Xavier Griffin surprised everyone when he committed to USC back in July. This star linebacker from Gainesville, Georgia, wasn’t expected to make his decision so soon. But the Trojans really made an impression during his visits last summer. Six months later, he’s still sticking with Lincoln Riley and his team, but other schools aren’t giving up just yet.
Florida State and Tennessee are especially persistent. He visited the Seminoles on Saturday and plans to check out the Vols in Knoxville on January 25 for their junior day.
“I’m in constant communication with both coaching staffs, so it speaks a lot that regardless of being locked in [with USC] they still are building those organic relationships with me and my mom,”
Griffin told On3’s Chad Simmons earlier this month.
This recent visit was Griffin’s first time back in Tallahassee since he attended a camp there last summer before committing to the Trojans. Florida State is keen on capitalizing on their recent recruiting success and had over 20 visitors on campus on Saturday.
Pulling Griffin away from USC won’t be easy, though.
“The biggest things that keep me committed to USC are the great coaches, the development, the fan base, and L.A.,”
he shared with Simmons. “There is not a lot to not like about L.A. The guys coaching me on my side of the ball have coached where I want to go, so that is big for me too.”
USC recently hired Rob Ryan, a seasoned NFL defensive coordinator, as their new linebackers coach. How this change will affect Griffin’s decision is still up in the air.
Griffin stands tall at 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds. He’s ranked as the **No. 24 overall prospect** in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. That makes him the **No. 2 linebacker** and the **No. 2 recruit in Georgia**.
So, what does the future hold for Xavier Griffin? Will he stay loyal to USC, or could Florida State or Tennessee sway him? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—he’s got some exciting choices ahead.
