USC football recruiting: CB Jakailin Johnson names Top 6 schools

Four-star cornerback Jakailin Johnson included USC in his Top 6 schools on Friday as the Trojans defensive backs recruitment picks up.

USC is officially in the running for one of the nation’s top cornerbacks for 2020 thanks to Jakailin Johnson’s newly released Top 6.

“Recruitment still open,” Johnson tweeted along with a graphic depicting USC among his Top 6 schools.

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Johnson is also considering Oklahoma, Ohio State, Missouri, Florida, and Clemson.

Johnson announced a scholarship offer on February 5, tagging Trojan wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and calling USC his “dream school.” That was before the Trojans picked up new cornerbacks coach Donte Williams, who should only heighten chances of swaying Johnson to Los Angeles.

The competition will be fierce though. Early indications in the 247Sports Crystal Ball point towards Ohio State as the favorite. Since Johnson is from Saint Louis, the Missouri Tigers will also have the local advantage in his recruitment.

Johnson ranks fifth among cornerbacks in the class of 2020. He is the top prospect in the state of Missouri and ranks 52nd nationally in the 247Sports composite.

USC has eight scholarship cornerbacks on the roster for 2020 and none of them are due to graduate. However, Olaijah Griffin, Isaac Taylor-Stuart, Chase Williams and Greg Johnson will be eligible to leave for the NFL Draft in 2021.

The Trojans tried to entice several cornerbacks to sign in the class of 2020, but none ultimately joined. Fortunately, Williams is one of the top recruiters in the Pac-12.

Already in the past week, USC has extended new offers to several top cornerbacks in the class, including Ga’Quincy McKinstry, Tony Grimes, Avante Dickerson, and Nyland Green. Grimes and McKinstry are ranked No. 1 and 2 among cornerbacks in the class.

The next step is sealing the deal, which USC was unable to do with coveted prospects in the previous cycle.