4-star safety Hylton Stubbs takes spring visit to USC

There’s a heap of local competition in the recruitment of Jacksonville Mandarin four-star safety Hylton Stubbs, but USC is doing what it can to try and lock down a pledge from the Sunshine State prospect.

The Trojans had Stubbs in for a visit last month, and he was quick to return. He was back on campus today and got to spend time with both USC head coach Lincoln Riley and former Trojans QB and Heisman winner Caleb Williams.

“Coach (Lincoln) Riley is a key reason for my interest in USC,” Stubbs told On3 last month. “I recently talked to coach Riley on the phone a couple days ago. Then, coach (Doug) Belk came to the school and I was talking to him a lot too. They’re showing a lot of interest in me. They love my film, they love how I play and they say they really like me.” 

The usual Florida trio — Florida, Florida State and Miami — are all pushing hard for Stubbs, but USC looks to currently be the school with the best chance at pulling him out of the state. He has locked in official visits to all four programs — and his USC OV is set to come first on May 30.

Florida trending for Stubbs’ pledge

It’s the Gators that are currently trending for Stubbs, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). Billy Napier, Austin Armstrong and the UF staff are making Stubbs a major priority in Gainesville.

“The more I talk to them, the better relationships I’ve built and I’ve had better conversations with them,” Stubbs previously told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I’ll talk with coach Napier a lot … Florida probably talks with me the most.” 

The Seminoles and Hurricanes aren’t to be doubted in this race, either. Coaches in Tallahassee and Coral Gables are also building strong relationships with the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder.

“When I’m there, I get to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes things, a lot of the ins-and-outs of how the coaches coach,” Stubbs said of FSU. “I feel like they’re really real. That’s why I like Florida State. The coaches are always going to be real.” 

“Their culture stands out,” he said of the Canes. “The culture of Miami, you can’t pass it up. You always have to see what’s going on in Miami, to be honest. I love that culture and then, they’re recruiting me pretty hard. Coach Cristobal was at the school and I had a great conversation with him.” 

Stubbs is the No. 67 overall prospect and No. 6 safety in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 8 player in Florida.