Mater Dei running back Raleek Brown signed his letter of intent with USC on Wednesday.
He hopes he started a trend.
“I’m trying to get that Mater Dei pipeline back,” Brown said.
The Mater Dei-to-USC football connection goes back decades. Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson played football at Mater Dei and at USC in the 1960s. Many more followed the path, including Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Leinart and Amon-Ra St. Brown, now a receiver with the Detroit Lions.
Cornerback Domani Jackson committed to USC months ago. He rescinded the commitment. Jackson is said to still have USC as a leading candidate with Alabama having emerged as a co-favorite. Jackson, who missed all but one Mater Dei game this season because of a knew injury, will announce his choice Friday, the final day of the three-day football early signing period.
“I’m still trying to get Domani to come over with me,” Brown said Wednesday in Mater Dei’s gym, which as always was the venue for the school’s signing day activities. “It’s going to take a little bit of time but I think it’s going to happen.”
Waiting in the gym for the signees was a long table with a Mater Dei football helmet at each end, and on the table in front of where each player would sit was a rectangular card with the signee’s name and college included and a baseball cap with the college’s name or logo on it. Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson introduced the players with his talk emphasizing the enjoyment he had working with the players and the fun times he shared with them.
The signees’ families attended as did many Mater Dei football players, seniors and non-seniors alike. Among the Monarchs seniors was receiver C.J. Williams. Williams committed to Notre Dame, withdrew the commitment and now has USC among his final four possible destinations.
Brown (5-9, 185) had committed to Oklahoma before this season began. When Coach Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to become USC’s coach, and brought many Oklahoma coaches with him, Brown made his move, too.
“That’s all ‘SC needed was a good coaching staff,” said Brown, who plans on become a cornerstone of a Trojans football revival. “To bring USC back to where it’s been, that would be great.”