California high school football recruiting notebook: Utah, USC add Southern Section talent

Sierra Canyon's Wyatt Becker became Utah's first commitment in their 2025 recruiting class on Wednesday night

Wyatt Becker picks Utah

Sierra Canyon junior quarterback Wyatt Becker announced his commitment to Utah on Wednesday night. In his second season as the full-time starter for the Trailblazers, Becker has led Sierra Canyon to an 11-0 record heading into Friday's Southern Section semifinal showdown against Mater Dei.

Becker collected more than 20 offers from schools across the country over the past two years before choosing the Utes. He's averaging 220 passing yards per game this season to go along with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He's also scored four times on the ground, averaging six yards per carry.

Chinedu Onyeagoro dominates the edge

The 2023 King/Drew football season wrapped up last week with a 21-14 loss to Franklin in LA City Section playoffs. Junior linebacker Chinedu Onyeagoro broke out last season as a sophomore with 17 sacks and followed it up this year with 21 sacks in addition to two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

His work has earned him a four-star ranking by 247Sports as he approaches double digit scholarship offers.

• Read more about Onyeagoro's recruitment here

Isaiah Buxton reopens recruitment

Mater Dei Catholic defensive back Isaiah Buxton has been one of the state's most productive defensive backs over the past three seasons. Having wrapped up his high school career two weeks ago, Buxton announced last week that he is no longer committed to Arizona.

He totaled 77 tackles, nine interceptions and two forced fumbles over his three varsity seasons, helping the Crusaders capture CIF State titles each of the past two years. Buxton committed to Arizona in April, choosing the Wildcats over several offers including Cal and Washington State.

Now back out on the open market, Buxton figures to restart his recruitment as he searches for where he will call home beginning next season.

Justin Tauanuu flips to USC

Not long after announcing his decommitment from Stanford last week, Huntington Beach offensive lineman Justin Tauanuu will remain closer to home.

Tauanuu announced on social media that he has committed to USC, becoming the 17th member of the 2024 recruiting class and the fourth that projects to play on the offensive line.

The Oilers lost four out of five games to end the regular season but have flipped the script and now find themselves in this week's CIF Division 6 Southern Section semifinal round.

Recent commitments in California

Marcellus Chandler, 2024 WR, Vanden: San Jose State

Chase Jackson, 2024 LB, Damien: Sacramento State

Maealiuaki Smith, 2024 QB, Serra San Mateo: Oklahoma State

Justin Tauanuu, 2024 OL, Huntington Beach: USC

• Read more on Tauanuu's commitment here

Kevin Allen III, 2024 RB, Helix: Eastern Washington

James Tivao, 2024 LB, Madison: Sacramento State

Wyatt Becker, 2025 QB, Sierra Canyon: Utah

• Read more on Becker's commitment here

New offers in California

Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins, 2024 DB, Tustin: Louisville

Cole Harrison, 2024 TE, Serra San Mateo: Pittsburgh

Blake Lowe, 2024 DB, Chaparral: BYU

Hayden Eligon II, 2024 WR, Los Alamitos: Cal Poly

Charles Williams, 2024 RB/DB, Marin Catholic: Fresno State

Toju Maku, 2024 DB/WR, Archbishop Mitty: San Diego

Logan Christensen, 2025 DB, JSerra: Fresno State

Marco Jones, 2025 LB, San Ramon Valley: Vanderbilt

John Mills, 2025 OL, St. Ignatius Prep: Utah

Isaiah Dillon, 2025 WR/DB, Pacifica Oxnard: Cal, Washington State

Jesse Taylor Jr., 2025 DB, Pacifica Oxnard: Cal

Robert McDaniel, 2025 QB, Hughson: San Jose State, Liberty

Lavar Arrington II, 2025 LB, Charter Oak: Penn State

Ryder Lyons, 2026 QB, Folsom: Virginia Tech

Troy Huhn, 2026 QB, Mission Hills: Virginia Tech

Brady Edmunds, 2027 QB, Huntington Beach: Virginia Tech

David Lee Jr., 2027 DL, Archbishop Riordan: Arizona

(Feature photo by Heston Quan)

-- Bodie De Silva | bodie@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca