California 2017 OG Jalen McKenzie Commits to USC Trojans

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

USC added their fourth offensive line commit to the 2017 recruiting class on Monday after receiving a verbal pledge from Concord guard Jalen McKenzie.

McKenzie helped Clayton Valley Charter to a 9-2 record in 2016. The Ugly Eagles were a run-heavy squad rolling past the competition compiling 3,674 yards on the ground with 46 touchdowns while only passing for 788 yards on the season. The 334 yards per game rush average was aided by their 6-4.5, 307 pound, guard road grading defenders all season long.

Recruitment for McKenzie was all over the place with LSU, Michigan, and Tennessee showing interest while being extended scholarship offers from UCLA, Washington State, Oregon State, Georgia State, Hawaii, Miami, Utah, and Arizona State. The Trojans got into the mix on McKenzie late in the game offering on Jan. 6. McKenzie took the trip down to Los Angeles over the weekend for an official closing the deal on their new target.

McKenzie gave the good news to USC fans via Twitter posting, “Dreaming since I was 5 I’m a dream chaser.” The post was accompanied with a statement:

Rivals rates the Trojans 2017 class No. 15 in the nation with nine four-star recruits and seven three-star talents. 247Sports sees the recruiting haul as the tenth best in the country, rated No. 1 overall in the Pac-12.

USC Trojans 2017 Recruiting Class (17)

CB Je’Quari Godfrey, 6-2, 185, Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, CA

SS C.J. Miller, 6-1, 188, McEachern HS, Powder Springs, GA

LB Juliano Falaniko, 6-4, 200, Leone, Pago Pago, AS

DE Hunter Echols, 6-3.5, 231, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA

DE Jacob Lichtenstein, 6-5, 248, Cypress Bay, Fort Lauderdale, FL

DE Terrance Lang, 6-5, 278, Maranatha HS, Pasadena, CA

OC Brett Neilon, 6-2, 285, Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

OG Jalen McKenzie, 6-4.5, 307, Clayton Valley, Concord, CA

OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, 6-4, 291, Bishop O’Dowd HS, Oakland, CA

OT Andrew Vorhees, 6-6, 290, Kingsburg HS, Kingsburg, CA

TE Erik Krommenhoek, 6-5.5, 243, Monte Vista HS, Danville, CA

RB Stephen Carr, 6-0, 180, Summit HS, Fontana, CA

QB Jack Sears, 6-3, 200, San Clemente HS, San Clemente, CA

ATH Juwan Burgess, 6-0, 185, Plant HS, Tampa, FL

ATH Randal Grimes, 6-4, 205, Desert Pines HS, Las Vegas, NV

ATH Tayler Katoa, 6-2, 222, Layton HS, Layton, UT

 

Preferred Walk-On

LS Damon Johnson, 6-0, 205, Glendora, Glendora, CA

 

Photo credit: Twitter.com; Jalen McKenzie at USC.