The 2025 quarterback carousel is on the cusp of breaking out. Programs across the nation continue to pursue their next signal-caller no matter what their commitment status is. It feels like the beginning of a trail of dominoes, where one piece falling will set off a chain reaction. With current USC Trojans commit Julian Lewis still tinkering with admirers, the team is inspecting the landscape for a fallback of sorts. They believe they’ve found their man.

Lewis has been copiously courted by Deion Sanders and the Buffs amongst other schools. He committed to USC in August of last year, however has potentially had his head swayed since. One would think USC still dabbling with recruiting QBs is a massive sign of a potential flip. CFB Insider and On3 mainstay Steve Wiltfong shed light on what’s brewing over on the West Coast.

In the latest iteration of the Wiltfong Whiparound on the On3 Recruits’ YouTube Channel, the show’s namesake offered his insight. “USC [are] keeping other quarterbacks warm. That list starts with Husan Longstreet, currently committed to Texas A&M. 5-star signal caller from down the road. I think that what Lincoln Riley has done with offenses [and] quarterback development has been intriguing for Husan Longstreet”. Husan plays his high school football at Centennial, Corona. A mere hour away from the Trojans’ facility.

Wiltfong too acknowledged this proximity and how it’ll play a part in the recruitment drive. However, he also added that the proverbial ball is still very much in A&M’s court. “All the dialog with Texas A&M, where he’s currently committed, [is] still strong. [He’s] been to College Station a couple times this fall. Not on flip watch just yet, but obviously, the longer he talks to USC and doesn’t shut it down, the more intrigued I get with where USC stands with Husan Longstreet”.

Texas A&M (7-2) has mustered a huge turnaround of fortunes under the stewardship of Mike Elko. The program is on the up. Meanwhile, the trajectory at USC (4-5) is one spiraling downwards. However, quarterbacks who are looking to take their game to the next level still wouldn’t look past Lincoln Riley. Husan could very well find his loyalties tested by Riley’s track record.

Is Lincoln Riley’s history with QBs not enough to keep Julian Lewis?

Lincoln Riley holds the keys when it comes to USC recruiting a player under center. His success precedes him. In a career still in its adolescence, Riley has developed some of the best QBs in the country. 4 NFL starters and 3 Heisman winners later, why is Julian Lewis trending away from an opportunity under Riley?

Well, the answer is perhaps not an aversion to Riley, but an inclination towards Sanders. What Coach Prime has done in Boulder is not being undervalued by the next in class. Not only does Shedeur’s development instill confidence into somebody like Julian, but Deion’s coaching credentials extend past that into what is now a competitive program.

Perhaps recruits are excited to work with Riley, but unsure of where the Trojans’ program is headed. The poor showing this season is inadvertently a detriment to their plans for building the future roster. They would hold hope that the Lincoln Riley factor is enough to onboard a high-end quarterback for 2025, whether it’s Lewis, Longstreet, or somebody else they’re keeping under the radar.