USC Football Announces Early Signing Period 2021 Class

Signing Day Central

LOS ANGELES–Nineteen high school football players signed with USC today (Dec. 16) on the first day of the early signing period, USC head coach Clay Helton announced.

USC also announced the addition of DL Ishmael Sopsher, an Alabama transfer.

Sophser joins 10 of the signees who will graduate early from high school and enroll at USC in January as freshmen, so they can participate in spring practice. The other nine signees will join the Trojan program in the fall as freshmen.

The 2021 spring enrollment signees are, alphabetically: DB Anthony Beavers Jr., DB Calen Bullock, RB Brandon Campbell, QB Jaxson Dart, DB Xamarion Gordon, WR Michael Jackson III, TE Lake McRee, QB Miller Moss, LB Julien Simon and DL Jay Toia.

The 2021 fall enrollment signees are, alphabetically: DB Prophet Brown, OL Ty Buchanan, OL Maximus Gibbs, WR Joseph Manjack IV, DL Colin Mobley, OL Mason Murphy, DB Jaylin Smith, TE Michael Trigg and WR Kyron Ware-Hudson.

"This is an extremely exciting class, made up not only of ultra-talented players but the right type of players to help us win championships," said Helton. "They also are great people and great students who fit our culture. We're in a terrific place with our recruiting, but we still have some work to do going into the next signing date in February."

Biographies of USC's signees are below.

USC FOOTBALL EARLY SIGNING PERIOD 2021 CLASS SIGNEES
 

SPRING ENROLLMENT

TRANSFERS

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

FALL ENROLLMENT

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

BIOGRAPHIES ON USC FOOTBALL'S EARLY SIGNING PERIOD 2021 SPRING ENROLLEES  

BEAVERS—He made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team. He transferred to St. Bernard High in Playa del Rey (Calif.) in 2020. As a 2019 junior at Narbonne High in Harbor City (Calif), he had 13 tackles (2 for a loss), 1 interception, 3 deflections, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. As a sophomore in 2018 at Serra High in Gardena (Calif.), he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores first team when he had 70 tackles (1 for a loss), 1 interception, 3 deflections and a forced fumble. As a freshman, he made the 2017 Max Preps Freshman All-American second team as he had 8 tackles as a 2017 freshman and also caught an 8-yard pass. He was in the Netflix show "Coach Snoop," about rapper Snoop Dogg and his Snoop Youth Football League.

BULLOCK— He made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team.  He was Cal-Hi Sports All-State Juniors second team and All-CIF Division 11 as a 2019 junior defensive back and wide receiver at John Muir High in Pasadena (Calif.) when he made 45 tackles (with a sack), 6 interceptions and 3 deflections on defense, had 40 receptions for 914 yards (22.9 avg) with 8 TDs, a 30-yard run and completed a 40-yard pass on offense and returned 7 punts for 125 yards (17.9 avg) and 5 kickoffs for 80 yards (16.0 avg).  He made 8 tackles as a 2018 sophomore. 

CAMPBELL—He opted out of playing his 2020 senior season while at Katy (Tex.) High, but made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team.  He also spent the spring of 2020 at Lamar Consolidated in Rosenberg (Tex.).  He made 2019 All-District first team as a junior running back at Pearland (Tex.) High, running for 879 yards on 116 carries (7.6 avg) with 18 TDs and catching 14 passes for 280 yards (20.0 avg) with 3 TDs.  He spent his 2018 sophomore season at Katy Taylor High, where he had 676 yards on 131 carries (5.2 avg) with 5 scores and 13 receptions for 198 yards (15.2 avg) with 2 TDs. He attended Mayde Creek High in Houston (Tex.) as a 2017 freshman.  His father, Kevin, played basketball at Virginia and his mother ran track at Texas San Antonio, while his uncle, Rogerick Green, was a defensive back at Kansas State (1988-91) who played in the NFL with the Tama Bay Buccaneers (1992, 1994) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1995).

