BYU commit intrigued by USC
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USC's coaching staff has been careful in regards to offensive linemen in the 2018 class. The idea is to take time this spring before deciding who out West is worth targeting.
Despite their patience, USC's staff recently identified another offensive tackle as a priority recruit. They offered a scholarship to 6-foot-5 and 250-pound BYU commit Jaren Kump on Monday.
USC's coaches are even willing to wait a couple of years for Kump. While he plans to sign with the 2018 class, he wants to take a church-service mission right after high school graduation, before enrolling in college. Therefore, whoever signs Kump will be counting on him in 2020.
"I talked to both (John) Baxter and (Clay) Helton about it," Kump told TrojanSports.com when asked about his mission. "They're both okay with it, they understand how I feel religiously."
Those coaches told Kump that they still want him.
"They told me they were planning on signing maybe three to four offensive linemen in this class," Kump said. "So I would be one of those kids that they would want to sign with them. It makes me feel good."
He's confident in saying that because he's been talking to USC for some time. Kump says he's been in contact with Eric Ziskin for "maybe two months possibly." But it was this week, after USC's John Baxter visited Herriman, Utah HS, that Kump became a very real target for the Trojans.
After seeing Baxter at practice, Kump received a phone call from Clay Helton and a scholarship offer from USC. Apparently, he's very excited about this recent development.
"It's a big deal," Kump said about his scholarship offer from USC. "I learned that it's the most expensive school to go to in the country. So that's obviously a big deal. And it's a big school, football-wise and academic-wise. It's a big deal and I'll put a lot of thought and prayer into it."
And despite his pledge to play for the BYU Cougars, Kump intends to take a close look at USC.
"I plan on visiting USC whenever I can," Kump said. "If they'll let me, I'm pretty sure I'll take an official visit."
That's because he wants to look at other schools outside of BYU.
"I feel committed but I want to keep my options open," Kump said. "I don't want to shut the door on any places where I could go to school and play football."
Kump says he committed to BYU back in June of 2016. And now it seems that the Cougars have some very real competition. Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Utah are all pushing Kump to break his original commitment. And Kump admits a few of those schools intrigue him.
"The ones that have really caught my eye are UCLA, Oregon, Utah, USC and BYU," Kump said.
