Elite EDGE Braylan Shelby commits to USC: 'They're on their way back to the top'

Elite EDGE defender Braylan Shelby was hopeful to have his college commitment made before his birthday arrives on August 10, and his wish just came true — after almost two weeks of going back and forth between a pair of programs on the rise.

Shelby, the nation’s No. 101 player in the On300, declared for USC over Texas on Saturday. The Friendswood (Texas) four-star defender called it a hard decision sorting through which program would be the right home. Ultimately, it came down to Lincoln Riley and the Trojans’ vision for the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder flying off the edge as a defensive centerpiece.

“USC is really changing their program around and you can tell by the way all the kids act now, how they’re focused on going back to the top and trying to become that winning program that they were,” Shelby told On3. “I’ve been talking to Coach Riley and he’s really taken on that mentality and I could see it all in front of me at USC.”

Shelby has been down to the Trojans and Longhorns for a good chunk of the summer after a pair of official visits to USC (June 17) and then to Austin (June 24). The On3 Consensus’ No. 19-rated EDGE maintained that both of his finalists checked off boxes in terms of academic boxes in the business school as well as on the field. The Trojans viewed Shelby as a catalyst, though.

“They think I can come in and be that blue-chip player to build the defense around as far as an edge-rusher being the perfect fit,” Shelby said. “Knowing that they need me, I could come in and really change it up.”

“I really liked it out there and enjoyed it out there. It’s L.A.,” he added on his official visit to USC. “I love the program and how they’re on their way back to the top.”

Shelby is tabbed as the No. 138 overall player in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.