DART—He made the 2020 Max Preps All-Utah first team, Desert News Mr. Football and All-Region as a senior quarterback at Corner Canyon High in Draper (Ut.).  In 2020, he completed 240-of 345 passes (69.6%) for 4,691 yards and a state-record 67 TDs with 4 interceptions and ran for 1,195 yards on 128 carries (9.3 avg) with 12 TDs.  Corner Canyon was undefeated in 2020 and won the state 6A title.  In 2019 as a junior at Roy (Ut.) High, he made All-Region as he was 159-of-247 (64.4%) for 2,440 yards and 22 TDs with 8 interceptions and rushed for 102 yards on 46 tries (2.2 avg) with 1 TD, plus he had 12 punts for 423 yards (35.3 avg).  As a sophomore in 2018, he was All-Region as he hit 119-of-199 passes (59.8%) for 2,161 yards and 17 TDs with 8 interceptions and ran for 100 yards on 52 carries (1.9 avg) with 6 TDs.  In his 2017 freshman season, he was 85-of-178 (47.8%) for 1,396 yards with 11 TDs and 12 interceptions.  He also played baseball at Corner Canyon, where he twice was All-State and hit .468 as a freshman in 2018.  His father, Brandon, was a safety at Utah (1994-96, 1999-2000). 

GORDON—He opted out of playing his 2020 senior season while at Warren High in Downey (Calif.), but made 2020 PrepStar All-American.  He played defensive back at Warren as a 2019 junior and 2018 sophomore.  As a sophomore, he had 41 tackles, including 1.5 for losses, 3 interceptions, a deflection, 3 fumble recoveries (1 for a TD) and a forced fumble. 

JACKSON—He made 2020 PrepStar All-American as a senior at Desert Pines High in Las Vegas (Nev.).  As a 2019 junior, he made Las Vegas Review Journal All-Southern Nevada honorable mention while catching 34 passes for 627 yards (18.4) and 5 TDs and adding 2 TDs on punt returns.  As a 2018 sophomore at Durango High in Las Vegas, he caught 29 passes for 430 yards (14.8 avg) with 7 TDs.  He also sprinted (100 and 200 meters) for Desert Pines' track team, with a best of 11.44 in the 100.

McREE—He made 2020 PrepStar All-Midlands as a senior tight end at Lake Travis (Tex.) High, when he had 14 receptions for 178 yards (12.7 avg) with 1 TD and added 3 carries for 11 yards (3.7 avg) with a TD.  He missed his 2019 junior season with a torn knee ligament.  As a 2018 sophomore, he caught 17 passes for 274 yards (16.1 avg) with 2 TDs and also completed a 22-yard pass and had a 3-yard run.  He also played basketball at Lake Travis.

MOSS—He made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team. He was Cal-Hi Sports All-State Juniors first team, All-CIF Division 3, Los Angeles Daily News All-SoCal and Los Angeles Daily News Offensive Player of the Year as a 2019 junior quarterback at Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills (Calif.) when he completed 215-of-319 passes (67.4%) for 3,118 yards with 28 TDs and 10 interceptions and he also ran for 105 yards on 31 carries (8.8 avg) and averaged 38.9 yards on 12 punts. As a 2018 sophomore, he threw 19 TDs and 14 interceptions. Incoming Trojan Jaylin Smith also prepped at Alemany. He spent his 2017 freshman season at Loyola High in Los Angeles (Calif.), completing 33-of-55 passes (60.0%) for 350 yards with 2 TDs and 3 interceptions. His mother, Emily, was a professor in USC's School of Architecture.

SIMON—He made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team. He was Max Preps Junior All-American second team as a 2019 junior linebacker, wide receiver and running back at Lincoln High in Tacoma (Wash.). As a junior in 2019, he had 55 tackles, with 5 for losses and 2 sacks, 4 interceptions (2 for TDs), 10 deflections and a fumble recovery on defense, 83 receptions for 1,033 yards (12.4 avg) with 12 TDs and 38 carries for 182 yards with 7 TDs on offense and returned 7 punts for 139 yards (19.9 avg) and had a 47-yard kickoff return. As a sophomore in 2018, he made Max Preps Sophomore All-American first team as he had 57 tackles, with 8 for losses and 2 sacks, 5 interceptions (3 were TDs), 4 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries (1 for a TD) and 2 forced fumbles on defense, had 22 receptions for 284 yards (12.9 avg) with 9 TDs and 37 carries for 294 yards (26.7 avg) with 1 TD and returned 2 kickoffs for 62 yards (31.0 avg). As a 2017 freshman, he made Max Preps Freshman All-American second team had 26 tackles (3 for losses), an interception and 3 deflections on defense and 29 catches for 559 yards (19.3 avg) with 7 TDs on offense. He also played basketball at Lincoln.

