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USC Football Recruiting: 4-star DE Ronnie Perkins names Top 12

By Alicia de Artola

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; The USC Trojans marching band performs during halftime of the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; The USC Trojans marching band performs during halftime of the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Four-star defensive end Ronnie Perkins announced USC Football among his Top 12 schools on Wednesday, along with other top programs.

One of the nation’s top defensive ends, Ronnie Perkins, set his list of favorite schools, including USC Football among the contenders for his signature on Wednesday.

“First off I’d like to thank God for blessing me with all of the offers I’ve received. I’d like to thank all coaches who’ve offered me a scholarship to play at their University. I’d like to thank my Parents and Coach Reed for guiding me through this whole process so far,” Perkins wrote on Twitter. “For now I am focused on these 12 schools.”

Along with USC, the other 11 schools in Perkins’ sight line include Michigan, Oklahoma, Mizzou, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa State, Texas, LSU, Nebraska, TCU and Iowa.

Perkins picked up an offer from USC earlier this month, but the Trojans have a lot of ground to catch up on Oklahoma, who stands as the favorite in the 247Sports crystal ball predictions.

The weak-side defensive end out of Lutheran North High School in Saint Louis ranks seventh at his position in the 247Sports composite. He is the No. 4 player in the state of Missouri and sits 136 in the national rankings.

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At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Perkins could be a candidate to play the predator position at USC. With added bulk on his frame he could also function as a defensive end if he were to sign with the Trojans.

USC recently made the Top 5 for fellow weak-side defensive end Cameron Latu, who is predicted to join up with the Trojans come signing day. That may limit attention for Perkins, who appears to be a longshot to end up in Los Angeles.

As it stands, USC’s class of 2018 includes six commitments but none of that number are defensive ends.

Five-star quarterback Matt Corral and linebacker Palaie Gaoteote are the stars of the class, along with four-star prospects like defensive tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa, cornerback Marcus Johnson and linebackers Bo Calvert and Raymond Scott.