Lincoln Riley watches Georgia high school football game featuring 5-star recruit, elite quarterback

USC's coach was recruiting in Georgia on Friday night

USC football coach Lincoln Riley has proven to be a coast-to-coast recruiter. / Photo: Dennis Lee

College football coaches frequently use their bye weeks to check in on recruits, so seeing USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley on the sidelines of a high school game Friday night wasn't a surprise.

But perhaps it was eyebrow-raising to see him so far away from home.

On Friday night, Riley was spotted at a Georgia high school football game between Carrollton and Gainesville, a content with obvious ties to the Trojans.

Not only are both teams loaded with talent, but the rosters also feature three current USC commits - Carrollton quarterback Julian Lewis and cornerback Shamar Arnoux and 2026 Gainesville five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin.

Lincoln Riley taking in our @High5Sports Game of the Week tonight between @Carrollton_High & @RedElephant_FB.

Carrollton QB Julian “JuJu” Lewis and CB Shamar Arnoux are committed to USC, as is Gainesville LB Xavier Griffin. pic.twitter.com/reG8RuWUOD

— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) September 13, 2024

Thanks, Tobias Thomas, for sending the pictures. Lincoln Riley in the house to watch Three USC commits Xavier Griffin, Shamar Arnoux, and Juju lewis face off pic.twitter.com/5EJKJuRHAm

— USC J (@USCJ32) September 13, 2024

From there, Riley was then seen at Buford vs. Douglas County, another contest featuring top recruiting talent:

USC head coach Lincoln Riley is in attendance at the Douglas County/Buford game here in Georgia.

Lots of high level talent on the field tonight for both teams.

Buford currently leads 24-14 as we head to the 4Q. pic.twitter.com/PWtEHVHb2F

— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) September 14, 2024

Riley is probably right to spend the extra attention on his Georgia pledges.

In the class of 2025, USC secured verbal commitments from a pair of five-star defensive lineman - Manchester's Justus Terry and Warner Robins' Isaiah Gibson - who later decommitted.

Riley would love to end the "Georgia decommitment" streak at two, and hang on to Lewis, Arnoux and Griffin.

On Friday night, he was able to check in with all three in one spot and clearly didn't miss that opportunity.