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USC landed another significant piece to its 2021 offensive line class Friday evening as St. John Bosco HS offensive guard Maximus Gibbs announced his commitment to the Trojans.
At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, Gibbs is a potential force on the interior of the line for the Trojans and continues the program's recruiting momentum, which has only gained steam despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.
Gibbs is USC's fifth commitment since spring practice was halted and all on-campus and off-campus recruiting was suspended last month.
He's rated a 3-star prospect presently, but both he and 3-star USC OT commit Mason Murphy (JSerra HS) could well end up as 4-star prospects in the final 2021 rankings.
RELATED: Commitment Analysis: Rivals analyst Adam Gorney gives his scouting report on Maximus Gibbs
Gibbs put out his top 7 list on Sunday -- with Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and Nebraska included -- but it was clear then that his mind was set on the Trojans.
He talked to TrojanSports.com about his connection with offensive line coach Tim Drevno, the impact of having several former St. John Bosco teammates on the Trojans roster already and the overall comfort he feels with USC.
"Man, I love USC. They're family to me. I talk to Coach Drevno a lot. I talk to Coach Drevno three days out of the week and Coach V (Viane Talamaivao) and the staff. I [have visited] USC a lot," Gibbs said. "I have players, teammates like Chris Steele, Jude Wolfe, Ralen Goforth and a lot of people from Cali that I know that goes to USC.
"I'm always talking to them. All my teammates that used to go to Bosco are at 'SC right now, and they keep telling me about how the program is looking right now. I always talk to Jake Garcia, Mason Murphy, I'm always talking to them. They're my guys."
It's not clear how many offensive linemen USC will look to add in this class after signing six in the 2020 cycle, but the Trojans have a nice foundation with their two OL commits so far.
For that matter, they have a nice foundation for this recruiting class overall.
It was Murphy's announcement on March 11 that started this wave of commitments for USC, followed by 4-star Rivals250 RB Brandon Campbell (Houston, Texas), 3-star safety Xamarion Gordon (Warren HS), 4-star Rivals250 ATH Anthony Beavers (Narbonne HS) on Wednesday, and now Gibbs.
Overall, the Trojans have eight commits in this 2021 class, including 4-star Rivals100 QB Jake Garcia (La Habra HS), 4-star Rivals100 OLB Ma'a Gaoteote (St. John Bosco HS) and 4-star DT Jay Toia (Grace Brethren HS).
