2017 California 4-Star DB Thomas Graham Jr. Talks USC Decommitment and Recruiting

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

By virtue of tradition, location, and great academics, the USC Trojans football program essentially recruits itself year after year. The 2016 class was on track to be perhaps the best in the country but Steve Sarkisian’s mid-season dismissal sent two 5-star linebackers, Daelin Hayes (Skyline HS, MI) and Mique Juarez (Torrance North HS, CA) to Notre Dame and UCLA respectively and may have kept Clovis West High School’s 5-star linebacker Caleb Kelly (Oklahoma) from heading to the Trojans as well.

Regardless of the circumstances, USC still finished with a Top 10 recruiting class per Rivals landing two 5-star commits and 11 recruits considered 4-star talents. The 2017 class was off to another great class with 4-star defensive back Bubba Bolden (Bishop Gorman), 4-star running back Stephen Carr (Summit), 4-star defensive back Thomas Graham Jr. (Rancho Cucamonga), and 3-star wide receiver Marlon Williams. Recruiting is a year round, 24/7 affair for not only the coaches but also for the players. Top talents have college coaches from all over the country in their ear showing them attention, showing them how badly that staff wants said player on their roster in the near future.

Recruiting for the 2017 class for USC has already hit a couple of rough patches with 4-star Pomona High School defensive end Javaris Steward decommitting on April 3 and as of April 5 another 4-star has decommitted, Thomas Graham Jr. Another potentially big hit for the Trojans came in late February when Stephen Carr opened his recruitment back up but still remained verbally committed to USC.

Graham jumped on the scene as a sophomore coming up with 49 tackles, 41 solo, with six pass breakups and one interception playing for Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Making the move to Rancho Cucamonga High School before his junior year, Graham entrenched himself as one of the best secondary players in the nation tallying 103 stops, 41 solo, and defended 15 passes while picking off one for an 82-yard pick-six, recovered four fumbles, forced one fumble, and even blocked a field goal. Showing his versatility and athleticism, the 5’11”, 173 pound, California product hauled in nine passes for 93 yards to round out his junior campaign.

Graham committed to USC on July 1, 2015, but more offers and attention have continued to come in leading to a split with the Trojans. Colleges reportedly offering Graham includes UCLA, Notre Dame, LSU, Arizona State, Cal, Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Boise State, San Jose State, Oklahoma, Louisville, and Illinois.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Graham after his decommitment from USC to get the inside scoop on his parting of ways with the Trojans program and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Thomas, let’s jump right into it. What influenced you to decommit from USC on Tuesday?

“It was a lack of communication. I opened up my options because they are not showing interest in me.”

How did you decommit? Did you call one of the coaches and tell them you were opening your recruiting back up?

“Yeah. I called Coach (Ronnie) Bradford (secondary coach) and told him.”

What did Coach Bradford say to you when you told him you were decommitting?

“He apologized for not communicating with me more and said he will still recruit me.”

Have you come up with a Top 5 list or something like that since opening your recruiting back up?

“No, everyone has a fair shot.”

Of the schools that have offered you, which schools are pushing harder for your commitment maybe a little bit more than the others?

“UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, LSU, and Oklahoma.”

Are there any schools that have not offered you yet but are in regular contact like they might offer you in the future?

“Michigan and Nebraska.”

Do you have any unofficial visits set up for the offseason?

“None anytime soon. I might go to UCLA because it is close. That’s a school I could see myself going to.”

Are you going to any camps?

“Just the (Nike) Opening and a Rivals camp.”

What are you working on in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I’m getting my game better. That’s really it. I’m working on my craft for the football season so I can take my team as far as I can.”

Are you playing any spring sports for Rancho Cucamonga?

“No, I’m focused on football.”

How is everything going in the classroom?

“Everything in the classroom is going well. I have a 3.3 GPA.”

Thomas, thanks for your time today and good luck with your recruitment process going forward.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: wearesc.com; No. 11 Thomas Graham after a Rancho Cucamonga game (2015).

Photo credit: Thomas Graham Jr.; Thomas Graham Jr. works at a USC camp (June 2015).