Updated: USC favored in On3 RPM for nearly 20 prospects in 2024

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) is an interesting tool to utilize to get an idea of where individual schools stand in a recruitment. The RPM for recruits is constantly changing and adjusting, primarily because of with visits and predictions.

RPM was released to the public in December 2021. The On3 engineering group teamed up with Spiny.ai to create the industry’s first algorithm and machine learning-based product to predict where athletes will attend college. It factors in machine learning, social sentiment, visits and historical trends. However, expert predictions are still a big piece of the RPM equation.

It is important to know, the RPM is not always an accurate depiction of where a recruitment stands. It is not to be taken as fact, but only as another piece of information to keep in mind. The algorithm is not perfect as it is predicting human decisions.

USC and the Recruiting Prediction Machine

As it stands right now, USC is currently favored in the RPM for 23 offered prospects in the 2024 cycle. A number of the prospects are indeed priority targets for the Trojans, but again, the RPM does not serve an indication that USC is truly leading a recruitment, only that the algorithm deems them to be.

I will list the 23 prospects, sorted by position and national ranking.

On the offensive side of the ball

There are currently four running backs in the 2024 cycle USC is favored for in the RPM.

The top ranked running back favored by USC is Longview (Tex.) four-star Taylor Tatum with 22% odds of landing with the Trojans. Tatum was in Los Angeles for the USC spring game and will return this upcoming weekend for an official visit. The second running back favored is Mater Dei four-star Nathaniel Frazier at 27% odds. Frazier is the No. 5 running back in 2024. Next up is Decatur (Tex.) four-star Nathaniel Palmer, who sits at 97% odds currently.

I logged a prediction in favor of USC landing Palmer today.

At the wide receiver position, there are currently two favored in the RPM to end up at USC. Elite Silsbee (Tex.) playmaker Dre’lon Miller is now sitting at 49% odds to land with the Trojans. Long Beach (Cal.) Millikan top-100 receiver Ryan Pellum is sitting at 44%, a slight increase from recent months. At tight end, there is one prospect favored, which is Centennial (Cal.) Corona’s Tee Barlett at 31%.

In the trenches on the offensive side, there are three names favored to land at USC. That would be four-star Mater Dei offensive lineman DeAndre Carter, who is at 57% odds and Huntington Beach (Cal.) three-star offensive tackle Justin Tauanuu, at 55% odds. Engelwood (Col.) Cherry Creek three-star Hayden Treter has recently risen to 68%.

On the defensive side of the ball

The defensive trenches are little less busy right now, with no one at the position favored at this time.

There are two linebacker prospects to crack the list. The first Long Beach Poly four-star Dylan Williams, the No. 9 linebacker in 2024. He is at a significant 75% odds. The second is St. John Bosco standout Jordan Lockhart, at 45%.

The defensive secondary is littered with prospects who the RPM is loving USC for. Mater Dei top-100 cornerback Zabien Brown is favored at 45% to land with the hometown Trojans. St. John Bosco also has a top-100 cornerback in Marcelles Williams, who is at a similar 91%, a big increase recently from a prediction from Scott Schrader. Joining them at cornerback is Los Alamitos (Cal.) Isaiah Rubin, with 31%.

The safety position is another with a good number of prospects represented. West Hills (Cal.) Chaminade four-star Marquis Gallegos is top ranked safety favored to USC, and he sits at 35% odds. Just behind him in the rankings is St. John Bosco four-star Jason Mitchell II, at a large 97%. WeAreSC’s Scott Schrader has a pick in for Mitchell to USC from last season. Converse (Tex.) Judson four-star Myles Davis (92%) and Humble (Tex.) Atascocita three-star Braylon Conley (30%) are both trending to USC.