USC Trojans Announce 19 Players in Early Signing Period
There are 19 high school seniors officially on their way to USC, head coach Lincoln Riley announced Wednesday, the first day of the Early Signing Period.
It’s a group that sits at No. 13 nationally in the 2023 On3 Team Recruiting Rankings. And it’s a group that features two of the eight Five-Star Plus+ prospects in the country. USC is the only school to sign two such recruits in this class.
Head coach Lincoln Riley spoke during his signing day press conference about what he and his staff look for when they go out on the recruiting trail.
USC’s 2023 Recruiting Class
Here are the 19 signees officially announced by USC and a note on each, courtesy of USC Athletics. Ten of the signees will enroll at USC in January and participate in spring ball. Those are noted below.
WR Zachariah Branch
5-10, 175 – Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman
Branch had 45 receptions for 753 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. He was the Nevada Southern 5A Regional champion in the 100, 200 and long jump as a sophomore in 2021. Younger brother of USC safety Zion Branch and great-nephew of former Raiders wide receiver Cliff Branch. He will enroll at USC in January.
OL Micah Banuelos
6-3, 290 – Auburn, Wash./Kennedy Catholic
2023 PrepStar All-Western Region offensive lineman and 2022 Washington 4A NPSL Offensive Lineman of the Year.
DB Maliki Crawford
6-4, 180 – Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica
VC Star First-Team cornerback in 2022. Also runs track, competing in the 100, 200 and 4 X 100 relay. He will enroll at USC in January.
LB Tackett Curtis
6-3, 220 – Many, La./Many
Curtis is the 2022 MaxPreps Louisiana High School Player of the Year and State Championship MVP. As a senior, Curtis has 112 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions, while rushing for 1,115 yards and 11 touchdowns. He will enroll at USC in January.
TE Kade Eldridge
6-5, 240 – Lynden, Wash./Lynden Christian
Eldridge is a 2023 PrepStar All-Western Region honoree and was named the 2022 1A NWC All-Conference defensive MVP. He rushed for 545 yards and seven touchdowns on 72 carries this year. He previously played basketball and lacrosse.
DL Sam Greene
6-2, 260 – Washington, D.C./St. Frances Academy
Tallied 43 tackles and 11.5 sacks as a junior in 2021. He will enroll at USC in January.
DL Elijah Hughes
6-3, 265 – Arlington, Va./Washington-Liberty
Selected as the 2022 6D Regional Defensive Player of the Year and named to the 2022 6D All-Region First Team and 2022 All-Conference First Team as an offensive and defensive lineman. Hughes plays basketball and competes in track as well. He placed second in the district in shot put in 2022.
RB Quinten Joyner
5-11, 205 – Paige, Texas/Manor
Rushed for 1,794 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior, on his way to the 2022 All District 25-6A First Team. Joyner is a three-sport athlete, also competing in baseball and track and field. In the spring of 2022, Joyner ran 11.06 in the 100 and threw a PR of 49 feet in the shot put. He will enroll at USC in January.
DL Deijon Laffitte
6-4, 280 – Ontario, Calif./Colony
Laffitte had 51 tackles and eight sacks as a senior in 2022. He’s a 2023 PrepStar All-Western Region selection and was named to the 2021 All-CIF Southern Section Division 9 team.
WR Makai Lemon
6-0, 180 – Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos
Lemon was named to the 2022 Los Angeles Times All-Star team after catching 69 passes for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a two-way standout every year in hig hschool and was named a 2023 Under Armour All-American and a Polynesian High School Player of the Year finalist. He will enroll at USC in January.
QB Malachi Nelson
6-4, 180 – Anaheim, Calif./Los Alamitos
Nelson completed 67% of his passes for 2,898 yards and 35 touchdowns against four interceptions as a senior. He is a 2023 Under Armour All-American and a 2023 Polynesian Bowl All-Star. Nelson set the Los Alamitos school record for touchdown passes in a game, with seven. He will enroll at USC in January.
OL Alani Noa
6-4, 320 – Sacramento, Calif./Grant
A 2023 PrepStar All-Western Region offensive lineman. Noa was also selected to the 2022 MaxPreps All Sac-Joaquin Section First Team.
OL Elijah Paige
6-7, 305 – Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle
A 2022 Arizona 6A Northeast Valley All-Region selection. Paige also plays basketball at Pinnacle. He will enroll at USC in January.
RUSH David Peevy
6-4, 230 – San Diego, Calif./Lincoln
Finished the season with 31 tackles, five sacks and an interception, helping Lincoln to the Division 1-AA State Championship. Peevy also runs track and was part of Lincoln’s 2021 CIF Championship team in the 4 X 100 and runner-up squad in the 4 X 400.
RB A’Marion Peterson
6-2, 210 – Wichita Falls, Texas/Hirschi
Peterson was named the 2022 All-District 3-4A Division II MVP. As a junior in 2021, Peterson rushed for 1,817 yards and 28 touchdowns on 238 carries. He will enroll at USC in January.
DB Christian Pierce
6-2, 180 – Fontana, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga
Named Baseline League Defensive MVP in 2022. He recorded 65 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. As a junior, Pierce had nine interceptions and 103 tackles. He will enroll at USC in January.
OL Tobias Raymond
6-7, 270 – Ventura, Calif./Ventura
A 2023 PrepStar All-Western Region selection as senior. Raymond was named 2022 All-Channel League Offensive Lineman of the Year. In 2021, Raymond was named CIF Lineman of the Year playing offensive tackle and on the defensive line. He has also played basketball, soccer and baseball.
RUSH Braylan Shelby
6-5, 235 – Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood
Texas First-Team 10-5A-1 All-District selection as a senior. A Texas 5A regional qualifier in the triple jump as a junior. His father, Shannon Shelby, played defensive end at Arkansas. His brother, Ty Shelby, played defensive end at Louisiana Monroe.
OL Amos Talalele
6-5, 330 – Santa Clara, Calif./Santa Clara
Santa Clara Valley Athletic League First-Team selection as a junior in 2021. Selected as a 2023 Polynesian Bowl All-Star.
