Signing day continues to roll on, and here’s the top-of-the-hour update, catching you up on the biggest news from 9 to 10 a.m. ET.
ESPN 300 linebacker Levi Jones got USC’s signing day off to a big start, as the nation’s No. 65 prospect selected the Trojans over Florida and Florida State. USC held a commitment from just one linebacker heading into signing day, which made Jones a priority target for the Trojans. And holding off a late charge from Florida State shows how much momentum USC has right now on the recruiting trail.
Oregon and new coach Willie Taggart continued to pick off Florida prospects, as the Ducks announced the signing of three-star safety Billy Gibson. A former Miami commit, Gibson joins six other Florida prospects so far in committing to or signing with Oregon. Taggart obviously has great relationships with Florida prospects, dating to his time as head coach at South Florida, but it will be interesting to see how much emphasis Taggart puts on Florida in future classes, or if he moves his focus closer to his new home.
Washington head coach Chris Petersen usually avoids drama on signing day as his classes can button up fairly early, but the Huskies picked up an addition along the defensive line in three-star defensive end Jordan Lolohea. The lineman will first serve an LDS mission, so there won’t be an immediate impact, but this was a nice recruiting win over in-state programs BYU and Utah. The Huskies also held onto and signed wide receiver Ty Jones, who took a late visit to UCLA.
LSU won’t sign ESPN JC 50 wide receiver Stephen Guidry today, as the No. 11 juco prospect and No. 2 juco receiver announced that he will play another season at Hinds Community College. That leaves the Tigers with just two wide receiver signees today, in ESPN 300 receiver Mannie Netherly and three-star Racey McMath.
LSU announced the signing of defensive tackle Neil Farrell. The three-star lineman took January official visits to Florida State and USC and was a potential flip to the Seminoles heading into signing day. Farrell should form an imposing defensive tackle duo alongside an ESPN 300 prospect and the nation’s No. 3 defensive tackle, Tyler Shelvin.