Even with generational quarterback Caleb Williams leaving SC for the NFL Draft, the future looks very bright at the QB position for the USC Trojans, especially with this new announcement from Julian Lewis. Miller Moss is set to be the starter after a breakout game in the Holiday Bowl, and Mountain West Freshman of the Year Jayden Maiava committed to USC earlier this month.
Julian “JuJu” Lewis, the number one QB and overall prospect in the 2026 class has reclassified to the 2025 class. Lewis has been committed to USC since August and now this means that he can enroll and join the football program a year earlier.
How Committed To The USC Trojans Is Julian Lewis?
Let’s start with the bad news first. While Lewis is committed to USC, he has been transparent that his recruitment is still open and has been recruited heavily by in-state Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, and Texas, among others.
While the other schools are certainly all big-hitters, Georgia and Kirby Smart are the school that USC fans need to watch most closely.
“Georgia and Alabama have been recruiting me the hardest and have never stopped,” Lewis told Steve Wiltfong of 247 Sports. “I know what the opportunity is at Georgia. The opportunity to win championships, be coached and developed for the next level, and represent my home state.”
Things could change a bit for Alabama with Kalen DeBoer as the lead man, but everyone saw what he was able to accomplish at Washington in Michael Penix.
Lewis also spoke on this relationship with Coach Sarkisian at Texas.
“I’ve known coach Sark since I was 10 years old,” Lewis said. “He’s a great guy and now you see the success Texas is having. He and (quarterbacks) coach (AJ) Milwee coach their guys hard but develop them and get them ready for the next level.”
In regards to committing to USC, Julian Lewis mentioned Lincoln Riley’s success and pedigree with developing quarterbacks.
“Coach Riley being the quarterback coach and OC makes USC different than a lot of programs,” Lewis said. He’s proven, all he does is turn his quarterbacks into the best players in college football.
NIL will certainly come into play here, and USC will have another year to strengthen its NIL program which will aid in keeping Lewis committed. But more importantly, if USC gets back to their winning ways, that will speak the loudest.
Why Julian Lewis Reclassifying to 2025 Is Good For USC Trojans
Current projected starter Miller Moss has two years of eligibility remaining. Incoming transfer QB Jayden Maiava has 3-4 years remaining. You obviously never know with the transfer portal these days, but if Lewis stays committed, the Trojans should never have a down year at QB for the next five or so years.
There is always the risk that Lewis demands to start right away in his freshmen year, but more than likely, it will be best for his development to sit a year. That year would either be Moss’s final year of eligibility or Jayden Maiava’s first year starting. And then Lewis could potentially take over in 2026 and run the program for the next 2-3 seasons.
In today’s college football world, there is always the risk of a player transferring instead of competing, but on paper, the Trojans are now set at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
