Jonas Williams and my June 6 USC post tie together

But I didn't realize it at the time. Now I do. USC got screwed by Julian Lewis last year. Not just because he waffled and flipped. But because for a whole year he held the USC class hostage. WR and TE want to know who their QB is. Who will be throwing to them. OL want to know what type of QB is coming in because some do better with RPO types, and others better with pocket guys. QB are also leaders and many of them attend as many recruiting events as they can to help build the class. Meanwhile, Lewis is flipping his skirt and showing skin to every program he can find.

Ryder Lyons is by many counts the top QB in the country. Easily top 4. Perfect fit, a 2 year gap between he and Husan Longstreet, Good clean kid, makes all the throws, brother plays for USC. Couldn't be better right? Ah but suddenly he waffles. He won't commit. He tells people he will commit in "June or July" but definitely before the HS Senior year starts. WAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT a minute. June or July?

Here is the problem. We have seen this movie before. And it didn't end well.

Meanwhile you have Jonas Williams, a QB Bowden tried to recruit to ND. Kid is in Illinois. Bowden probably lived in a Chicago suburb and commuted to ND. He absolutely knows Williams. Williams goes to Oregon. So 1) Bowden knows him and 2) you can hurt a rival. After a brief flirtation it's pretty clear USC can get him and they do.

Why this early? Why take the guy who is the #6 QB in the nation and not Lyons, Mr 1-2-3-4? For one at that level there isn't much difference. Lot of development will happen the next few years. And the evaluations are often wrong. Meaning 1 versus 4. Just not that much difference.

Most importantly. See what Lewis did to the 2024 USC class. Hampered it. Hindered he ability to recruit an offense around him. As the top recruit made defensive players wonder what they were joining.

In June, USC has 19 kids coming. 14 are 4 stars or higher. Incredibly array of talent. One other I think is a 4 star but the list didn't include it. Think the number is 15 who are 4 star and higher. USC wants to have their GM in place, their staff in place. Wants to be done with spring practice so they have their depth chart in place and wants their QB in place. It looks like they will have their edge rushers and their DB's pretty much already in place They want to have all the ducks in a row and kill it on June 6. And beyond. They want the QB solid and in their fold. Able to point to him and have him get on the phone with guys. Build an Offense around him.

Having Lyons still messing around in June and all the way to July is same old same old. Rather take a kid who is very good over one who is perfect because of this character issue. Probably means his TE brother will leave wherever he goes. But maybe that won't happen till he gets back from his mission anyway. If at all. USC also recruits TE well and uses them modestly anyway.

So Williams not only is a QB in the class, he's a key in terms of position and leadership and ranking to build the rest of the class around him. if he was the #1 OL or TE or LB in the country this would not matter as much. QB? Very much so.

I think USC is looking at a top 3 class. And USC has to address portal and do well there too. They have a lot of ground to make up. Oregon has a 3 year start in talent accumulation and Ohio State about a 5 year head start, IMO it takes 3 years of top flight classes to make a noticeable difference on the field. Perhaps with NIL and portal that could be two. That still means USC has to do well THIS class of 2026 and again in 2027 with some key transfers to be a legit playoff team though a young one, in 2027. Meanwhile much can happen. Coaches can leave. USC can fail on the field and Riley leaves. We are looking at two years of a lot of griping and complaining before seeing a major leap forward in 2027. Hoping they can plug some holes and work with band aids and chewing gum to keep the fans happy and the wolves at bay until that time.