2023 SoCal RB Johnny Thompson Jr. commits to USC

Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian running back Johnny Thompson Jr. celebrated his birthday Monday by committing to USC.

Thompson is the first player in the 2023 cycle to commit to the Trojans and the second player to commit to the program since Clay Helton was fired on Sept. 14.

USC was Thompson’s first and only Division I offer. He was offered by the Trojans two weeks ago.

Through the first eight games of the season, Thompson has 95 carries for 469 yards and five touchdowns. He also has 16 catches for 156 receiving yards and has made 14 tackles and four pass deflections in the secondary on defense.

He has previously said that USC is his dream school.

The Trojans do not have a running back commit in the 2022 recruiting class. They currently have offers extended to five different uncommitted running back prospects, including Las Vegas Desert Pines four-star Jovantae Barnes, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco’s Rayshon Luke and Norco (Calif.) High’s Jaydn Ott.

Barnes is No. 85 overall recruit in the 2022 On300 rankings and Ott is a former Cal commit.

While running backs looks to be in his future in Los Angeles, On3’s Director of Recruiting and Rankings Charles Power believes that Thompson also has potential to play cornerback at the next level.

“Johnny Thompson is a two-way athlete at Oaks Christian, playing running back and corner,” Power said. “As a running back, he’s quicker than fast and is at his best when operating as an all-purpose back who is able to present a receiving threat out of the backfield. He looks to hurdle defenders at a high rate and has leapt over several mid-way through his junior season. Thompson is a smooth mover at corner and has shown some physicality as a cover down defender. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him project as a nickel on that side of the ball.”