John Houston to USC: Trojans Land 4-Star LB Prospect

Junipero Serra High School linebacker John Houston has announced his college intentions, making fans and coaches in Los Angeles very happy.

According to Justin Hopkins of 247Sports, Houston will take his defensive talents to USC starting in the 2015 season:

Despite being a well-known college prospect for the last two years, Houston's stock has continued to rise thanks to his incredible performance on the field and ability to recognize and react in the blink of an eye.

Houston ranked as the No. 6 outside linebacker for the 2015 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. His value truly took off following the 2013 season, in which he recorded 137 tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

According to ESPN.com's scouting report (subscription required), Houston's best assets are his ability to "avoid contact" from would-be blockers and the fact he is capable of playing all three downs thanks to solid coverage skills.

A player with those numbers and potential was always going to draw a lot of interest from the big programs around the country. Houston narrowed down his list of suitors to five in December, posting the candidates in a picture on Twitter:

After narrowing that list down, 247Sports had USC listed as the favorite to get him, which makes sense given Houston's connection to the state of California and his hometown of Gardena being located in the county of Los Angeles.

Houston has more than warranted all the attention with his continued development. He has to fill out moving forward, as the linebacker is listed at 6'3", 211 pounds. The body is still maturing, as you would expect, so the future is bright for this young man in his new home.

On top of that, it's not often that programs find young linebackers who consistently show excellent wrap-up tackling skills and instincts. Houston can be an impact edge-rusher at the next level or dominant three-down linebacker. The tools are there for him to be whatever he wants to become.