Top Texas LB recruit narrows choice down to USC football and other historic program

2023 Texas LB recruit Braylan Shelby out of Friendswood High School has released his final two and USC football is in it. It will be USC and Texas competing for the four-star prospect from Friendswood, Texas. (All recruiting ratings and rankings in article are as of 247Sports.)

Shelby is ranked as not only the No. 131 player in his recruiting class, but also the No. 14 Edge in the class. He's more than just that, though, as he's a hybrid linebacker in high school right now. The No. 22 player in Texas, his commitment would be special.

USC only has one commitment from a linebacker right now. It's a great one in Tackett Curtis, who is also from the South (Louisiana) and is also a four-star prospect. SC still lacks reliable linebacker depth right now, though, and could really use Shelby's services.

USC only has two four-star solely defensive players in its '23 class, which is a major reason for needing Braylan Shelby.

Five out of SC's seven four/five-star recruits are not solely-defensive players, which shows why Braylan Shelby's commitment would help round out this class. Only one of those five play any defense at all (Makai Lemon), and Lemon is a corner.

Corner is a position USC doesn't need as much as they need front seven players. They already should have a solid secondary this year and they have plenty of young talent at those positions to where they can sustain that success.

The recruiting class is solid this year, at No. 13 in the country. That being said, it's not great. Top 10 classes are the expectation with Lincoln Riley at the helm now. SC will take a No. 13 class, due to it being the only top 20 class in the conference right now, but it would not be preferable.