USC will get an early look at one of California’s most coveted young defenders when Palos Verdes Peninsula safety Jalen Flowers comes to the Coliseum for Saturday’s opener against San José State.
Flowers, a four-star member of the 2028 class, is set for the visit on Aug. 24, according to multiple recruiting outlets. The local standout already sits near the top of the state board, ranking as California’s No. 4 overall prospect by Rivals and No. 3 in the 247Sports composite.
And this may not be a one-and-done trip.
Recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong of On3/Rivals added that USC appears to be in a strong spot with the 6-foot-2 defensive back and said Flowers is also expected back for the Trojans’ Halloween matchup with Ohio State.
"The Rivals300’s No. 6 safetyis another defensive back USC is very bullish on and it feels like the Trojans could also be leading the pack for the Palos Verdes (Calif.) High standout as well. In addition to the opener, Flowers will visit on Halloween for the showdown with Ohio State as well,"
That gives USC two chances to show Flowers what life looks like under new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, first on Aug. 29 and then again in the Oct. 31 showdown with the Buckeyes, when Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith will be the headliners on the other side.
Flowers brings plenty to like on tape. He has the kind of range that jumps off the screen, including a one-handed interception he made as a sophomore on varsity last season. He reads the field well, knows when to flip his hips, and often gets himself in position before the quarterback even comes off his first read.
He also brings real burst. Flowers closes ground fast, and that speed looks like it should keep improving as he heads into his junior season with the Sea Kings. On top of that, he has a wide receiver background, which shows up in the way he tracks routes and understands what receivers are trying to do.
That combination makes him look like the type of smart, versatile defensive back Patterson has coached before at TCU.
USC won’t have him to itself, though. Flowers is heading into his first fall recruiting weekend with close to 40 offers, including 37 scholarships from Power Four programs.
Georgia and LSU are in the mix from the SEC, while Miami has also offered. The Hurricanes have already landed another nearby defensive back in 2027 five-star cornerback Donte Wright of Long Beach Poly.
Still, USC has been aggressive in building its next elite class, already landing Frisco, Texas dual-threat quarterback Trey Wright. Now the Trojans are chasing a future leader on defense, and Flowers looks like a strong fit for that role.
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The rest of the roster still has its own pressure points, with the secondary and wide receiver room also needing help, but the line remains the clearest measuring stick for how far USC can go. If that group improves, the Trojans can start thinking about a more complete team instead of one that has to win despite its defense. If it does not, the season could end up circling back to the same issue that has defined too many of the recent conversations around the program. [Read more 🡒]