Georgia Bulldogs 4-star commit Vance Spafford Visits USC Trojans for Junior Day

Mission Viejo (CA) four-star wide receiver Vance Spafford will visit the USC Trojans for Junior Day on Feb. 1, he announced on Twitter on Sunday. The talented pass catcher committed to the Georgia Bulldogs in November after being blown away during his visit to Athens in the fall. Spafford is the No. 13 receiver and No. 76 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings.

USC is late in the mix after offering Spafford earlier this month, but Lincoln Riley and the Trojans staff will continually push for the local prospect from now until the early national signing period in December. Spafford plays his high school ball an hour’s drive from the USC campus.

The Trojans hired Chad Savage from Colorado State as tight ends and inside receivers coach, and he could be a new factor in Spafford’s recruitment. Local high school coaches raved about Savage during his time with the Rams. USC also made a potentially program-changing move when they hired Chad Bowden out of Notre Dame to be their new general manager.

As the Trojans prioritize local recruiting for the 2026 cycle, they have pulled out all the stops to ensure they have the right personnel to finish in the highest-ranked class in nearly a decade. USC currently has the #2 ranking in the On3 Industry Rankings, the last time they finished in the top 5 was in 2018.

MORE: Colorado Buffaloes’ Deion Sanders NCAA violation: USC Trojans fire Julian Lewis

MORE: Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones Interested in Pete Carroll to replace Mike McCarthy?

MORE: Reggie Bush Reveals Biggest Changes Needed at USC Trojans, Lincoln Riley Offense

“It’s clear they’re strengthening their off-the-field recruiting department and have landed one of the best players in college football,” On3’s Steve Wiltfong said. “Chad was instrumental in making Notre Dame a national title contender again. He was the right-hand man, the extension of the head football coach (Marcus Freeman) and the message on the court.

Gainesville (GA) four-star linebacker and USC commit Xavier Griffin will also be on campus next weekend. It will be his fifth time in Los Angeles. The coveted linebacker was at the Coliseum twice in the fall, on September 9 against Utah State and on November 16 against Nebraska. Griffin is the No. 2 linebacker and No. 24 in the On3 Industry Rankings.

USC hosted a number of elite recruits from the Midwest this weekend. Archbishop Hoban (OH) five-star cornerback Elbert Hill made the trip west, the same week defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn visited him in Ohio. Hill is the No. 1 cornerback and No. 17 overall prospect for the 2026 cycle. Hill impressed during his time on campus and will return for an official visit sometime in the spring.

Class Technical (MI) four-star receiver CJ Sadler was tendered by the Trojans when he visited this week and raved about his time on campus. Sadler is the No. 16 receiver and No. 98 overall. He is the teammate of 2025 USC four-star cornerback signee Alex Graham.

“Overall, USC is a great place,” Sadler told On3. “Alex Graham, a former Cass Tech guy he just enrolled in December. That’s my husband. He told me a lot about USC.”

Harper Woods (MI) receiver Dakota Guerrant was also on campus. He is the No. 2 receiver and No. 22 prospect in the 2027 recruiting cycle.