USC football recruiting: Trojans lose cornerback target to LSU

Four-star cornerback Nathaniel Wiggins picked LSU over USC football.

Disappointing news was confirmed for USC football on the recruiting front on Friday night.

Four-star cornerback Nathaniel Wiggins, from Westlake High School in Atlanta, announced his commitment to LSU.

The decision officially put to bed the Trojans hopes of stealing the gifted defender out of the South.

USC football struck out on Nathaniel Wiggins, a top cornerback prospect.

Wiggins announced his Top 8 in early May, including USC alongside Florida, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Clemson, Tennessee and Oregon.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound two-way athlete ranks No. 117 nationally and No. 8 among cornerbacks in the 247Sports composite. The measurables alone would make you take a closer look at Wiggins as a prospect, but he also brings skill and versatility to the table, whether playing cornerback, safety or receiver.

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The Trojans seemed to have a chance thanks to the recruiting efforts of Donte Williams, one of the best recruiters in the country who offered the four-star in April. Unfortunately for USC, it wasn’t enough.

Losing Wiggins is a disappointment, but it’s not a disaster. The Trojans already have several defensive backs committed for the class of 2021. Those include four-star corner Prophet Brown, four-star athletes Calen Bullock, Anthony Beavers and Jaylin Smith, along with four-star safety Xamarion Gordon.

Wiggins would have helped USC gain on Oregon in overall recruiting rankings though. Despite sitting 10th in the national rankings, the Trojans are behind the Ducks, who rank No. 5 nationally.

USC still has some major recruiting battles to focus on, even if they won’t be playing football this fall. First and foremost, Korey Foreman is the priority.

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The five-star strongside defensive end from Corona Centennial is currently favored to land with the Trojans in the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but there are worrying signs of him looking elsewhere. On Thursday, Greg Biggins put in a prediction for Georgia.