USC head coach Lincoln Riley has put together a strong 2024 recruiting class, and it got even better with the recent addition of four-star defensive lineman Ratumana Bulabalavu from Carlsbad, Calif.
Bulabalavu was originally committed to Washington. So committed, in fact, that he had signed a national letter of Intent to play for the Huskies in December. This was, of course, when Kalen DeBoer was the head coach at Washington.
When DeBoer left to replace Nick Saban at Alabama, Bulabalavu quickly asked out of his NIL, per multiple reports.
Washington’s loss is now USC’s gain. Ranked as a top-50 defensive line recruit in 2024, per 247Sports, Bulabalavu has an intriguing base to work with at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds.
This recruiting win was important for Riley, but he should also credit USC defensive line coach Shaun Nua, who played a big role in this commitment. Per, Bulabalavu, it was all about the similarities.
Bulabalavu took an official visit last weekend to USC and connected with Nua.
“It has to do partially with sharing the same ethnicity. We’re both Samoan, so we have connections through the culture. It plays a big role,” Bulabalavu said, per On3. “The Polynesian connection really makes a difference. He knows where I’m coming from, the type of family structure. He understood and was transparent about how he felt about me and how things are going at USC. It’s been a really special connection overall.”
With the addition of Bulabalavu, Riley is now bringing 21 2024 recruits to USC. He’s also landed 11 transfers via the portal, so it’s safe to say USC’s coffers are well-stuffed heading into the 2024 season.
