USC flips four-star QB recruit from Duke


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Four-star quarterback recruit Jack Sears announced on Sunday his decision to decommit from Duke University and instead commit to play at USC in 2017.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound dual-threat decided enroll early at USC for the spring semester.

“I have the utmost respect and admiration for [Duke head coach David] Cutcliffe, the entire coaching staff and Duke University,” Sears said to 247Sports. “I wish them nothing but success in the future. I am now a USC Trojan and look forward to starting classes in January.”

Out of San Clemente High School — which is also redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold’s alma mater — Sears is rated as the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the nation and the No. 16 player out of California.

With a playoff football game on Friday against Heritage High School in the CIF D-II quarterfinals, Sears could add on to his already impressive 4,572 yards, 61 touchdowns and 359 completions through the air, and 1,841 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

It’s no surprise that after a junior season that featured 37 touchdown passes and just two interceptions, Sears received numerous offers from top programs like Florida State, Utah and Washington.

Coincidentally, Sears joins fellow USC tight end Tyler Petite as the second Trojan in three years to commit to Duke and then switch commitments as signing day neared.

Sears joins a stacked Southern California recruiting class that features five-star running back Stephen Carr and four-star offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker and Brett Neilon.

By enrolling early, Sears will be able to participate in spring and summer camps without academic hindrance.

Besides Darnold, USC also has more young quarterbacks in freshmen Thomas Fitts, Matt Fink and Holden Thomas. Sears’ road to starting at USC could be challenging, but not impossible.