In a significant blow to its 2025 recruiting efforts, USC football faced disappointment on Sunday as five-star quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis declared his decision to decommit from the Trojans, as reported by On3.

Lewis, ranked as the 31st player nationally and 5th among quarterbacks according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings, originally pledged to USC on August 22, 2023. Since then, he has also explored options with official visits to Colorado, Auburn, and Indiana. Initially regarded as a recruit for the class of 2026, he made the switch to 2025 this January.

It appears Coach Lincoln Riley and his staff were aware of Lewis’ decision ahead of time, as they secured a commitment from Husan Longstreet, who was formerly a five-star commitment from Texas A&M, less than an hour after news of Lewis’ decommitment broke.

Longstreet is another five-star prospect in the 2025 class, holding the 34th position overall and ranking as the 6th quarterback, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He hails from Corona, California, and attends Centennial High School.

Lewis’ choice to decommit follows his unofficial visit to Georgia, where he witnessed the Bulldogs’ 31-17 victory over Tennessee on Saturday. He is currently a student at Carrollton High School in Georgia.

Under Riley’s leadership, USC has seen the loss of three high-profile recruits in this recruiting cycle alone, including defenders Justus Terry and Isaiah Gibson. In total, the Trojans have lost three commitments in just seven days, which includes defensive lineman Hayden Lowe departing for Miami and cornerback Shamar Arnoux heading to Auburn.

Riley’s experience at USC has not unfolded as hoped, with the team struggling to find its rhythm during his third season in Los Angeles. The Trojans currently hold a 5-5 record in their inaugural Big Ten season, which follows a disappointing 8-5 finish last year, where they lost three consecutive games at the end of the regular season.

Lewis now stands as the top uncommitted player in the 2025 class, setting the stage for an intense competition among several programs eager to recruit one of the country’s most gifted quarterbacks as the signing day approaches.