'I had a little bit of tears': USC pledge Danny Lang tells his commitment story

<p><strong>SANTA ANA, Calif. –</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/danny-lang-239994/">Danny Lang</a></strong> was not thinking about a commitment.</p> <p>It was his fourth visit to <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/college/usc-trojans/">USC</a></strong> in just over a week and the coaching staff took him and his entourage over to the Coliseum for one of the most-elaborate recruiting pitches in recent memory.</p> <p>Standing on the field, video messages on the big screen played from former <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/mater-dei-santa-ana-ca-2768/">Mater Dei</a></strong> teammates imploring Lang to join them and to become a big addition in the 2027 class.</p> <p>It moved Lang – and his father – to tears. And that night, the four-star cornerback picked USC over <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/college/oregon-ducks/">Oregon</a></strong>.</p> <p>“When they did the Coliseum thing, I committed there,” Lang said Thursday at the Mater Dei showcase.</p> <p>“I had my agent there with me and he pulled me to the side and we had a little talk and I took it from there.</p> <p>“It felt great. It was special. I had a little bit of tears. Committing to SC and walking around the Coliseum, picturing myself playing there, getting picks, it was a special moment.”</p> <p>It was a week’s worth of visits that crescendoed at that moment. Lang was a top target of general manager <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/chad-bowden-180065/">Chad Bowden</a></strong> and others on the coaching staff as the four-star is super close with position coach <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/trovon-reed-116559/">Trovon Reed</a></strong> as well.</p> <p>As Oregon seized control in Lang’s recruitment, USC’s coaching staff ramped up its efforts which started with a visit the day before to meet with new defensive coordinator <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/gary-patterson-131987/">Gary Patterson</a></strong>. </p> <p>Then he was asked back a second time. A third time. And then the Coliseum visit that sealed the commitment.</p> <p>It was a master class in showing love to a recruit, a prospect willing to listen and be swayed and now the Mater Dei standout is locked in with the Trojans.</p> <p>“Those trips to SC were really big,” Lang said. “I was getting to learn more about them day-by-day, going back up there, seeing how the coaches run the program, see how T-Reed coaches his corners.</p> <p>“It was a learning lesson for sure.</p> <p>“They were on me every day about it. They wanted me to come up before school, after school, really every day. They were calling me every day.</p> <p>“Very important because I felt loved by SC. No other school showed me that much love like SC does. I feel like that was very important.”</p> <p>The Ducks have not given up trying to get Lang in their recruiting class and then <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/college/auburn-tigers/">Auburn</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.on3.com/college/ucla-bruins/">UCLA</a></strong> have also been reaching out as well.</p> <p>It’s going to be tough. That memory of being inside the Coliseum and making his commitment still sticks with Lang and his relationship with Reed is crucial to having him feel comfortable at USC.</p> <p>“My relationship is kind of like a father and son,” Lang said. “He calls me every day, checks on me every day, sees how I’m doing. We don’t just talk about football, either, it’s about life. I feel like that’s really big for sure.”</p>