5-Star USC DL Commit Justus Terry Talks Georgia Official Visit, Florida St. and USC Up Next
Whether it was on the WeAreSC.com GarryP Trojan Huddle Message Board or written in articles we’ve published, a HOT TOPIC has been Defensive Line Coach Eric Henderson’s impact on USC recruiting.
Although Coach Henderson, aka Coach Henny, was in the midst of a playoff run with the L.A. Rams and wasn’t officially added to the staff until January 15, he immediately hit the ground running with recruiting.
Two of the first elite prospects Coach Henny visited were Five-Star Manchester (GA) DL Justus Terry (1/24) and Four-Star Warner Robins (GA) Edge Isaiah Gibson (1/30).
“Thinking about it, Coach Henny was in the NFL for six years,” said Terry. “As soon as he came to USC, I was one of the first players he came to see. So, how can I let that slide by me? A coach comes straight from the NFL to a college league, and comes to little old Manchester, Georgia, just come see me. You know, I couldn’t let that slide, so I had to give him a chance.”
Henderson also hit up Five-Star Savannah (GA) DL Elijah Griffin, Four-Star Charlotte (NC) DL Trajen Odom and many others who have since taken unofficial visits and also set June 21-23 USC official visits.
March 24 USC commitment
Terry had been a Georgia Bulldog commit since January 2023 and Gibson was at the top of Kirby Smart’s wish list for Edge prospects. There was little reason for either to look at USC seriously, mostly because the Trojans weren’t really trying prior to a few months ago.
“USC offered me way back when I was in ninth grade, but they never really talked to me,” Terry told WeAreSC last week after Manchester’s Spring Practice. “Coach Henny came in and changed that around. I’m on the list for the top D-Linemen that he wants, so he came and got me.”
June 21-23 USC official visit
Although Terry has always planned on taking multiple official visits, heading into June he only had three scheduled. He was at Georgia this past weekend, he’ll be at Florida St. June 14-16 and then USC June 21-23. Georgia will be coming hard for Terry until he’s not sitting in an Athens (GA) classroom in January. It will be a relentless pursuit.
The USC official visit will play a big part in solidifying Terry’s commitment.
“You know, the first time I was just going out there to see everything and take everything in,” Terry said. “So, I’m looking forward to seeing everything and being even more confident in my decision. This visit, we’re just going to get more information on the development process.
“I’ll get to learn about everything I would have to do when I get there. As far as work and business entrepreneurship, which is what I want to major in. So it’s a lot of things we got to talk about this time and I need to take all that in.”
Coach Henny’s coaching methods
We were at Savannah (GA) Christian a few weeks back to five-star DL Elijah Griffin. We asked Griffin if Coach Henny’s methods were really that different from other coaches?
“Yes sir, it is completely different,” said Griffin. “The way he actually dials in on a specific player’s needs, because everybody’s different. Some person might not understand visually. They might understand in another way being demonstrated or what not. You know, just getting to know the way guys think and how each individual operates.”
Terry offered his take on Coach Henny’s coaching style.
“Every coach has a certain way to coach and Coach Henny, he’s going to get it in,” Terry said. “You know, he’ll do a lot of yelling, he’ll give you the schedule of what you have to do and it’s time to work. Like he goes by Dawg Work and when I say Dawg Work, I mean he really does it.”
Communication is key
With USC being in Los Angeles and Manchester 2,200 miles away, we figured correctly that Coach Henny communicates with Terry nearly every day.
“I talk to Coach Henny almost every day,” Terry said. You know, he’s calling me to chop it up. I just wanna hear his voice and he wants to hear mine, and stay on the same base. He was one of the coaches that really wanted to see the best out of me, and that’s hard to find.
“Some coaches will just tell you what you want to hear, while he told me what I want to hear and what I need to work on. He broke down my film with us in the same room. He broke down my film, told me some things I need to work on and that’s what drives me, because I know he wants more out of me.”
Georgia official visit
With any prospect who’s visited a school more than 10 times, there’s typically not much new to showcase whether it’s an official visit or not. In Terry’s case, Kirby Smart’s and staff’s presentation on how they plan to develop and use him was among the highlights.
“They are trying to replace me in the same role as Trayvon Walker and Mykell Williams,” Terry said. “So the player development plays a big part in my decision. And the way they were talking about development is just getting me bigger, faster and stronger. Keeping my weight around 260 to 270.”
Terry is from Georgia, he’s visited Athens at least 10 times, they’re looked as the premier college football program in the nation and there’s obviously an impressive amount of proof the Bulldogs develop talent. Plus Georgia is the school he’s dreamed of playing for.
“I’ve been wanting to play for them since I was a little one growing up,” Terry told WeAreSC. “And I’ve always been a hometown guy, so I think that’s what separated them from most of everybody. Every school is a good school, every school has certain things. It just comes down to who you want to be coached by.”
We didn’t ask Terry if Georgia was pressuring him to flip back to the Bulldogs, because they really don’t have to. Georgia will be in the conversation for Terry until December whether he ultimately signs there or not.
Whether his commitment sticks or not with USC, it sounds like he’s not planning to flip his commitment anytime soon.
“Their motto is it’s a marathon,” said Terry. “They (Georgia) are preaching that to me, instilling it in me and I won’t sign until December. So, I won’t really know until the end. There are pros and cons to each school. I just have to take it in and come down to a final decision of who I want to be coached by and who has the best interest in me. That’s what I’m looking for.“
5 #USC Commit JUSTUS TERRYSet for June 21-24 Official Visit https://t.co/FJas3Pgr2O via @On3USC #FightOn pic.twitter.com/LjVxAOCEEH— Scott Schrader (@SSchraderOn3) June 6, 2024
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