USC and 5-star LB Xavier Griffin part ways

Five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin is no longer committed to USC. The Gainesville (Ga.) High blue-chipper wants to continue taking visits so head coach Lincoln Riley and his staff are moving on as well.

Tabbed by the On3 Industry as the nation’s No. 2 linebacker and No. 28 prospect overall, Griffin had been a verbal to the Trojans since last July.

USC has 27 commits and the precedent is set regarding taking visits moving forward. They did have the On3 Industry’s No. 1 class in the country, but now sit at No. 2 behind LSU.

Contenders moving forward for Xavier Griffin

Schools in the mix moving forward for Griffin will include Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Florida State, Tennessee, Ohio State and Michigan. He was previously set to visit USC the weekend of June 20. Look for new dates to pop up on the intinerary.

Christian Robinson is leading the charge in Alabama’s efforts to recruit Griffin.

“He’s been a real genuine coach,” Griffin recently told Bama On Line’s Andrew Bone. “He’s never stopped recruiting me. He’s always been consistent. We didn’t really talk about football. He talked about how much I’ve grown since the first time he met me.

“I talk to him at least once a week. I’ve talked to Coach (Kalen) DeBoer a few times on the phone as well. He basically has just said the same thing. They want to get back over there. They want to spend time with me and be around all the guys on the team.”

Griffin is recruited as a ‘Wolf’ linebacker. He noted the main reason for the continued interest in Alabama is his relationship with C-Rob. Griffin was born in Huntsville and was raised an Alabama fan. “Whatever school I go to, I’ll always be a Bama fan,” he told BOL last July. “I think you’ve got to kind of put that to the side when it comes to recruiting.”

It was a busy April for Griffin. Texas got him on campus for the first time and On3’s Chad Simmons reported things went well in Austin.

“It impressed me a good bit out there. I had heard a lot of good things about it, so it wasn’t too different than I expected it to be, but it was nice. The culture and the people stood out to me the most.”

Simmons also had the latest on Griffin’s spring visit to Florida State.

“I enjoyed my time down there. What I liked the most was coach Norvell. He is the same guy now as he was when he offered me. He is a good guy, we spent some time together and I like the people down there.”

Griffin returned to Athens and Knoxville for spring practices too.

“I had a good time at Georgia,” Griffin told Simmons. “I saw them practice and they coach up their guys hard, they are intense and it is always good to see them compete. They keep pushing for me to visit, they have a good staff and it is nice up there.”

“Tennessee is a good school and I have a good feeling with the coaching staff. They are genuine people and I have a good feeling each time I go up there.”