB
Four-star RB Quinten Joyner – No. 192 overall, No. 13 RB
Four-star OT Elijah Paige – No. 208 overall, No. 14 OT
Four-star CB Maliki Crawford – No. 301 overall, No. 33 CB
Four-star RB A’Marion Peterson – No. 385 overall, No. 27 RB
Three-star S Christian Pierce – No. 416 overall, No. 41 S
Three-star DL Sam Greene – No. 466 overall, No. 50 DL

Fall Arrivals

Five-star TE Duce Robinson – No. 23 overall, No. 1 TE
Four-star EDGE Braylan Shelby – No. 65 overall, No. 8 EDGE
Four-star TE Walker Lyons – No. 119 overall, No. 7 TE (2024 arrival)
Four-star WR Ja’Kobi Lane – No. 335 overall, No. 52 WR
Three-star IOL Micah Banuelos – No. 415 overall, No. 30 IOL
Three-star EDGE David Peevy – No. 451 overall, No. 41 EDGE
Three-star IOL Amos Talalele – No. 491 overall, No. 41 IOL
Three-star IOL Alani Noa – No. 522 overall, No. 50 IOL
Three-star TE Kade Eldridge – No. 566 overall, No. 30 IOL
Three-star OT Tobias Raymond – No. 815 overall, No. 52 OT
Three-star DL Deijon Laffitte – No. 991 overall, No. 108 DL
Three-star DL Elijah Hughes – No. 1,047 overall, No. 111 DL