2024 DL Ratumana Bulabalavu commits to USC

Carlsbad (Calif.) Army and Navy Academy three-star defensive lineman Ratumana Bulabalavu has committed to USC.

He chose the Trojans following his decommitment and NLI release from Washington in January.

Bulabalavu is the No. 763 overall prospect and No. 67 DL in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 53 player in California.

For more USC recruiting intel, check out WeAreSC.

The Trojans have landed a late addition to the 2024 class in the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder. Bulabalavu was one of the many prospects who backed off of their pledge to Washington following the departure of head coach Kalen DeBoer.

He quickly took an official visit to USC last weekend and is now set to stay in-state and play under Lincoln Riley and Co. Bulabalavu told WeAreSC that Trojans defensive line coach Shaun Nua was the first to get in contact with him, doing so this past spring.

“It has to do partially with sharing the same ethnicity,” he said of Nua. “We’re both Samoan, so we have connections through the culture. It plays a big role. The Polynesian connection really makes a difference. He knows where I’m coming from, the type of family structure. He understood and was transparent about how he felt about me and how things are going at USC. It’s been a really special connection overall.”

Trojans add late piece to 2024 recruiting class

With the addition of Bulabalavu, the Trojans now have 21 members in their 2024 class — which ranks No. 18 in the nation and No. 5 in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The class includes five top-200 recruits, as well as couple of outliers in the final 2024 On300.

Atlanta Washington four-star EDGE Kameryn Fountain headlines as the No. 63 recruit and No. 9 EDGE in the cycle. Los Angeles Sierra Canyon four-star wide receiver Xavier Jordan flanks as a top-100 prospect and the No. 20 wideout.

Clearwater Academy International four-star interior offensive lineman Jason Zandamela and Cheshire (Conn.) four-star linebacker Elijah Newby are both top-10 players at their respective position, while Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco four-star corner Marcelles Williams is the No. 160 recruit in the cycle.

Bulabalavu is now the third defensive lineman in USC’s class. Savage (Minn.) Prior Lake four-star Jide Abasiri was a big riser in the On300, while Bay City (Texas) four-star Carlon Jones pledged in December after decommitting from Nebraska.