Childhood Fandom Drawing 5-Star Keisean Lucier-South to USC

If you're a high school senior who grew up in Southern California, your introduction to college football as a child likely came in the form of a scintillating Reggie Bush sprint or a helmet-rattling Brian Cushing hit. Memories of the Pete Carroll era are ingrained in the minds of young, rising stars throughout the region, including Keisean Lucier-South.

The coveted Orange County prospect looked elsewhere when it came to collegiate options for quite some time, but recent events have caused him to reconsider his stance on the Trojans. Suddenly, head coach Steve Sarkisian and company are sitting pretty with the 5-star pass-rusher.

Lucier-South, a coveted 6'5", 225-pound playmaker who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds, announced a top five of Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan, Oregon and UCLA—in no particular order—this summer. He disregarded USC for reasons that resonated on a personal level.

“I thought USC wasn’t really interested in me because they just didn't recruit me much," Lucier-South said. "Honestly, that was pretty disappointing because I grew up watching the team and have a lot of good memories and respect for the program. So that’s why I took them off the list. It just seemed like they didn't want me and I'm not interested in being where I'm not wanted."

He's not sure if his list of favorites sent a message to the folks in Los Angeles, but the Trojans' approach quickly changed.

"Pretty much right after I released my top five, the team started coming after me harder and harder," Lucier-South said. "That got me thinking."

Credit: 247Sports

His growing sentiment that USC deserved another opportunity culminated earlier this season when Sarkisian attended an Orange Lutheran High School game to watch him play.

That list was going to need another look after all.

“It blew me away when Coach Sark showed up to my game and it showed me how much they actually care about me," he said. "That made me reconsider things and now USC is back in the picture. USC is definitely a team I’m looking at closely. Things have changed in a hurry."

Of course, the Trojans must still contend with several other suitors.

Lucier-South, rated No. 2 nationally among weak-side defensive ends in 247Sports' composite rankings, is set to make an official visit to Michigan this weekend. The Wolverines have suffered three straight defeats, and speculation has grown this may be Brady Hoke's final season as head coach in Ann Arbor.

"It's going to be very interesting when I get there because there are some unknowns," he said. "I don't know if Coach Hoke is going to be there at the end of this season or the start of next year. They're still recruiting me hard as ever, but it's definitely a little weird and a situation I'm not dealing with at other schools."

Those other options include Oregon, where he's headed on Halloween weekend. The Ducks provide another potential Pac-12 destination and aim to upgrade the defensive front with players of his caliber.

“I love a lot of things about Oregon—the facilities, the school, the coaching staff," Lucier-South said. "It’s a visit I've been excited about for a long time. There are a lot of things I’ll be looking at while I’m there. It’s another opportunity to consider things before I make a decision.”

He visited Oklahoma earlier this season. Though his initial outlook on the program suggested he would only return to Norman as a member of a visiting team, that perception changed after watching the Sooners defeat Tennessee.

“Oklahoma was really a surprising visit—in a great way," Lucier-South said. "It was an excellent visit in every way. I thought it would be a small, boring town, but that wasn’t what it was like at all. I could definitely see myself living there for the next four or five years. I have a lot of love for coach (Jerry) Montgomery and coach (Bob) Stoops.”

His latest campus tour took place at UCLA, where he watched the Bruins go down in dramatic fashion. Utah pulled off a road visit to derail UCLA's unbeaten season.

Surprisingly, the Bruins' cross-town rival came up in conversations while Lucier-South sat in the Rose Bowl bleachers.

“I spent a lot of time talking with (4-star 2014 prospect) Osa Masina at the UCLA game, and he really seemed interested in USC," he said. "It’s a place he could see himself playing, and I feel the same way. We have a lot in common because we can both play linebacker or defensive end. The two of us could do a lot of damage together if it works out that way.”

Lucier-South spent the first three games of his senior season lined up at outside linebacker, which was previously unfamiliar territory for him. Due to injuries along the defensive front, he has since moved back to end. 

The experience provided an opportunity for Lucier-South to gauge his strengths and weaknesses at each position. Some teams, including Michigan, are recruiting him exclusively at linebacker.

“I really liked standing up and was surprised by how much of a difference it makes," he said. "I think I’m a better pass-rusher when I start off the play like that. Except, I do think I can generate more power when my hand is in the dirt. I wouldn't say I have a preference of where I line up in college but I’m excited about the possibility of playing either position."

Lucier-South has spent the past two seasons tormenting quarterbacks. Since the start of his junior campaign, he's tallied 67 tackles, including 17 for loss, and 12 sacks, per MaxPreps.

Despite the ebbs and flows of a frenzied recruiting cycle, Lucier-South refuses to focus on just one aspect of the journey. His goal is to find the complete package before national signing day.

“This process isn’t all about football and I think that’s important for all recruits to remember," he said. "There’s a lot more that goes into life at college. Football is very important for three months out of the year but education and everything else plays a huge role and I won’t lose focus of that.”

All quotes courtesy of B/R national recruiting analyst Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.