The USC Trojans landed one of many extra highly-touted recruits within the Class of 2025, securing a dedication from five-star defensive finish Jahkeem Stewart, seen because the No. 8 recruit within the cycle by Rivals.
Stewart, a 6’6”, 270-pound defensive finish from New Orleans, Louisiana, had initially been the No. 1 recruit within the 2026 class, however re-classified to maneuver one 12 months up and be part of the 2025 class, the place he instantly grew to become one of many extra sought-after recruits within the cycle.
Taking official visits within the fall, Stewart visited a lot of powerhouses, together with Ohio State, LSU and USC earlier than finally committing to the Trojans on Wednesday on Nationwide Signing Day.
Stewart fills a major want for the Trojans, as they’ve struggled to recruit inside defensive linemen prior to now. Defending the run had been a difficulty for the group in 2024, as USC ranked eightieth within the nation permitting 4.5 yards per carry this season.
Though Stewart was initially a recruit within the Class of 2026, this dedication was years within the making, because the Trojans appealed to the defensive finish early, with a number of staffers constructing a relationship with the five-star, whereas additionally approaching NIL ventures as nicely.
Whereas NIL performed a major position right here on this recruitment, Stewart had a powerful relationship with lead recruiter Eric Henderson, who’s the defensive position coach at USC.
Stewart has had an attention-grabbing highschool profession, as he sprung onto the scene as a sophomore, recording 85 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 20 sacks in a serious 12 months. Nonetheless, he didn’t play this season as he tried to switch and has now re-classified into the 2025 class.
Nonetheless, he might be a fast contributor for USC, who wants each ample our bodies and expertise up entrance alongside their defensive position, nevertheless it does rely on the place the Trojans anticipate him to play, as he may wish some bulking up earlier than seeing important time on the inside.
Stewart simply turns into USC’s greatest defensive lineman within the 2025 class, and joins three-stars Floyd Boucard, Money Jacobsen and Gus Cordova because the gamers on the place for the Trojans within the cycle.
He provides to USC’s Thirteenth-ranked recruiting class and joins quarterback Husan Longstreet as the 2 five-stars within the cycle for USC.
The Trojans did face some unlucky information elsewhere, as they had been unable to flip five-star cornerback Dijon Lee from Alabama, failing to maintain the Mission Viejo cornerback close to residence regardless of repeated efforts to take action. Lee signed with the Crimson Tide on Wednesday morning, becoming a member of an elite recruiting class for head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Moreover, they misplaced a dedication from Utah five-star huge receiver Jerome Myles, who dedicated to Texas A&M on Wednesday after taking a go to there for his or her matchup in opposition to Texas this previous weekend.
That wasn’t all although, as USC missed out on a giant flip alternative with four-star cornerback Dalen Penson, who signed with the hometown Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets regardless of a tough push from the Trojans.
And, they did not maintain linebacker Madden Faraimo residence, regardless of being in his closing 4, with the four-star linebacker electing to signal with Notre Dame on Wednesday as one of many prime uncommitted recruits remaining within the 2025 class.
So, with some huge misses elsewhere with last-minute pushes, it was completely pivotal that the Trojans discovered a strategy to land five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, they usually did precisely that on Wednesday, including to a top-15 class within the nation.
