USC Recruiting Roundup with Scott Schrader & Dylan Brashier (6/2)

Each week me and our impressive intern from USC’s Anneneberg School of Communications hop on Zoom. At that time we recap some of the interesting USC storylines of the week for our YouTube audience. Our primary focus is on recruiting, but we’ll also touch on other topics each week.

The topics Dylan and I touched on this past week were as follows:

Vital official visit season begins at USC June 1-4

USC will host numerous high caliber recruits over multiple weekends in June. Last year the Trojans hosted a massive group of recruits on the weekend of June 17th, this year looks to be no different. So far 18 guys are set to officially visit USC June 16-19

THE USC OFFICIAL VISITOR LIST as of June 2.

Although USC already hosted Safety Myles Davis, CB Braylon Conley, DL Eddrick Houston and WR Bryant Wesco May 19-21, this weekend is when USC’s Official Visit season gets hot.

As it stands as of 11am PT today, Lincoln Riley and staff are set to host more than 35 top 2024 targets on official visits this month. The Trojans will host 12 this weekend (June 1-4).

June 1-4

Four-Star RB Taylor Tatum – Longview, Texas

Four-Star CB Zabien Brown – Mater Dei, California

USC Recruiting Storylines: June 1-4 Official Visit Weekend

Two weeks ago the Trojans hosted 5-Star DL Eddrick Houston, 4-Star WR Bryant Wesco, 4-Star CB Braylon Conley and 4-Star Safety Myles Davis. The biggest buzz from that weekend was the possibility of a Davis commitment in the near future. While there may still be a few more developments from the first USC official visit weekend, the focus now shifts to possible June 1-4 developments.

Which two backs from Texas?

Four-Star RB Bryan Jackson from McKinney (TX) committed to USC five weeks ago on April 21. Since then, one of the hottest topics at WeAreSC has been who’ll be the next running back commit? Kiel McDonald is still recruiting several running backs, but it’s been determined the second running back will either be Nathaniel Palmer form Decatur (TX) or Taylor Tatum from Longview (TX).

Tatum takes his USC official visit this weekend and Palmer takes his June 16-18. With Tatum uncertain about when he’ll make a school choice and Palmer possibly ready to commit some time this month, it appears likely Palmer will be the second back. But we can’t simply assume that before Tatum takes his official.

If Tatum decides to pull the trigger and commit in the near future, he’d be the second back.

Brandon Gardner officially visits and commits to USC

Brandon Gardner, a four-star power forward in the class of 2023, is headed to LA and has committed to USC, he told On3’s Joe Tipton. 

The 6-foot-7 senior out of Middle Village (N.Y.) Christ the King was previously signed with St. John’s but decommitted after the coaching change and Rick Pitino was hired. 

Gardner, a native of Raleigh, N.C., discussed his commitment to the Trojans with On3. 

“Ultimately, I chose USC because I wanted a place I can play, expand my game, and grow as a player,” Gardner said. “With the high level staff and their attention to detail, I’m sure to maximize my talent and with work, achieve my ultimate goal to play at the next level.”

Gardner is looking forward to play with the freshmen tandem of Isaiah Collier and Bronny James.

“I can’t wait to play with a fast-paced point guard that facilitates at a high-level and controls the offense when needed. It’s exciting to play with Bronny, a dynamic overall player with the mind of his dad. The ability to play with a player with the ability to change pace and playmaker is gone be next-level excitement for me and the fans. A lot of wins and alley oops!”

What type of player is USC getting in Brandon Gardner, in his own words?

“My game is simple,” he says. “I can do everything on the court with the proper opportunity but I strive on the defensive end. I block shots, attack the rim, and can shoot the three ball.”

Gardner has a message for USC fans. 

“To the fans, you’re getting a hard-working, dedicated, game changer locked in and ready to go!”

Kickoff times for the first three football games

Three more of USC’s 2023 football kickoff times were set on Wednesday, bringing the total of known kickoff times to four. 

The Trojans will open their season with a 5 p.m. PT kickoff at home against San Jose State. That will be one of only a few college football games taking place during Week Zero. That game will air on Pac-12 Network.

The Trojans will again be on Pac-12 Network the following week. USC’s Week One game against Nevada in the Coliseum will kick off at 3:30 pm.

Those two nonconference games will set the stage for USC’s first Pac-12 game of the season. The Trojans will remain at home for their third-straight game in the Coliseum to open the season. Stanford visits Los Angeles on Sept. 9 for a game that will kick at 7:30 p.m. PT and air on FOX.

USC’s road trip to South Bend to take on Notre Dame was previously announced as a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff. That will air on NBC and Peacock.

These are the only USC games that will receive kickoff times and TV plans before the season begins. The rest will be slotted in the 6-to-12-day window ahead of each game