A successful Trojan raid of the State of Georgia has taken place!
USC’s 2025 recruiting class now includes three of the top six prospects from the State of Georgia.
Five-Star DL Justus Terry Is a Trojan
Today — March 24, 2024 — Justus Terry, a five-star recruit from Manchester, Georgia flipped his commitment from the University of Georgia to USC.
Terry had been the top-ranked recruit in Georgia’s 2025 class. He is rated by Rivals as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the nation.
New Trojan defensive line coach Eric Henderson was the principal recruiter for Terry, and he impressed Terry’s family with his background as a Super Bowl champion coach with the Los Angeles Rams, where he coached Aaron Donald. Henderson was on the Rams’ coaching staff from 2019 through 2023, before being hired by the Trojans.
#DAWGWORK🐕 #FightOn it’s time @AaronDonald97 pic.twitter.com/pgVmWw9WlX
— Eric Henderson (@Coach_Henny) January 17, 2024
ABC reported:
“USC took a big step toward improving its defense on Sunday when five-star defensive tackle Justus Terry flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Trojans.
“Terry, the No. 7 [overall] prospect in the 2025 class, is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound recruit out of Manchester (Georgia) High School. He had been committed to the Bulldogs since January 2023 before flipping his commitment.”
X, formerly known as Twitter, was abuzz:
Justus Terry, the No. 1 DL in 2025, has flipped his commitment to USC 😳🔥 @JustusTerry80
Terry had been committed to UGA since January 2023. pic.twitter.com/S95zVLrnOH
— Rivals (@Rivals) March 24, 2024
USC has flipped 5 ⭐️ DL Justus Terry from Georgia.
Fight TF On!!! ✌️✌️✌️ pic.twitter.com/jD6kRhYiFE— Serb 🇷🇸 (@PlayBoiTrojan) March 24, 2024
On3 reports interesting details concerning Terry’s background:
“Justus Terry grabbed national headlines long before he arrived at Manchester High School in Douglasville, Georgia. Terry, who goes by the nickname Jay, went viral for an Instagram post by Sports Illustrated’s ‘Monday Morning Quarterback’ blog. In the post, the then 6-foot-5, 260-pound eighth grader is shown flexing with a frame that seemingly was created by CGI. ‘I didn’t expect that or wasn’t meaning for it to go viral,’ Terry [said]. ‘I wasn’t going to post it. But my brother told me that I needed to post it. When I posted it, my phone just instantly started ringing. I was shocked. Because I never have been a part of anything like that before.’
“Terry then went on to garner attention as one of the country’s top high school football prospects. During the 2022 season, Terry recorded 38 tackles and four sacks. He also had three receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown. Away from football, Terry loves cutting hair and plans to open his own business after football is over.”
USC Also Lands a Top-Rated Edge Rusher from Georgia
USC’s big day (March 24, 2024) continued. As ABC reported:
The Trojans got a second commitment out of Georgia on Sunday, when four-star defensive end Isaiah Gibson (No. 135 overall) picked USC.
BREAKING: Elite 2025 EDGE Isaiah Gibson has Committed to USC, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’5 255 EDGE from Warner Robins, GA chose the Trojans over Georgia, Oregon, & Oklahoma
Is ranked as a Top 25 Recruit in the 2025 Class (per On3)
“The opportunities on and off the… pic.twitter.com/iQwRFAJwCa
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 24, 2024
During his senior year in high school, Gibson amassed an impressive total of 17 quarterback sacks and 55 pressures.
Gibson is the No. 1 rated edge rusher in the 2025 recruiting class.
Gibson committed to USC after receiving offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Georgia.
USC Previously Signed 5-Star Georgia QB Julian Lewis
The No. 1 overall prospect in the class according to Rivals, Julian Lewis, has already committed to play for the Trojans. He committed to USC in August 2023. Lewis also hails from Georgia.
247Sports describes Lewis as “[a] de facto point guard on the gridiron [who] can distribute the football like few others.” He is “a crafty mover both in and outside of the pocket and … extend[s] plays like a true escape artist.”
Hottest Program in the Country
As observed by 247Sports, “the Trojans have quickly become the hottest team in the country on the recruiting trail.” Trojan fans everywhere are no doubt rejoicing.
For more related sports news, focused primarily on the USC Trojans, SMU Mustangs, and Los Angeles Rams, please follow me at @vshjah_Victor.