Five-Star Xavier Griffin is the No. 2-rated linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247Sports. The Georgia native had been committed to the USC Trojans since July of last year, but just announced his decommitment and is now looking for a new home.
There are plenty of schools that are going after the consensus five-star, but who actually has a chance of landing Griffin?
Xavier Griffin Reopens Recruitment After Backing Off USC Commitment
Now that Griffin’s commitment is reopened, schools have been jumping at the chance to get the linebacker on campus during the spring official visit window, and Griffin has already scheduled four with some big-time programs.
BREAKING: Five-Star LB Xavier Griffin has Decommitted from USC, he tells me for @on3recruits
The No. 2 LB in the ‘26 Class had been Committed to the Trojans since July https://t.co/lpmmbnDvOy pic.twitter.com/f8sLg5NXrT
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 14, 2025
On May 30th, he will travel to Columbus for his OV with the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes were in play during his initial recruitment, offering him all the way back in January of 2024. He has not yet been on Campus in Columbus, so this is a potentially huge visit for Ryan Day and Co.
Then, on June 6th, he will take an OV to Tuscaloosa so that Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide can pitch him. Griffin previously took an unofficial visit to Alabama in June of 2024, and already has a strong relationship with the staff.
After the Bama visit, Griffin will travel to Austin for his OV with the Texas Longhorns. Griffin just recently took an unofficial visit to Texas back in April, and Steve Sarkisian and company have been making a late push to try and secure him.
Following his visit to Texas, Griffin will take an OV to Tallahassee to visit the Florida State Seminoles, where he has already been on campus twice. Mike Norvell seems to be pushing hard for Griffin, and given the past visits, I think FSU has a chance here.
Finally, Griffin will take one more OV back to USC, where Lincoln Riley will try to get him to recommit to the Trojans.
KEEP READING: USC Football Recruiting Update: 32 Prospects Set To Visit This Weekend
It’s going to be a long spring for Griffin, and he’s going to hear a lot of pitches, but if there was one team that I think has the highest odds to land him, it’s Alabama. Benjamin Wolk, who is a 247Sports insider, has logged a crystal ball prediction for Griffin to the Tide.
In the 2026 cycle, Wolk is hitting on 82% of his 41 picks, so while it’s not definitive, I think Alabama could have the early lead as of right now. Only time will tell where Griffin ends up, but his recruiting journey is going to be fun to follow for all college football fans.
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