Column: Elijah Brown to USC picks up steam as Dylan Raiola fades

Landing the Mater Dei star would certainly be a major coup for Lincoln Riley

SANTA ANA, Calif. — There's a real chance USC lands 2024 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) quarterback Elijah Brown this recruiting cycle. 

In an interview at Mater Dei on Wednesday, Brown said USC has "most definitely" started to recruit him harder in the last few weeks. 

That's no coincidence. As the Trojans' interest in one QB grows, the tea leaves suggest that their interest in — or more specifically, their hope of signing — another is dissipating. 

USC has been heavily involved with five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola of Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.) this cycle as well. Raiola has taken two visits to USC and the Trojans were at one time considered the leader in his recruitment. 

But that's no longer the case.

Last week, Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports.com's Director of Recruiting, flipped his crystal ball prediction from USC to Georgia for Raiola. 

Five days before that, USC head coach Lincoln Riley was asked about recruiting quarterbacks and he gave a detailed response that included: "If he’s scared to compete, this ain’t the room for him."

Riley also said that ideally he'd like to add high profile QB's in back-to-back classes.

"I'd love to do it," he said. 

Caleb Williams will almost certainly enter the NFL Draft after the 2023 season, which will set up a QB battle for 2024 at USC. The two favorites for next season are currently five-star freshman Malachi Nelson and redshirt sophomore Miller Moss, a four-star prospect in the 2021 class. 

Having to fight for playing time at USC wouldn't be a deterring factor for Brown, he said Wednesday. 

"I wouldn't mind going in there and having to compete with somebody so I'm just making sure my future school is a fit for me," said Brown. "I'm not really concerned with who's going there."

Brown watched USC practice last week and he's routinely in touch with Riley. As 247Sports.com's No. 33 player in the country, Brown would certainly be a major coup for the Trojans. 

"That would be a great option to go to USC," he said.