SOPSHER—He spent the past 2 seasons (2019-20) as a defensive lineman at Alabama. He appeared in 1 game as a 2019 freshman and was able to redshirt. He did not see action in 2020 as a redshirt freshman. He made the 2020 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. He was a defensive tackle at Amite (La.) High, where as a 2018 senior he had 78 tackles, including 35 for losses with 12 sacks, 8 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. Amite won the LHSAA Class 2A State Championship. He was selected to the All-State team each of his 4 seasons at Amite.

TOIA—He made 2020 PrepStar All-American. He was Cal-Hi Sports All-State Juniors first team, All-CIF Division 3 and Los Angeles Daily News All-Area first team as a 2019 junior 2-way lineman at Grace Brethren High in Simi Valley (Calif.) when he had 43 tackles, with 7 for losses and 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble on defense and he ran for a 1-yard TD on offense. As a sophomore in 2018, he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomores first team and All-CIF Division 4 as he had 11 tackles (5 for losses, with 4 sacks) and a pass deflection. Grace Brethren won the 2018 state 2AA and CIF Division 8 titles. As a 2017 freshman, he had 1 tackle as Grace Brethren was the 2017 CIF Division 4 champion and state Division 2AA runnerup. He grew up in Tonga and played rugby as a youth. His cousin is current USC redshirt freshman defensive lineman Stanley Ta'ufo'ou. His brother, Soane Toia, is a freshman defensive lineman at San Jose State, while his brother Siaki Ika was a defensive tackle at LSU (2019-20) and his brother Abitoni Toia is a rugby player in New Zealand. He also was on the track team (shot put and discus throw) at Grace Brethren.

BIOGRAPHIES ON USC FOOTBALL'S EARLY SIGNING PERIOD 2021 FALL ENROLLEES

BROWN—He made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team. He was Cal-Hi Sports All-State Juniors first team as a 2019 junior cornerback and running back at Monterey Trail High in Elk Grove (Calif.) when he ran for 779 yards on 64 carries (12.2 avg) with 2 TDs, caught 17 passes for 343 yards (20.2 avg) with 5 TDs and completed 3-of-4 passes (75.0%) for 67 yards (all were TDs) on offense, had 17 tackles, 3 interceptions (1 for a TD) and 5 deflections on defense and returned 10 kickoffs for 342 yards (34.2 avg) with 1 for a TD and had a 34-yard punt. He was named 2019-20 SportStars Magazine Sac-Joaquin Male Athlete of the Year. As a sophomore in 2018, he had 36 carries for 551 yards (15.3 avg) with 9 TDs and caught 5 passes for 44 yards on offense, had 17 tackles (1 for a loss), an interception, 8 deflections and a fumble recovery on defense and returned 5 kickoffs for 111 yards (22.2 avg) and had 2 punt returns for 4 yards (2.0 avg). He also played on Monterey Trail's basketball and track teams (as a sophomore, he was a member of the state champion 400-meter relay team and has personal bests of 10.90 in the 100 meters, 22.71 in the 200, 50.74 in the 400 and 21-10 in the long jump). His nickname is Peanut Butter.

BUCHANAN—He made 2020 PrepStar All-Midland and All-District 15-4A Division 1 Most Valuable Offensive Lineman as a senior 2-way tackle at Calallen High in Corpus Christi (Tex.). He had 6 tackles on defense as a senior in 2020. As a 2019 junior, he made All-District 15-5A Division II first team. He also was on the track team (discus throw) at Calallen.

GIBBS—He made 2020 PrepStar All-West. He was an offensive guard as a 2019 junior at St. John Bosco High in Bellflower (Calif.). St. John Bosco won the 2019 state Open Division titles and was named the national champion. His nickname is Big Max. When he was 13, he was featured in the Netflix show "Coach Snoop," about rapper Snoop Dogg and his Snoop Youth Football League.

