USC football: 12 blue chip defensive prospects Trojans want in 2024 class

Here are 12 top recruits in the class of 2024 that USC is targeting who could help turn the tide of the Trojans' defensive recruiting woes

USC took some heat for signing a 2023 high school recruiting class that finished ranked outside the top ten nationally and was also light on defensive recruits. 

The Athletic's Ari Wasserman wrote after National Signing Day: "The depth of the [USC] class was lacking and there wasn’t enough talent on the lines or on defense."

One reason that USC struggled to recruit on defense in the 2023 cycle was because some top recruits wondered what the future of the Trojans' defensive staff will look like. USC was horrific on defense to end the 2022 season, but Lincoln Riley elected to bring every defensive staff member back for 2023. Will he do that again a year from now if his team's defense has similar issues this season? It's unlikely. 

Time will tell if premier 2024 defensive recruits feel the same way as some in the 2023 class did. 

Below are 12 blue chip recruits in the class of 2024 that USC is targeting who could help turn the tide of the Trojans' defensive recruiting woes. They're listed in order of 247Sports.com's recruiting rankings.  

DL Williams Nwaneri - Lees Summit, Mo.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 5-star prospect, No. 3 nationally

Primary recruiter: Roy Manning

DL Elijah Rushing - Tucson, Ariz.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 5-star prospect, No. 10 nationally

Primary recruiters: Roy Manning and Shaun Nua

DL Colin Simmons - Duncanville, Texas

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 23 nationally

Primary recruiter: Roy Manning

DL KingJoseph Edwards - Hoschton, Ga.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 25 nationally

Primary recruiter: Roy Manning

CB Charles Lester III - Sarasota, Fla.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 31 nationally

Primary recruiter: Donté Williams

S Tylen Singleton - Many, La.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 51 nationally

Primary recruiter: Alex Grinch

DL Justin Scott - Chicago

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 57 nationally

Primary recruiter: Shaun Nua

CB Bryce West - Cleveland, Ohio

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 60 nationally

Primary recruiter: N/A

LB Justin Williams - Conroe, Texas

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 63 nationally

Primary recruiter: Brian Odom

CB Marcelles Williams - Bellflower, Calif.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 69 nationally

Primary recruiter: Donté Williams

LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - Bellflower, Calif.

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 71 nationally

Primary recruiter: Brian Odom

DL Hevin Brown-Shuler - Atlanta

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: 4-star prospect, No. 85 nationally

Primary recruiter: Shaun Nua