USC sports news roundup: Football and basketball recruiting updates and more

Here is your USC sports news roundup for October 4, 2024.

USC lands 2025 3-star defensive lineman

The USC football program continued to put together a strong 2025 recruiting class this week by landing a verbal commitment from defensive lineman Floyd Boucard. Recently, he backed out of a commitment to Oklahoma and now he's decided to call Southern California home.

The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder is rated as a 3-star prospect by the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He's the No. 48 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 64 overall player in the state of Florida.

In addition to USC and Oklahoma, Boucard has offers from the likes of Alabama, Miami, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, and many other programs.

With 21 players already committed for the current recruiting cycle, USC's 2025 class is rated 10th nationally. That's good for second in the Big Ten behind Oregon.

USC football 2025 season opener set

This week, USC football announced that it will open the 2025 season at home against Missouri State. While that program is currently an FCS program, next year it will make the move to the FBS level.

That's important because it continues the USC custom of not scheduling an FCS opponent, something that almost every other FBS program in America does. However, it is a far cry from the 2024 opener against then-No. 13 LSU.

Prior to this season, the Trojans had opened every season since 2017 at home. Now, they will get back to that tradition in 2025 by taking on a program playing in its first FBS game.

Kamari Ramsey's draft stock rising

This week, 247Sports.com's Matt Zenitz released his list of college football players who are seeing their NFL Draft stock rise this season. USC safety Kamari Ramsey made the list.

From the article: "He's made a difference with USC this year," an NFL scouting source said. "Really good at key and diagnosis. And then he's not afraid to put his face on guys. If you watch thegame, he is something that USC did not have, which is a safety that could secure tackles and eliminate explosive plays. But you can do a lot of different stuff with him. He's a physical player, run the alley. He's fun to watch. And when he hits people, they stop."

Though Ramsey is only a sophomore, he will be eligible for the 2025 draft given that he redshirted as a true freshman. This year, he has 19 tackles (3.0 for loss) a pass breakup, and a forced fumble and has been perhaps the biggest part of USC's defensive turnaround in his first year as a Trojan.

4-star point guard to visit USC

The USC basketball program has been a hot destination for transfers and recruits since new head coach Eric Musselman took over the reigns of the program. Now, one of the top players in the class of 2025 is set to visit Los Angeles.

According to Dushawn London of 247Sports.com, 4-star point guard JJ Mandaquit has cut his list of potential schools to eight and USC is in the mix. London also reports that Mandaquit has plans to take an official visit to USC.

The 6-foot-1 Utah native is rated as the No. 51 overall player and No. 7 point guard in the nation by 247Sports.com's composite rankings. Currently, there are no high school prospects committed to USC for the 2025 class but Mandaquit would be a great way to start that class off.

USC baseball releases 2025 schedule

Finally, the USC baseball program has released it's 2025 schedule. This year, most of the program's home games will be played at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif. while construction on Dedeaux Field continues.

The home schedule includes 29 games. All but five will be played in Irvine with the others played at Loyola Marymount's Page Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Trojans will play 27 road games including six road series. Five of those six series are part of Big Ten play.