Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.
USC landed a key commitment Wednesday when four-star wide receiver Jerome Myles, No. 26 prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300, committed to the Trojans, continuing a hot, late-summer recruiting run for Lincoln Riley and Co.
Myles, who decommitted from Ole Miss in June, is ESPN's fifth-ranked wide receiver in 2025 and stood as the nation's top uncommitted pass catcher prior to his commitment. The No. 1 prospect in the state of Utah this cycle, Myles picked the Trojans over Texas A&M and Utah, and he now lands as the second-ranked member of USC's 2025 class, trailing only five-star quarterback Julian Lewis (No. 2 in the 2025 ESPN 300).
Myles, who felt home ties to Utah and visited Texas A&M in Week 1, told ESPN his recruitment swung on the plan Riley and his staff presented during Myles' Week 2 visit to USC.
"USC just blew everybody out of the water," Myles said. "They produce the most NFL draft picks. And the wide receiver development is crazy. And if I don't make it in football out there, I'll make it some way in life. They're not all about just the football part. I like that."
Myles initially committed to Ole Miss in the spring before pulling his pledge from the Rebels and reopening his commitment. His senior campaign at Utah's Corner Canyon High School ended on Aug. 30 when Myles suffered a season-ending ACL injury, prompting the 6-foot-3, 220-pound prospect to push up his originally scheduled Oct. 30 commitment ceremony. With Myles off the board, four-star pass catcher Jaden Nickens (No. 162 in the ESPN 300) remains as the last uncommitted among ESPN's top-30 wide receivers in 2025.
Myles' pledge comes 10 days after USC secured top inside linebacker prospect Ty Jackson (No. 44 in the ESPN 300), who visited the Trojans on the same weekend as Myles. USC has now added four top-100 pledges since July 30 with Myles and Jackson following Georgia outside linebacker flip Jadon Perlotte (No. 84 in the ESPN 300) and UCF safety flip Kendarius Reddick (No. 89)
USC currently holds the No. 16 recruiting in 2025, per ESPN's latest team rankings for the cycle.
Myles took official visits to Utah and Texas A&M prior to pulling his commitment from Ole Miss in June. Last month, he told ESPN that USC, Texas, A&M, Utah, Georgia and Ohio State had made the cut among the finalists in his recruitment entering his senior season.
Myles' connection with Texas A&M dipped after he visited College Station with Corner Canyon teammate and 2026 quarterback prospect Helaman Casuga during the Aggies' 23-13 loss to Notre Dame on the opening weekend of the regular season. At USC a week later, Myles heard everything he needed from a coaching staff that made Myles a priority after offering him in July.
"I just wanted to learn more about their history and what they have in store for me," Myles said. "When I went out there, they definitely impressed me."
In Myles, USC has a speedy, deep-threat receiver to pair with Lewis in the 2025 class. Myles is a state champion sprinter in the 100 and 200-meter events. Across his sophomore and junior seasons at Corner Canyon, Myles totaled 53 catches for 1,185 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Myles is now the ninth ESPN 300 commit in USC's 2025 class. The 11th-ranked Trojans visit No. 18 Michigan at 3:30 p.m. ET in Week 4