Commitment Analysis: Breaking down the addition of Rivals100 WR Corey Simms

USC hosted six of the top 21-ranked wide receivers in the 2025 recruiting class (plus two other coveted targets) on official visits over the last month, aggressively pursuing top talent to surround five-star quarterback commit Julian Lewis.

To this point, the Trojans are still waiting to see how most of those recruiting battles play out, but on Sunday they won a big one as Rivals100 WR Corey Simms (St. Louis, Missouri) committed to USC over Penn State and Missouri.

The Trojans had looked like the top contender for Simms since his June 7-9 official visit, especially when he subsequently cancelled an OV to Nebraska and wrapped up with one final trip to in-state Missouri.

The Trojans' presentation held up over these last few weeks, though, as Simms told TrojanSports.com ahead of his announcement.

"USC has always been an interest to me. I just wanted to make sure USC had the total package. A little after my official visit, I knew USC was the place for me to continue my football career. It was just a feeling that came over me," Simms told TrojanSports.com in a social media direct message. "After my OV at USC, I canceled an OV and kept one. Upon completion of all OVs I still had the same feeling I had prior to leaving USC.

"My parents played a major role in this as well. My parents shared with me that they had the same feeling while at USC. Coach Lincoln Riley and coach [Dennis] Simmons are an amazing team. My family and I love the consistency. Both coaches have built relationships with my family and I. The relationships were intentional and genuine. They never let up. They were always transparent and did not just tell me what I wanted to hear. Coach Riley is in the process of building something amazing, and I want a piece of the pie.

"The fact that JuJu [Lewis] will be the QB at USC gave me even more confirmation. JuJu has potential to take the program really far! USC has amazing academic programs. It’s like a win-win situation because the LA market is so big, great academics/programs, life after football will be a plus because of the relationships and opportunities, and finally, taking part in one of the best historical programs with a top head coach who believes in his players and staff! Can’t beat having an opportunity to continue to play football on the next level while obtaining the TOTAL PACKAGE!!"

Let's take a closer look at the impact of Simms' commitment and what he brings to the Trojans ...

Simms is the Trojans' second WR commit along with three-star Romero Ison (Baltimore, Maryland), while they still hold out hope for fellow four-star Rivals100 WRs Andrew Marsh (Katy, Texas), Donovan Olugbode (Bradenton, Florida), Daylan McCutcheon (Lucas, Texas) and Phillip Bell (Mission Viejo HS).

Four-star Tanook Hines (Houston, Texas) also took a USC official visit, while fellow official visitors CJ Wiley (Alpharetta, Georgia) committed to Florida State and Emmanuel Choice committed to Oklahoma.

The Trojans look like a top-two option for both McCutcheon and Bell -- while it's less clear where USC stands with the others -- but there's also no clear indication just yet that they will win either of those battles.

So adding Simms is a bit of a relief, honestly.

USC rarely has trouble landing top WR talent -- even before Lincoln Riley came to town -- but the Trojans reeled in just one WR last recruiting class (four-star Xavier Jordan) while losing a signing day battle with Oregon for local four-star Ryan Pellum.

While the WR unit is stacked right now -- led by the quartet of second-year talents Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson, Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane -- that group will be entering its third and, in some cases, potentially final year in the program by the time this 2025 class arrives to be the foundation for the future.

Simms is walking into a great situation in that regard, even if USC does add another big WR commit this cycle. The Trojans will also always be able to boster that unit through the transfer portal, as Riley has done aggressively three straight years now, but Simms could be in the same position entering his sophomore season as those aforementioned former top recruits (and underrated one in Lane's case) are now.

Meanwhile, the Trojans move up 6 spots to No. 20 in the Rivals recruiting rankings.

According to STLhighschoolsports.com, Simms had 79 catches for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns over 14 games last fall for Christian Brothers College HS in St. Louis. Watch his highlights here.

Rivals recruiting analyst Greg Smith gives his scouting report on Simms:

"Simms is a great pickup for USC. He’s a versatile receiver that can play in the slot and on either side of the field outside. The four-star has strong hands and a good frame to win contested catches. Simms isn’t a burner but he’s shifty enough to make plays with the ball after the catch. It’ll be fun to see how he’s utilized in Lincoln Riley’s wide-open offense. Having the St. Louis native on the roster also helps the program as it moves into the Big Ten. Simms is valuable on the field but he can also help Riley tap into more Midwest talent."