Spring visits vital for next phase of recruitment for USC 5-star QB commit Julian Lewis

Things continue to take shape in the ongoing recruitment of Carrollton (Ga.) five-star quarterback and USC commit Julian ‘Juju’ Lewis.

Last week, the coveted signal-caller told On3’s Chad Simmons that he has locked in a set of spring visits for next month. Alabama (March 8), Georgia (March 14), Auburn (March 16), Colorado (March 22) and USC (March 30) are all scheduled to get Lewis back on campus.

Since USC landed Lewis’ pledge last August, the Trojans have had a massive target on their back. A lot has happened since the five-star committed, as he has reclassified to the 2025 cycle, while programs have shifted their coaching staffs in the offseason.

With a new batch of visits on the horizon, Lincoln Riley and Co. now have to prepare for another round of high-profile schools giving Lewis their best recruiting pitches, attempting to sway him away from USC.

“Those are the schools that are still on his radar. Those are the schools that are still competing with USC for Juju Lewis,” Simmons said on The Inside Scoop. “I don’t think he’ll take official visits to those five, I think he’ll take those five in the spring, there’s been talk about him going back to USC for a spring game, maybe even Georgia’s spring game in April, as well.”

Upcoming visits could decide next steps in Lewis’ recruitment

There’s plenty riding on any visit with any prospect, but the dial turns past 10 when it comes to recruiting a player of Lewis’ caliber. Auburn, Colorado and Georgia have already had Lewis on campus once in 2024, while Alabama has also been a fixture in his recruitment in the past.

As the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 2 QB in the On3 Industry Ranking inches closer to making a final decision, though, every conversation and every visit carries big-time weight. What happens on Lewis’ next five visits could play in a major part in who receives official visits later in the year, as well as who is still considered a contender alongside USC.

“I do think coming out of these trips in March, he’ll maybe have a more clear picture about who gets an OV. We expect USC to get one, I fully expect Georgia — who I think is USC’s biggest competitor right now — to get one,” Simmons said. “Could he take three? Could he take four? I don’t think he takes five, don’t know if he gets to four.”

Of the upcoming visits on the docket, Simmons points to Lewis’ first trip as the most intriguing. Alabama is ushering in a new era following the retirement of Nick Saban and hiring of Kalen DeBoer. The new staff in Tuscaloosa finds itself behind with a lot of the elite 2025 recruits, but it still has a chance to show Lewis that there’s still plenty of reasons to come play for the Crimson Tide next year.

“I think the one to watch, probably the most interesting one going into March is Alabama, the first school he trips to. We know Bama’s always been high on his radar under the old staff with Nick Saban, obviously,” Simmons said. “The change has raised more questions for the Lewis family, where they fit, how they connect and relate with Sheridan, DeBoer and that staff in Alabama. The turnover, they have a lot more questions now for that staff. To me, that’s the most intriguing visit out of these five in March.”