USC football recruiting: Mater Dei CB Jaylin Davies names Top 7

USC football recruiting efforts continued on Monday as four-star cornerback Jaylin Davies from Mater Dei announced his Top 7 schools.

After a cycle of misses, USC football recruiting is hoping to re-establish itself as a force in Los Angeles with the pursuit of Mater Dei star Jaylin Davies.

Davies, a four-star cornerback, announced his list of Top 7 schools on Monday, including USC among his choices. The likes of UCLA, ASU, Washington, Texas, Alabama, and Ohio State are also in the running.

CHECK OUT: RB Brandon Campbell names USC in Top 6

“Decisions, Decisions…” Davies mused along with a graphic showing his choices.

https://twitter.com/jaylin_davies/status/1242183722469736448

Davies stands 6-foot and weighs in at 165 pounds. Along with his four-star status, he ranks among the nation’s top recruits at No. 111 in the 247Sports Composite. He is the 11th-best cornerback and 12th-best prospect in the country.

At Mater Dei in 2019, Davies posted 25 tackles and two interceptions with three pass breakups and a tackle for loss in nine games.

Greg Biggins of 247Sports describes Davies as a “natural cover corner” who is “highly competitive,” “physical” and an “excellent tackler.” Those qualities certainly fit the mold USC is looking to fill.

Fortunately, USC got the chance to make an impression on Davies before the coronavirus pandemic forced an end to recruiting. He posted pictures from a visit he took to USC in early March on Twitter. He was accompanied by four-star 2022 athlete Larry Turner-Gooden and Mater Dei teammate Domani Jackson, a four-star cornerback for 2022 as well.

https://twitter.com/jaylin_davies/status/1236860623301951488?s=20

In the short term, USC is in a solid position when it comes to cornerbacks. The Trojans stocked up on defensive backs in 2019, so there is less desperation to grab some in 2021.

Still, the clock never truly stops ticking.

Greg Johnson, Olaijah Griffin, Chase Williams and Isaac Taylor-Stuart each have at least one year of eligibility beyond 2020. However, all will be eligible to leave for the NFL.

Moreover, USC should have an eye on improving the overall quality of prospect in their cornerback room. While hopes are that a few diamonds in the rough will emerge from the class of 2019, the haul was more focused on quantity than anything.

A player of Davies’ caliber would certainly be coveted, even without taking into account his connection to one of the southland’s best football factories.