MANJACK—As a senior wide receiver, quarterback, returner and punter at Tomball (Tex.) Memorial High in 2020, he had 37 receptions for 885 yards (23.9 avg) with 13 TDs, rushed for 869 yards on 60 carries (14.5 avg) with 13 TDs and completed 18-of-33 passes (54.5%) for 349 yards with 3 TDs on offense, returned 5 kickoffs for 160 yards (32.0 avg) and had a 20-yard punt return and had 10 punts for 410 yards (41.0 avg). In 2019 as a junior, he made Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 6A All-State honorable mention and All-District 14-6A first team as he caught 69 passes for 1,246 yards (18.1 avg) with 15 TDs, had 232 yards on 28 carries (8.3 avg) with 3 TDs and completed 11-of-17 passes (64.7%) with 4 TDs, returned 7 kickoffs for 188 yards (26.9 avg), had 16 punts for 574 yards (35.9 avg) and made a deflection and forced fumble. He also was on Tomball Memorial's track team (with best of 11.57 in the 100 meters, 22.87 in the 200 meters and 42.7 in the shot put). As a 2018 sophomore at Alief Hastings High in Houston (Tex.), he made All-District 23-6A first team as he caught 40 passes for 649 yards (16.2 avg) with 9 TDs, ran for 272 yards on 33 carries (8.2 avg) with 4 TDs, completed 26-of-60 passes (43.3%) for 269 yards with 5 interceptions, had 10 punts for 327 yards (32.7%), returned a kickoff 12 yards and had a deflection. As a freshman in 2017, he made All-District 23-6A (as a punter) as he caught 2 passes for 73 yards (36.5 avg) with 1 TD, completed 3-of-8 passes (37.5%) for 28 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions, had 16 punts for 574 yards (35.9 avg) and had 2 tackles.

MOBLEY—He made 2020 PrepStar All-Atlantic. He was a defensive end as a 2019 junior at DeMatha Catholic High in Hyattsville (Md.)

MURPHY—He made 2020 PrepStar All-American. He was a 2-way tackle as a 2019 junior at JSerra Catholic High in San Juan Capistrano (Calif.)

SMITH—He made 2020 PrepStar All-American. He was All-CIF Division 3 as a junior cornerback, wide receiver and running back at Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills (Calif.) in 2019 when he had 60 tackles (4 for losses) and 2 interceptions (1 for a TD) on defense, caught 10 passes for 211 yards (21.1 avg) with 2 TD and ran for 159 yards on 14 carries (11.4 avg) with 2 TDs on offense and had 8 kickoff returns for 156 yards (19.5 avg) with a TD and a 40-yard punt return. As a 2018 sophomore, he had 31 tackles (with a sack), 3 interceptions, 3 deflections and 2 forced fumbles on defense, 12 receptions for 162 yards (13.5 avg) and a 9-yard rush on offense and 3 kickoff returns for 110 yards (36.7 avg) with a TD and 4 punt returns for 37 yards (9.3 avg). Incoming Trojan Miller Moss also prepped at Alemany. He was in the Netflix show "Coach Snoop," about rapper Snoop Dogg and his Snoop Youth Football League.

TRIGG—He made 2020 PrepStar Dream Team as a senior tight end and defensive end at Carrollwood Day School in Tampa (Fla.), getting 30 receptions for 586 yards (19.5 avg) with 5 TDs and an 8-yard run on offense and making 13 tackles (4 for loss with 2 sacks). As a junior tight end, quarterback and defensive end in 2019 at Seffner (Fla.) Christian Academy, he caught 82 passes for 1,232 yards (15.0 avg) with 16 TDs, ran for 196 yards on 56 carries (3.5 avg) with 5 TDs and completed 24-of-38 passes (63.2%) for 242 yards and 2 TDs on offense and made 83 tackles, including 24.5 for losses (with 11 sacks), an interception (for a 94-yard TD), 2 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles and a blocked punt and field goal. In 2018 as a sophomore, he had 30 receptions for 473 yards (15.8 avg) with 8 TDs on offense and had 20 tackles, including 9 for losses (with 5 sacks), 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. As a 2017 freshman, he had a 1-yard rush on offense and 8 tackles (1 for a loss and 1 sack) and a forced fumble on defense. He also played basketball at Carrollwood Day and Seffner Christian, averaging 22.6 points as a junior and 20 points as a sophomore. His cousin, Marcello Trigg, was a quarterback at Bucknell (2006-09).

WARE-HUDSON—He made the 2020 PrepStar Dream Team. He was All-CIF Division 1 and All-Trinity League first team as a junior wide receiver in 2019 at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana (Calif.) when he had 59 receptions for 853 yards (14.5 avg) and 13 TDs. As a sophomore in 2018, he caught 3 passes for 43 yards (14.3 avg) on offense and made 5 tackles and recovered 2 fumbles on defense. His brother, Keyon, is a freshman defensive tackle at Oregon.