BREAKING: Five-Star QB Julian “Jules” Lewis Stuns College Football, Flips Commitment from USC to Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, PA — In a seismic shock that reorders the national recruiting hierarchy and the future of the Big Ten, Julian “Jules” Lewis, the five-star quarterback from Carrollton, Georgia and the consensus No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, announced his stunning decommitment from USC on Tuesday, pledging instead to play for Head Coach James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The decision, revealed on the ON3 network, delivers Penn State its most significant quarterback recruit in program history and a transformative talent for the “New Big Ten” era. Lewis, a generational passer with preternatural poise, surgical accuracy, and elite processing skills, had been the crown jewel of Lincoln Riley’s USC class, viewed as the perfect heir to lead the Trojans into their new conference.
“This decision is about trust, development, and a vision for championships,” Lewis said from his high school, flanked by his family. “My connection with Coach Franklin, Coach [Andy] Kotelnicki, and this entire staff is unshakeable. The program they’ve built, the offensive firepower they’re assembling, and the opportunity to compete for national titles in the best version of the Big Ten is exactly what I was looking for. I’m proud to be a Nittany Lion.”
For Head Coach James Franklin, this is a program-elevating, legacy-defining victory. Beating out a quarterback guru like Lincoln Riley for the nation’s premier player is the ultimate validation of Penn State’s “developmental powerhouse” model and its patient, relationship-driven recruiting approach. It proves that Happy Valley, with its 110,000-strong fanbase, NFL factory reputation, and revamped NIL collective (“Success With Honor”), can win the most intense national battle.
The on-field implications are monumental. Lewis is a pro-ready talent whose cerebral play and pinpoint arm are the perfect catalyst for new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s innovative system. His commitment instantly transforms Penn State’s 2025 class into a top-three national group and acts as a powerful magnet for elite skill players, giving the Nittany Lions the offensive centerpiece they have long sought to compete with college football’s elite.
The national ramifications are profound. For USC, this is a catastrophic loss, stripping the program of its franchise quarterback just as it enters the rugged Big Ten—ironically, sending him to a future conference rival. For the Big Ten, it announces Penn State as a complete offensive powerhouse, now armed with the most coveted weapon in the country to battle Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan. For the sport, it signals that proven development, stability, and a premier game-day environment can triumph in the modern recruiting wars.
In Happy Valley, the news has ignited a euphoric eruption, cementing the belief that the program’s long-awaited leap to a national championship is imminent. Julian “Jules” Lewis is more than a recruit; he is a statement. James Franklin hasn’t just landed a quarterback; he has secured a transformational figure who declares that Penn State is no longer a contender—it is a destination for the very best. The future in State College is not just bright; it is now led by the nation’s top player.
