Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans staff finished with a top-20 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle. With all eyes now looking ahead to the 2025 recruiting class, USC just pulled a five-star talent away from the Georgia Bulldogs.
After overhauling the defensive coaching staff this offseason, Riley had significant work to do on the recruiting trail. Heading into the weekend, had only secured one commitment from five-star quarterback Julian Lewis and had no other verbal commitments to that point.
Related: USC Trojans football commits 2025
- USC Trojans 2025 recruiting rankings: 18th (On3.com), 36th (247 Sports)
It paled in comparison to programs like Notre Dame (18 commitments), LSU (11), Clemson (11), Penn State (11) and Oklahoma (nine). However, there are signs that’s starting to change after USC pulled one of the Bulldogs’ best recruits in the 2025 class off a verbal commitment to Georgia.
As reported by ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren, Bulldogs’ five-star recruit Justus Terry has flipped his commitment to the Trojans this weekend. The decision comes after a year-long commitment to Kirby Smart.
Terry, a 6-foot-5 defensive tackle, is one of the best football players in Georgia. He’s rated by 247 Sports as the third-best recruit in the state and the second-best defensive lineman in the 2025 recruiting class.
- Justus Terry recruiting rankings: No. 8 overall recruit on On3 Elite, No. 13 overall on 247 Sports
Background on new USC Trojans commit Justus Terry
Terry is widely regarded as one of the best recruits across the country. ESPN, Rivals.com and On3 all rank him as one of the 10 best players in the 2025 recruiting class. He is ranked the highest by Rivals.com as the No. 6 overall player, while 247 Sports is the lowest on him as the 13th-ranked player.
In a scouting report on Terry, 247 Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins described the defensive tackle as a bully on the interior who looks like he could already be playing at the college level.
- Justus Terry stats (MaxPreps): 13 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles in 2023-’24
“A potential bully in the middle. Looks college ready at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds and actually went viral on social media as an 8th grader because of his physique. Can storm his way into the backfield with his raw power and trouble blockers with his initial get-off. Moves well laterally, and will work down the line of scrimmage to make stops. Active with his hands, but must keep evolving as a pass rusher. Impressed at Under Armour’s Future 50 event and looked like one of the top point-of-attack players in attendance, which is important because he hasn’t exactly faced the stiffest competition on Friday nights. Should be viewed as a possible impact player for a College Football Playoff contender with his tools. Could be molded into a variety of different things at the next level and already has experience setting up in a variety of alignments. NFL upside.”
247 Sports scouting director Andrew Ivins on USC Trojans commit Justus Terry
While the appeal of playing for the Trojans certainly helped, USC can thank one coach in particular for pulling Terry away from Georgia. Eric Henderson, the Trojans’ co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, has been the lead recruiter of Terry and those efforts have paid off for USC.
