USC football recruiting: Elite five-star DT names Top 8

USC football recruiting made enough of an impression Maason Smith to land in his Top 8.

USC football moved one step closer to potentially picking up a big time player in Maason Smith on Saturday.

Smith, a five-star defensive tackle and one of the nation’s top prospects, celebrated the Fourth of July with an announcement of his Top 8 schools on Twitter.

“THE END IS COMING….#1of1,” the coveted recruit tweeted along with a graphic showing his favorites.

USC is in the Top 8 along with a who’s who of college football powers. The other seven include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma and Oregon.

Why is USC football after five-star DT Maason Smith?

At 6-foot-5, 316 pounds, Smith is a monster of a prospect. He ranks No. 20 in the 247Sports composite while fitting second among defensive tackles in the class of 2021.

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He posted 13 tackles for loss and five sacks in seven games as a junior at Terrebone High School in Louisiana, per MaxPreps.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports described Smith as a “potential impact college player with early-round NFL Draft ceiling” thanks to his “college-ready” size.

Smith’s recruitment is of particular interest to USC because he has publically stated a desire to play college football with local Trojan target Korey Foreman. The No. 1 player in the country, Foreman plays for Corona Centennial and is projected to ultimately sign USC.

Smith, on the other hand, is favored to go to LSU with all eight predictions in the 247Sports Crystal Ball pointing towards the Tigers. That means there is plenty of work for the Trojans to do as the year continues on.

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USC’s class of 2021 is shaping up well as is. The Trojans have 17 commitments in hand, adding up to the No. 5 class in the 247Sports composite team rankings.

New defensive line coach Vic So’oto has a a couple of those pledges for his unit. Four-star defensive tackle Jay Toia has been committed for two years but three-star strongside defensive end Colin Mobley jumped on board in May. The Trojans are also favored in the recruitment of Foreman, four-star defensive end Aaron Armitage and four-star end Tiaoalii Savea.