USC’s push for Derrick Coleman Jr. is already turning into one of the first real recruiting tests of the 2028 cycle, and the competition sits right across town.
The Junipero Serra safety has given both USC and UCLA the kind of traction programs chase early. Rivals’ Adam Gorney said the Trojans and Bruins have been the two schools with the strongest, most consistent relationship with Coleman as fall approaches, and Coleman has already called it a “battle” between the crosstown rivals.
USC has leaned on development and history. UCLA, meanwhile, has made a strong pitch of its own with familiar faces around Coleman’s orbit. Former teammates Rodrick Pleasant and Devin Kirkwood are there, along with defensive lineman Robert James III, receiver Jordan Lasley and others, and Coleman has also taken to new head coach Bob Chesney.
The visits will keep this thing moving. Coleman is scheduled to be at USC for the Trojans’ season opener against San Jose State, per Rivals. Then in October, he is set to visit UCLA and later return to USC.
At 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, Coleman enters his junior season with a growing national profile. 247Sports lists him as a four-star recruit, while ESPN and On3/Rivals have him as a three-star.
The Gardena native is ranked No. 217 nationally by 247Sports, sits at No. 18 at his position there, and is also ranked No. 66 by On3/Rivals. In California, he checks in at No. 17 by 247Sports and No. 59 by On3/Rivals.
Coleman has already logged real varsity production. He began his career as a true freshman in the 2024-2025 season, playing in nine games and posting seven total tackles and two pass breakups, per MaxPreps. As a sophomore, he made a big jump with 71 tackles, including 34 solo stops and five tackles for loss, plus two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
The recruiting services may list him as a safety or corner, but Coleman brings the full defensive back package. He can handle the nickel spot too, mostly works in zone, and plays with enough physicality to jar the ball loose from receivers.
His best trait shows up against the run. Coleman gets downhill quickly, closes space from the secondary in a flash, wraps up well and tackles reliably in the open field. He also comes free when used on blitzes and brings more thump than you’d expect from his frame.
USC and UCLA are far from the only schools in the mix. Coleman also holds offers from Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Georgia Tech, Miami, Oklahoma, Washington and others, according to 247Sports and On3/Rivals. Gorney reported that he will visit Cal and Arizona State in September, then Washington and Arizona in November.
The Trojans offered Coleman on May 18, one day before UCLA did the same. Rivals also notes that UCLA has already hosted him for an unofficial visit, giving the Bruins one more foothold in the race.
If USC wins out, Coleman would become the second-biggest recruiting addition for first-year safeties and defensive pass game coordinator Paul Gonzales, who previously landed in-state four-star safety Gavin Williams in the 2027 class. General manager Chad Bowden and assistant general manager Dre Brown have also been heavily involved in Coleman’s recruitment.
USC has been building stronger recruiting lanes with schools like Santa Margarita and Mater Dei during its resurgence. Coleman could become the next key link in a rebuilt Serra-to-Southern Cal pipeline.
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