Porter Gustin joined the frenzy of pre-Signing Day on Tuesday morning when it was announced that he had made the decision to attend USC, multiple sources confirmed.
The five-star linebacker from Salem Hills High School had a bevy of programs to choose from, including Ohio State University, Utah, and Arizona State University. But, as Josh Furlong of KSL.com reports, Gustin’s choice to commit to Southern California was due to the program’s persistent approach to getting him. “They were one of my first big offers and they stuck with it all the way to the end,” he reported said. “I know a lot of guys going there–they were an impact as well.”
The early push from USC also allowed Gustin to get to know some of the coaching staff, KSL reports. “I got to know the (USC) coaching staff pretty well over the last couple of months. I feel like their program is on the rise. Their last couple of recruiting classes have been great and I think they can only go up from here. I love the coaching staff and USC is great football traditionally, and I think it’s going to go back to that. I don’t think I could go wrong with them.”
The 6’4, 238-pounder out of Utah had “as many of 35 scholarship offers during the peak of his recruiting” per sltrib.com–probably due to his prowess on offense as well as defense. This past fall at Salem Hill, he threw for 2,864 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 891 yards and ten touchdowns, in addition to tallying 152 tackles and 10.5 sacks on the defensive side of the ball.
According to Rivals.com, Gustin is ranked the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 1 inside linebacker in the country. He registered a pick-six and sack in the US Army All-American Bowl.
*Section Photo credit to Christian Petersen, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Erich Schlegel, USA Today Sports.
