Jordan Payton became the first member of USC’s 2012 recruiting class when he committed to the Trojans over a year ago, but he always maintained that he was keeping his options open.
The USC staff didn’t seem to have much of a problem with the 6-foot-2, 200-pound wide receiver from Westlake Village, Calif., (Oaks Christian) looking around, but that changed recently and resulted in Payton’s decommitment from the Trojans last week.
“I just felt like it was the right time,” Payton said. “I don’t know, it just felt right at that moment so I did it. I’m feeling good and I’m moving forward.”
Payton admitted the eventual pressure from the USC coaches contributed to his decommitment.
“They wanted me to be a full Trojan and I told them, like I said before, I want to explore all of my options,” said Payton.
Despite the recent turn of events, USC isn’t completely out of the running.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t considering them,” he said. “They’re still in the picture.”
Payton said a report of him having three favorites at this point, which didn’t include Notre Dame, wasn’t accurate.
“I hear from Notre Dame two or three times a week,” he said. “The schools that I hear from the most I’d say are Michigan, Florida, Cal, (Arizona State), Notre Dame and Oklahoma. Those are the schools I’m really focusing on right now.”
The four-star ESPNU Top 150 prospect doesn’t plan to take any visits for the rest of the summer.
“I think I’m just going to try to narrow it down and make my five official visits,” said Payton, who has long maintained he would get to South Bend for an official visit if he didn’t take an unofficial to Notre Dame this summer.
Notre Dame is already building a stacked roster of recruits taking official visits for the USC game on Oct. 22 and it’d be ironic if Payton made an official to see the Irish play the Trojans.
“I think that’s definitely in the picture,” Payton laughed.
Payton announced his decommitment at the New Level Athletics 7-on-7 tournament in Dallas. He received plenty of strong words about Notre Dame from some of his teammates on the 1925 All-Star squad that left Texas with the NLA title.
“Me and Tee Shepard were talking about it and Deontay Greenberry,” said Payton. “I like what they have to say about stuff. I’ve only heard good things about Notre Dame, so I’m excited.
“They just kept saying how much of a great guy Coach (Mike) Denbrock was and how they’re going to win national championships at Notre Dame.”
