DL Fakatou Reschedules USC Visit

[BigBalls]

No new date has been set for the official visit
No shade because every recruit looks at the depth chart, this guy just says the quiet part out loud. He makes mention of the recent big DL commit USC just received. He noticed. We’ll have to see if USC writes the big check and if it’s enough to convince him to overlook the depth at USC.

 

On the other hand, Fakatou has been consistent about the reasons USC is not at the top of his list of favorite schools.

“I think the defensive line depth speaks for itself,” said Fakatou. “They have tons of great talent there.

“I’m not saying I’m afraid to compete with them, but it’s a little crowded there. They just got another commit yesterday that adds to the d-line room. I don’t see what value I’d be adding over there.”

• This topic was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by BigBalls.

[GTrojan2]

Nice wheelhouse post BB. Thanks.

[Butkus51]

Dam it, bad news on a Sunday.  Wipe out.  Really wanted Fakatou badly, looks like he’s a goner.  I’m not sure money is the issue; but playing time, and which team show him all da Love will land dis awesome DL.  Funny feeling, Fakatou is gonna pick UCLA.  I hope GM Bowden do not give up and just continue to show him da love…  Cheers

[BigBalls]

It feels like Oregon or ND Bruddah.

Fakatou did say in a previous interview and after a UCLA visit that he feels he can start there on day one. But I also read his NIL demands are steep. We will see if the Bruins are ready to spend some of that B1G payout money on a DLineman.

His top 5 are OSU, ND, GA, OR and TX all big bag schools. I don’t think staying in SoCal is that important to him.

[Butkus51]

Bruddah Balls, just heard a podcaster say dat USC (GM Bowden) told Fakatou dat they won’t play the bidding game with him, but he was still a key player for their 2027 class.  After hearing dat, I believe GM Bowden wants a player to make up his mind right now, take USC offer and be all in for USC.  Looking over Bowden’s style for the past 2 years, when players shop around turns him off.  Good examples were QB Ryder Lyons and QB Justin Lewis, they kept dicking around and USC dropped them.

Shoot, C. Smart of UGA feels the same way and conducts his recruitment of players in da same manner.

After listening Fakatou’s many post visits interviews, I feel he is playing schools most likely per agent advice?  I heard today he said, Ohio St, ND and UGA are his top 3.  Every week his top 3 changes.  The kid is very talented, but maybe GM Bowden is correct about bringing in players for the FB program with the right attitude and mind set.

OK, I feel good with our 3 DL players for the class; they are top players.  But, dam it we need a QB for dis 2027 class…  Cheers

[BigBalls]

Good post Bruddah. Yes, USC told Fakatou he needs to decide now versus his plan of waiting until August. I think USC is moving on.

Im hearing nothing on a QB lately. Crickets. I think QB recruiting strategies are changing in this new NIL world. The QB position requires a huge investment and I think teams aren’t stacking talent like they used to before NIL. USC rejected Longstreet’s request for more money and he walked. Seems to me USC is  good with two highly paid guys and backups that are fine with just a free education. I also think teams feel they can entice a guy into the portal if need be.

 

[Butkus51]

Good points Bruddah Balls.  But, LSU, Ohio St, Texas, Texas AM are still loading up and paying Big Bucks for QB’s.  Their QB room = 4 top QB’s.  These schools go after a top QB every year.  Heck C. Kiffin got 3 QB’s last year (Longstreet and Leavitt + a TP) and dis year will get 2 more.

After dis 2026 season (Maiava and Huard leaving) what USC is facing for 2027 as of right now = 1 top QB in Jonas Williams.  So, he picked up a 1 star HS QB, Alex Meydn as a PWO 2 weeks ago for 2026.  Seen his tape and not comfortable with him being a backup QB.  Nah, for sure we are gonna need a top QB for dis 2027 class.  So far he is looking at 2 known QB’s, 3.5* Dane Weber and 3* Caden Jones but has not offered them.  Seen their HL tapes and like both of them and think would fit nicely behind Jona’s.  But, Weber does not have USC in his top 8 and Jones is leaning to Zona.

Maybe he is talking to some committed top QB’s and trying to flip them or waiting for the TP in Dec 2026 (risky strategy IMO)?  What pisses me off, after Longstreet left and the Louisiana QB decided for LSU, C.LR should have made getting a QB top priority.  But, his laziness got him in dis position and no QB yet (Wipe Out).

Well, there’s 5 more spots to fill and hope we get our targets from their Big Board, 2 OL, DB-S, LB, QB…  Cheers

[FresnoMike]

I hear that he is very interested in playing with Jackson Vaughn, an Edge out of NJ.  They have become good friends.  Vaughn. is reclassifying to 2027 from 2028.

[Butkus51]

Maybe so Bruddah FresnoMike, but he is close friends to several USC players as well,  So what does all this means?  At this time, I’m not sure what factors are going to influence Fakatou in picking a school.  Every time he goes to a school, he raves about them, even saying they are in his top 3.  I’m sure he has a crafty, smart agent advising him…  Cheers

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Butkus51.

[ATLBRUIN]

Fakatou was at the UCLA spring game yesterday. Not sure if the two are related.

[Daystalker]

You don’t say!

[PasadenaTrojan]

So you guys gonna start talking the found $20-25? Or still think Bob Cheney just sweets talks them all day?

I would ASSUME a 5 star DL is a million dollars no?

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by PasadenaTrojan.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by PasadenaTrojan.

[Daystalker]

I think it’s about 1.2 per season out of HS at the current moment.  But apparently UCLA is using Harvey Weinstein and Wasserman money, so who cares, right, pay triple.

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