4-star 2024 CB Aaron Butler decommits from USC

Calabasas (Calif.) four-star 2024 cornerback Aaron Butler committed to USC back in late January, almost a year ago.

The versatile athlete that has offers to play offense and defense was — and still is — excited about the Trojans’ direction under head coach Lincoln Riley. But after a number of other schools entered his recruitment in the last 12 months, he wants a chance to fully re-evaluate things and has decommitted from USC.

“I have been thinking about it for a while,” he told On3. “It has been on my mind throughout the season, so I have been thinking about it. As I went through my junior season, my vision started to change. The vision I have for myself started to change, I started to think more about my decision and I decided I need to take a step back. It didn’t have to do too much with USC. They played well this season, they showed a good product, but I just decided to do this for me.”

New schools are entering the mix, but a few are standing out

Butler said he will still very much consider USC, but he wants to look at all possible options. He is “110 percent opened back up,” but a few schools are doing a great job recruiting him at the moment.

“Schools like Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee are up there,” he added. “These schools are doing a great job with me and making me feel like a priority. LSU is another one, and Oregon has picked it up, too. They are on me hard. Notre Dame, Michigan State and Texas A&M are three more showing me a lot of interest. … When I committed to USC early on, I didn’t have the knowledge about everything that I have now. I am looking at this decision differently.”

Butler is looking to visit Oregon and Colorado later this month, and he plans to take more unofficial visits this spring before working to get his list down prior to official visits, which he plans to take in the spring and summer.

“I plan to commit on my birthday, July 22, and shut things down,” he said. “I want to get to where I need to in the coming months, keep developing these relationships and make my mind up. By the time I take my last official visit in June, I will know where I am going. On the visits, I will hear each school out and then make my decision. Once I am committed, I will be done. I will only talk with that school. I will play my season, then enroll early.”

Aaron Butler wants to play against the best

One of the biggest things Butler is looking for at the next level is an opportunity to play with and against the country’s best.

“I want to play against the best in the world,” he said. “I am looking at a lot of SEC schools because of that. Competing against the best every week is important to me. I don’t want anyone to be able to knock the competition I play against. That is something else I am looking at. My mindset is to take out the best.”

As for what’s important with individual schools, Aaron Butler says communication from the coach staff. He wants to be able to trust them completely and see that they don’t just want him on their roster, but need him.

“These coaches are taking time out of their busy schedules to get to know me and show me I am important to them is very important to me,” he said. “I am about to get in the lab with them, go to war for them on Saturdays and try to win games together, my connection in them will be very important. The people I will be around on the next level is a big factor for me now.”