Linebacker Jamil Muhammad Commits to USC
The processes of recruiting high school and transfer prospects are completely different animals. With the high school athletes coaching staffs can spend more than two solid years on a target. The transfer portal players are often done with the recruiting process in less than two weeks.
USC is in desperate need of adding linebackers this offseason and have only one prep backer committed in Tackett Curtis. It also doesn’t appear Brian Odom and the Trojans will add another high school linebacker to the 2023 recruiting class.
On Sunday morning USC added an extremely talented linebacker in Jamil Muhammad from Georgia St.
The Trojans offered Muhammad on Wednesday. He had 44 tackles, five tackles for a loss and one interception this season for the Panthers.
Muhammad told WeAreSC that afternoon he could end up committing after his official visit, a visit he took this weekend.
“Yess! I am coming and may leave with big news , we’ll see.”
He added this when asked about his USC official visit.
“It was so dope,” he said.
The move from QB to Linebacker
Muhammad signed with Vanderbilt as a quarterback out of James Clemens High School in Madison, Ala., but transferred to Georgia State in 2019 after one season.
Muhammad competed for the open quarterback slot with the Panthers during the summer, but was beaten out by Quad Brown, who was viewed as a long-term solution.
Not wishing to waste Muhammad’s athletic ability, he was asked to switch positions and move from playing quarterback to chasing quarterbacks at outside linebacker. After a year of on-the-job training, Muhammad has become a defensive fixture capable of making game-changing plays, which he did again Saturday in the 37-10 over Troy.
CAREER STATISTICS
ACADEMIC HONORS
• Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll, 2020-21
• Dean’s List, Spring 2020
• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Fall 2021; Spring 2022
AT GEORGIA STATE: Outside linebacker who emerged as one of Georgia State’s top defenders in 2021 … Former quarterback who moved to defense midway through the 2020 season.
2021: Led Georgia State with six sacks, tied for the second-highest season total in program history. Also had two forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup … Had five sacks over the final four games … Made a huge play in the bowl win over Ball State with a sack and forced fumble that Javon Denis returned 37 yards for a touchdown. Also had a sack on the game’s first play … Had two sacks and returned a fumble 72 yards for a touchdown vs. Troy, the third-longest defensive score in program history … On Troy’s next drive after the scoop-and-score, he had two sacks in three plays, totaling 18 yards, to force a missed field goal … Made another huge defensive play in win at No. 22/21 Coastal Carolina. With GSU ahead by one in fourth quarter, he had a strip sack to cause a fumble that the Panthers recovered at the CCU 8-yard line to set up a touchdown. Also had a pass breakup in the game … Had a sack in win vs. Texas State.
2020: Made an immediate impact on special teams while learning the linebacker position … Played in nine games and made four tackles, including two vs. Georgia Southern … Originally signed with Vanderbilt but enrolled at Georgia State in August 2019 and took a redshirt year.
HIGH SCHOOL: All-region quarterbacks at James Clemens High School … Passed for 1,773 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 942 yards and 18 TDs as a senior … Three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … Also lettered in basketball.
