USC football: 6 Southern California recruiting targets Trojans should prioritize

If the Trojans lock down these six prospects, they'll almost certainly walk away with a top ten class in 2024

USC has taken some criticism for not signing enough prospects from California in its 2023 high school recruiting class. Of the top 20 recruits from the Golden State, the Trojans landed only five last cycle. 

On his podcast The Joel Klatt Show, Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt said of USC:

"I thought to myself like surely Lincoln Riley with the momentum that he's generated, is going to be able to just open his back door and pull in a top five class and it wasn't even close. More specifically, is the struggle that they had when it came to the state of California. When I look at what you need to do at USC, you need to put a fence around Southern California because if you can do that, you're going to pull in a great class...They should be doing much better with those players in their own backyard."

Here are six prospects in the 2024 class that the Trojans should prioritize from Southern California. Signing these six prospects would qualify as 'putting a fence around Southern California.'

CB Zabien Brown - Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: No. 9 cornerback, No. 117 prospect overall

When comparing the two prospects in their sophomore years, longtime Mater Dei head coach Bruce Rollinson said that Brown was "ahead" of former Mater Dei cornerback Domani Jackson development wise. Jackson is now at USC. He was the No. 15 rated recruit nationally in the 2022 class. Brown's ceiling is sky high. 

OL Brandon Baker - Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: No. 1 offensive tackle, No. 20 prospect overall

No offensive lineman raised his stock more last fall than Baker. The nation's No. 1 rated tackle anchored a Mater Dei offensive line that was one of the best units in the country. 

WR Xavier Jordan - Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: No. 11 wide receiver, No. 74 prospect overall

Jordan caught 83 passes for 1,626 yards and 20 TDs as a junior at Cathedral High School. At 6-foot-1, Jordan has good size to go with his lightning quick speed. 

WR/ATH Emmett Mosley - Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: No. 13 athlete, No. 115 prospect overall

Mosley will most likely play receiver at the next level. He caught 78 passes for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall. He's another speedster. 

LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: No. 8 linebacker, No. 72 prospect overall

Viliamu-Asa excelled as a varsity linebacker as a freshman. After a knee injury sidelined him as a sophomore, the 4-star prospect had a tremendous junior year for the national champion Braves. If he ends up going to USC, Viliamu-Asa will be a candidate to play right away. He's already 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. 

CB Marcelles Williams - St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

247Sports.com recruiting ranking: No. 7 cornerback, No. 70 prospect overall

Williams' older brother is USC safety Max Williams. Marcelles Williams has routinely covered the opponent's top receiver in his high school career, like as a sophomore when he went one on one against 5-star senior receiver Luther Burden of East St. Louis (Ill.). Williams is a gamer and he has all of the attributes needed to be a dominant college corner.