BREAKING NEWS: USC Trojans Commit RJ Sermons Earns 5-Star Status In Updated Recruiting Rankings
LOS ANGELES, CA – April 22, 2025 — The USC Trojans have added some serious star power to their 2025 recruiting class. In the latest update to the national high school football recruiting rankings, RJ Sermons, the dynamic wide receiver out of Cedar Hill High School in Texas, has officially earned his fifth star — elevating his status to elite prospect and sending shockwaves across the college football landscape.
Sermons, who committed to USC in February, has been steadily rising in the rankings throughout his junior and senior seasons. After a dominant showing at the Under Armour All-America Camp in Dallas and an eye-popping stat line through 12 games — 87 receptions for 1,512 yards and 19 touchdowns — the 6’2”, 190-pound receiver now finds himself listed as the No. 1 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 6 overall player, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.
“RJ Sermons is a game-changer,” said national recruiting analyst Josh Templeton. “He’s got the frame, the speed, the hands, and most importantly, the mindset. What separated him this year wasn’t just the production — it was how he dominated against top-tier competition and elevated his entire team.”
USC head coach Lincoln Riley, known for his offensive wizardry and quarterback development, has been vocal about Sermons’ potential since the day he signed.
“We knew RJ was special when we started watching his sophomore tape, but the way he’s developed — especially over the past year — it’s been incredible,” Riley said. “He’s got that rare mix of elite athleticism, polish, and football IQ. We’re thrilled to have him as a Trojan.”
Sermons’ rise has not only thrilled USC fans, but also reignited buzz around the Trojans’ 2025 recruiting class, which now ranks No. 3 nationally behind Georgia and Ohio State. His elevation to 5-star status makes him the Trojans’ first five-star wide receiver commit since Bru McCoy in 2019, and fans are already comparing Sermons’ game to recent USC greats like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Drake London.
“He plays like a veteran,” said Cedar Hill head coach Marlon Watson. “We knew early that RJ had the ‘it’ factor. He works like he’s already in the league — first in, last out, always asking questions, always watching film. This recognition is well-deserved, but he’s not satisfied. He’s hungry.”
In addition to his dominant high school play, Sermons has been a standout on the 7-on-7 circuit and at national camps, where he routinely torched elite defensive backs and impressed scouts with his smooth route running and acrobatic catches. NFL comparisons are already swirling, with one scout noting, “He moves like CeeDee Lamb but has the body control of Keenan Allen.”
Despite receiving late pushes from schools like Texas, LSU, and Oregon, Sermons has remained solid in his commitment to USC, stating in multiple interviews that his connection with the coaching staff and belief in the program’s vision made his decision “clear from the start.”
“USC felt like home from the first visit,” Sermons said last month. “Coach Riley believes in me, and the way they develop guys for the next level — especially receivers — speaks for itself. I want to be part of bringing USC back to the top.”
That mission appears well underway. With a strong core of incoming talent and rising stars on the current roster, the Trojans are positioning themselves as legitimate contenders in the new Big Ten landscape. Sermons is expected to enroll early in January 2026 and could push for immediate playing time as a freshman, especially with several upperclassmen potentially NFL-bound.
For now, Sermons is focused on finishing his high school career strong, with state title aspirations and national accolades within reach. But in the eyes of recruiting analysts, Trojans coaches, and USC fans alike, the future has never looked brighter.
And with RJ Sermons now officially a five-star talent, the countdown to kickoff in Los Angeles just got a lot more exciting.
