Clayton Johnson commits to USC: Trojans land 3-star tackle

USC received its ninth commitment for the 2015 class in Clayton Johnson (Anaheim, Calif. Servite) who committed at a noon announcement at his high school on Wednesday.

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The 6-6, 281-pound offensive tackle was expected to pick the Trojans after they extended an offer to the three-star recruit on June 21. Johnson ranks as the nation’s No. 497 player overall regardless of position, the No. 61 offensive tackle and the No. 60 player in the state of California.

Johnson picked the Trojans over offers from California Arizona State and Wake Forest, among others and his relationship with offensive line coach Tim Drevno was a crucial factor when deciding to commit to USC over his other suitors.

“USC was just the school I can a see myself at for the next four to five years,” Johnson tells 247Sports. “There were multiple reasons I chose USC, but Coach (Tim) Drevno was a big part of it. His background in football with the Forty-Niners, he knows how to get guys to the next level and he definitely helped me make my decision to commit to USC.”

The commitment of Johnson is the third along the offensive line for USC which includes five-star and No. 3 ranked tackle Chuma Edoga. The nine commitments moves USC up to the nation’s No. 24 class overall and the No. 2 class in the Pac-12, trailing only the Oregon Ducks, which received the commitment of Johnson’s high school teammate, Travis Waller, on Tuesday.

With this class boasting a total of three, five-star recruits, USC is well on their way toward another elite class to backup the great first class for first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian who Johnson believes is going to be a big winner with the Trojans.

“I definitely think with Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian), we’re going to have a winning program, because of all the players he’s bringing in at all positions. There are some big-time recruits that he has signed, have committed and I think we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”