Betiku (6-3 1/2, 240 pounds), who previously had committed to UCLA and then decommitted, is ranked the No. 11 player nationally and No. 1 weakside defensive end in his class, according to 247Sports.com.
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With Betiku’s commitment, first-year USC coach Clay Helton’s first recruiting class moves into the top 10 nationally, according to 247Sports.com.
It’s worth noting a couple of things: First, Betiku committed to the Trojans despite the fact Helton hasn’t hired a defensive coordinator, and, second, he has played only two seasons of football, having come to the U.S. in 2013 from his native Nigeria.
His 4.57-second 40-yard dash at The Opening in July in Beaverton, Ore., combined with his play at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif., to make him one of the hottest recruits in his class.
Betiku chose USC over Florida State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
According to USA Today, Betiku plans to enroll in January — as part of a freshman class of seven early enrollees, including high school teammate four-star cornerback C.J. Pollard — but first will play next week in the Under Armour All-America Game in Florida.
