Top recruiting analyst drops game-changing prediction for USC OT target Josh Conerly

There have been rumblings in the past about USC football being picked by some to land No. 2 Offensive Tackle in the 2022 recruiting cycle (247Sports) Josh Conerly. It wasn't clear, however, where Conerly really stood with SC, as many projections for his destination still were favoring Michigan.

Conerly pushed his decision back to April 8th, most likely because he was trying to figure out if he still really wanted to go to Michigan after Wolverines Offensive Coordinator Josh Gattis headed to Miami and Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh flirted heavily with the NFL this offseason.

It looks like Conerly may very well have used this time to change his mind and head to the USC football program, as National Recruiting Editor for 247Sports Brandon Huffman has just put in a colossal prediction for Conerly to be a Trojan come April 8th:

Landing Josh Conerly would be massive for the USC football program.

If USC football can land Josh Conerly, there will be even more excitement to what there already has been all offseason. One of the biggest struggles in the previous regime was keeping major west coast O-Line targets at SC. Once Mario Cristobal headed to Oregon, all the top O-Lineman wanted to go there so they could play for a big-time Offensive Line guy like him.

Sure, there has been a shortage of big and talented O-Lineman on the west coast as of late, but the west typically isn't a hotbed of O-Line talent. The difference was that SC used to either find the diamonds in the rough, and/or have a high success rate on the linemen that were out here.

That hadn't been happening in recruiting lately, so if new Head Coach Lincoln Riley could come in and immediately make this type of impact, the entire college football landscape would once again be put on notice this offseason. Conerly of course just visited with SC. We knew he'd love it, as he loved the in-home visit that Riley and USC Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Josh Henson went on:

"It was pretty good, just finally getting to meet Coach Riley in person, especially knowing him for like two, three years now. So it was great to [meet] him, great guy. And it was great meeting Coach Henson as well. They're both great dudes -- they're going to do great things for that offense"

- Josh Conerly, Rainier Beach HS (Seattle)

Conerly would absolutely have the chance to start at either tackle spot in 2022 for the Trojans. SC did pick up Bobby Haskins (Virginia) in the transfer portal, who's a quality tackle. They also have a competent tackle with starting experience returning in Courtland Ford. The type of talent that Conerly is, however, is nearly impossible to come by. Don't be surprised if he puts that USC hat on when April 8th comes around, and don't be surprised if he puts that USC helmet on and plays every snap for USC when Week 1 comes around.