RECRUITING: Another Grimble headed to USC

Bishop Gorman’s football team became accustomed to a pair of cousins making plays last season.

Jalen Grimble, a junior defensive end, had 59 tackles, eight sacks and two fumble recoveries. Xavier Grimble, a senior tight end, was a devastating blocker and caught 39 passes for 709 yards and nine touchdowns.

It’s an act they plan to carry onto the college gridiron at Southern California.

Jalen Grimble gave an oral commitment to USC on Saturday before attending the Trojans’ spring game. Xavier Grimble signed with USC in February.

“It feels great. The business school, the financial school and the coaches are hard to come by,” Jalen Grimble said of USC.

Jalen Grimble said USC’s coaches, the campus environment and the school’s proximity to Las Vegas were major reasons for his commitment.

His decision brings an apparent end to the recruitment of one of the nation’s highest-profile prospects in the class of 2011.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound pass rusher said he picked the Trojans over scholarship offers from Louisiana State, UCLA, Nebraska and Alabama.

“He’s been very similar to Xavier in that he wanted to make an early decision,” Gorman coach Tony Sanchez said. “It’s good. Now he can sit back and focus on his senior year.”

Gorman went 15-0 last season, rolling to its second Class 4A state title in three years.

Sanchez said he anticipates Jalen Grimble taking on a leadership role next season. The Gaels face a tough schedule including perennial California power De La Salle.

"We're going to lean on him to help with some of the younger guys," Sanchez said.

Players are not bound by commitments. The first day Jalen Grimble can sign a National Letter of Intent is Feb. 2.