Texas A&M transfer defensive tackle Isaiah Raikes commits to USC, giving Trojans beef up front

USC gets the big defensive tackle it needed in the middle of its front four. Huge pickup for D’Anton Lynn.

Lincoln Riley and D’Anton Lynn got exactly the kind of piece they needed up front. Texas A&M defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes has committed to the USC Trojans.

From New Jersey, Raikes has appeared in more than 35 games over the last four seasons, with a handful of starts. He’s tallied 43 career tackles, with three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble this season.

At 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, Raikes split his snaps almost 50-50 between nose tackle and 3-tech defensive tackle. He gives USC the size and heft in the middle of the defensive line which was so obviously lacking this past season. Raikes gives USC a big body which can help out Bear Alexander and given the Trojans more of a run-stuffing presence as they move into the Big Ten Conference this year. This was a huge point of need for the Trojans. Now they have addressed it to a certain extent. They’re not fully set at defensive tackle — they need more such players — but at least they now have one more big body alongside Bear Alexander.

Isaiah Raikes played high school football at St. Augustine Prep (New Jersey), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 392 overall recruit in the 2020 class.

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