USC Trojans Commitment Interview with 4-Star 2021 Washington ATH Julien Simon

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Since Class of 2021 talent Julien Simon laced up the cleats for Tacoma’s Lincoln High School, he has been that three-way standout capable of winning games for the Abes in a variety of ways. Simon closed out his junior season earning first team All-State honors as a receiver and defensive back, League Defensive MVP, was first team All-League as a receiver, and All-Area first team DB. The stat sheet was filled with 83 receptions for 1,033 yards with 12 scores and 38 totes of the rock for 182 yards seven times crossing into the end zone. On special teams, Simon took back seven punts for 139 yards and one kick for 47. On defense, the 6-2, 2225-pound, standout racked up 32 stops with two tackles for a loss, two sacks, two QB hurries, forced a fumble, picked off four, and knocked away eight hopeful passes.

The body of work for the four-star recruit brought out 20 scholarship offers Simon’s way. On April 1, Simon posted his Top 8 schools: Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Cal, Arizona State, USC, Texas, and Stanford. On Sunday, May 10, Mother’s Day, Simon publicly announced his verbal commitment to the USC Trojans.

In an RNG exclusive interview, Simon covers the ins-and-outs of his recruiting process with the Trojans.

Interview

Julien, congratulations on your commitment to USC.

“Thank you.”

On April 1 you put out a top schools list, how difficult was that for you taking your 20 offers down to eight?

“It was difficult, but I felt like it was picking – making the right choices. A lot of it was based on the relationships with the coaching staffs and the types of school. I had a lot of good relationships but not all were the right fit. It was a combination of relationship, the believe they had in me becoming a good player at their program, and the right fit.”

Was there a moment for you where the interest and offer from USC turned into a heavy lean?

“Oh yeah. Definitely. Not a lot of people know this, but USC was my first offer. They offered on April 25, 2018; I will never forget. It was a different coaching staff that offered. I did not have a good relationship with them at first, but once the new staff moved in Coach Donte Williams (CB), he took it and ran with it. Him, Coach Mike Jinks (RB), Coach Michael Hutchings (GA), and Coach Todd Orlando (DC), they are one of the biggest reasons why I committed to USC.”

What was that thing that gave you the feeling that USC was the ideal next level fit?

“I became a silent commitment two or three weeks ago. I knew then but wanted to announce on a special day. At the beginning of April, I realized that USC was the school for me. It was during a normal conversation with Coach Williams. He was asking me questions, asking about myself and my family, and all that was going on. Then he asked, “what is stopping you from coming to USC”?

“Over the course of talking to the coaches, seeing where I would fit, I fell in love with the school. I fell in love with the university because of what they have to offer, their player development, and your development off the field. He asked me a question, “why”, what is stopping you from committing? I said, “I don’t know, let me think about that.” Two weeks or so later I committed.”

When did you commit and who did you commit to on the staff?

“April 26 is when I committed. What is crazy, I just realized this, it was a day later than when I got my offer two years ago. I committed the next day two years later. Funny how it works out.

“The day before, on April 25, I told Coach Williams we need to do a Zoom meeting with the whole staff. I had not said it yet, but he knew I was committing. On the Zoom call, the whole staff was there, the offensive and defensive staff, everyone was there. I committed to the entire staff.”

Very cool. Just before you made that commitment, even before you got on the meeting with the coaches, what was racing through your mind?

“I just knew, this is the right place for me – that is what was going over and over in my head. Seeing myself in the uniform and all that I can do there, being the best that I can be as student and as a man. It was playing through my mind that this was the perfect fit for me. I knew I picked the right school. There was a lot of happiness and emotion.”

Now that a dream and goal of yours has been accomplished, how do you feel?

“Man, it is unexplainable. You dream of this as a little kid. It has been my dream. At a young age I started playing football; I started at five-years-old. The only thing for a minute that my brothers and I would watch, two channels, ESPN or Nickelodeon, maybe the Cartoon Network. Watching and seeing all the good players on ESPN, and everywhere across the country, all the good teams in the NFL and in college – we were always watching football. Being a big sports guy, and doing sports that I can walk and talk, there are no words to put together to express how excited I am and how blessed I am.”

Since you can do so many things on the field and at such a high level, at which position do they see you fitting in on the roster?

“That is a tough one. I would say for the most part, probably linebacker. But also, they are willing to give me a shot to play offense at running back or whatever the case may be. I do not want to limit myself; they will give me a shot both ways, which I appreciate.”

Will you start helping recruit others to join you in the class?

“Definitely; I already started. I have started getting USC in their ear, but they did not know I had committed already.”

What is your pitch or what will be your pitch?

“I will just say, this is one of the major reasons I want to go to USC – academics, football, and a social life. USC is a great school with great academics and great football that is on the rise with a rich football tradition. There is a long list of great players coming out of USC. With the social life, you can go to the beach, to Santa Monica, a park – there is so much LA has to offer. On top of that you are getting a good education and a degree that can carry you. Great weather too, you can have it all.”

Have you or are you going to do anything to celebrate this great achievement?

“I think Sunday will be a big celebration. My mom is ordering Olive Garden. We will have a couple people over, a mini celebration at my house.”

Julien, it was a lot of fun getting the commitment interview in with you today. I am pumped for your senior season and to see what you have ahead in life at the collegiate level. Thanks for your time today and keep up all the hard work.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Simon family; Julien Simon at USC