Four-star recruit Xamarion Gordon, one of the top safeties in the 2021 recruiting class, will be joining the USC Trojans far earlier than expected.
The decision comes just hours after the California Interscholastic Federation postponed high school football in California until December or January.
The CIF is suspending education-based athletics for the 2020-’21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening the door for many recruits to leave school early. Now, Gordon becomes the latest to make the quick jump from high school to the NCAA.
When the CIF announced its ruling, many expected a wave of talent across California high schools would leave their programs and enroll with the college to which they committed. It’s already unfolding, with Texas A&M recruit Victory Vaka announcing earlier on Monday that he will depart Westlake High School and join Jimbo Fisher’s program immediately.
Gordon, who committed to USC in April, starred at Warren High School in Downey, Calif. He is rated the No. 29 overall recruit in the state by 247 Sports, becoming the highest-rated player in the state to make the big move.
While NCAA schools will benefit from players jumping early, they could also be in danger of losing their own stars. Multiple college football stars are expected to sit out the upcoming season if its moved to spring with agents already reaching out to top draft-eligible prospects.
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