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USC Football: After huge recruiting win, Trojans poised for more

By Chris Peterson

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans talks with the team during the spring game at Los Angeles Coliseum on April 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans talks with the team during the spring game at Los Angeles Coliseum on April 17, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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A lot of programs had good weekends on the recruiting trail but USC football landed a top target at corner and is trending for a five-star DB. 

On Sunday, USC football finished off a tremendous recruiting job, as the Trojans landed one of the top corners in the country and one of the better prospects in the East coast in Jaeden Gould.

Gould is out of Bergen Catholic in New Jersey and after looking like he was headed to Michigan for a while and then most recently, Penn State, the Trojans made their move and got their guy this weekend.

The No. 153 recruit overall in the 2022 class, Gould is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and ranked 18th among cornerbacks. He’s the perfect addition to pair with five-star cornerback commit, Domani Jackson.

As far as how USC football was able to pull it off? Here’s what Gould told Rivals about his decision:

"“It was about the opportunities that there are out there. It’s kind of different for an East Coast kid going all the way out there but I feel like their team and staff is building a big-time defense. Their staff is great. They have great defensive and offensive coaches. Coach Donte is one of the best coaches that there is in the game. I feel like going out there for a visit really helped my decision.”"

Donte Williams, the cornerbacks coach for USC, was huge in this recruitment and he’s also playing a key role for the Trojans in the recruitment of five-star safety Gentry Williams.

USC football trending with another elite EB

Donte Williams and the Trojans have been landing defensive backs from all over the country and still have a shot at five-star Will Johnson out of Michigan, who is committed to the Wolverines.

And the Trojans could entice Johnson by joining a class that features Jackson, Gould, and possibly Gentry Williams, the No. 36 overall player in the 2022 class.

Williams is out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Sooners were the favorite. But after his visit to USC this weekend, Williams picked up four crystal ball predictions from 247 sports, including projections from Greg Biggins and Steve Wiltfong — two major analysts.

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Listed as a safety, Williams is a dynamic athlete who runs a 21.11 in the 200-meter dash. He’s 6-foot, 170 pounds (according to 247 sports profile), so he needs to add some bulk to be a safety, but his speed is elite and the Trojans’ secondary will be scary with him, Jackson, and Gould all signing with USC.

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