Jaylin Smith commits to USC
USC struck again on the recruiting trail, as the Trojans added a commitment from four-star athlete Jaylin Smith on Tuesday evening.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound athlete is a two-way standout for Mission Hills (Calif.) Alemany, as a wide receiver and cornerback. He’ll play defense for the Trojans, as he looks like a perfect fit as a nickel corner.
He did a bit of everything for Alemany last season, as he caught 10 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, ran 14 times for 159 yards and two scores, and posted 60 tackles and two interceptions on defense.
Smith is an outstanding athlete and is always around the ball. He fits right in with this group of defensive backs USC is collecting in this class as he might not have one specific position in high school, but that versatility should help him at the next level both in the way he sees the field, as well as his pure athletic ability.
Smith is the nation’s No. 291 overall prospect and No. 20 athlete, and held offers from a number of big-time programs, including Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Washington and others. Smith was able to take an unofficial visit to USC, but he’s likely to take all five official visits even after making this commitment.
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It’s a really nice class of defensive backs USC has built so far, as Smith joins fellow four-star defensive athletes Anthony Beavers (Harbor City, Calif./Narbonne) and Calen Bullock (Pasadena, Calif./Muir), and four-star safety Xamarion Gordon (Downey, Calif./Warren). Gordon and Bullock are likely to wind up at safety, while Beavers could play safety or potentially grow into a linebacker.
USC cornerbacks coach Donte Williams again played a huge role in landing a commitment for the Trojans, as Smith has a very solid relationship with him. The hope is that Smith is the first piece of a good group of cornerbacks, as four-stars Ceyair Wright (Los Angeles/Loyola) and Nathaniel Wiggins (Atlanta/Westlake) are still potential additions.
Smith is the second commitment from Alemany in this class, joining offensive tackle Saia Mapakaitolo. Quarterback commitment Miller Moss played at Alemany last season before transferring to Mater Dei this offseason. Class of 2022 linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka is another Alemany standout currently committed to USC.
Smith is USC’s 17th commitment in the 2021 class and the eighth on the defensive side of the ball.
USC’s 2021 recruiting class
4-star QB Miller Moss (Mission Hills, Calif./Alemany)
4-star QB Jake Garcia (La Habra, Calif./La Habra)
4-star RB Brandon Campbell (Katy, Texas/Katy)
4-star WR Quay Davis (Dallas/Skyline)
3-star WR Michael Jackson III (Las Vegas/Desert Pines)
3-star TE Lake McRee (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis)
4-star DT Jay Toia (Simi Valley, Calif./Grace Brethren)
3-star DE Colin Mobley (Hyattsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic)
4-star LB Julien Simon (Tacoma, Wash./Lincoln)
4-star LB Ma’a Gaoteote (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco)
4-star S Xamarion Gordon (Downey, Calif./Warren)
4-star ATH Calen Bullock (Pasadena, Calif./Muir)
4-star ATH Anthony Beavers (Harbor City, Calif./Narbonne)
4-star ATH Jaylin Smith (Mission Hills, Calif./Alemany)
3-star OT Mason Murphy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./JSerra)
3-star OG Maximus Gibbs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco)
3-star OT Saia Mapakaitolo (Mission Hills, Calif./Alemany)
