Shockwaves in College Football: Top Georgia Linebacker Pulls Commitment from USC—What’s Next?

It’s always a whirlwind when a top-tier recruit flips, and Xavier Griffin’s recent decision to back away from USC has certainly stirred the pot. This five-star linebacker, who’s been pegged as a game-changer since his commitment last July, heads out of the Trojans’ locker room—right when USC’s stacking what looks like the No. 1 recruiting class nationally. It’s intriguing because Griffin isn’t just any recruit; he’s one of two five-star gems USC had locked in for 2026, hailing from Gainesville High in Georgia, a hotbed for football talent. The Trojans boast a jaw-dropping 27 commitments for that class—10 more than the closest competitor—but sometimes, piling on commitments early can backfire, as Griffin’s departure suggests. And let’s be real—he’s just the latest name in a growing list of Peach State players who’ve bounced from USC, many of whom have found their new homes at places like Georgia, Texas and Colorado. With official visits lined up to Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, and Florida State, it’s clear the recruiting trail is far from over—and the Bulldogs might just watch this one slip through their fingers. Word on the street from insiders like Benjamin Wolk points to Alabama as the frontrunner now, but, hey, in recruiting, nothin’s set in stone until the ink’s dry. LEARN MOREFive-star linebacker recruit Xavier Griffin has decommitted from the USC Trojans. Griffin had been committed to USC since July 2024.The five-star plays high school football for Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia. Griffin was one of USC’s two five-star commitments. The Trojans have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, but USC may have gotten players to commit too early. USC’s 2026 recruiting class has 27 total commitments, which is 10 more commitments than the next closest program.Naturally, Georgia will try to be in the mix for Griffin. However, he does not have an official visit planned with Georgia. Next up for Griffin are official visits to Ohio State (May 30), Alabama (June 6), Texas (June 13) and Florida State (June 15). It looks like Georgia may miss out of Griffin, who is projected to commit to the Alabama Crimson Tide, per Benjamin Wolk of 247Sports.

Griffin is the latest in a long line of USC decommits from the Peach State. The Georgia Bulldogs have landed several of USC’s recent decommitments in recent years. Defensive end Mykel Williams (UGA), defensive tackle Justus Terry (Texas), edge rusher Isaiah Gibson (UGA), quarterback Julian Lewis (Colorado) and defensive lineman Christen Miller (UGA) highlight USC’s top decommitments from Georgia over the last several recruiting cycles.