Five-star edge rusher Isaiah Gibson decommits from USC coming off Tennessee visit

Just two days removed from his official visit to Tennessee last weekend, Isaiah Gibson announced Tuesday evening that he’s officially back on the market. The five-star Class of 2025 edge rusher from Warner Robins (Ga.) High School posted on his social-media accounts that he has decommitted from Southern Cal.

The 6-foot-4.5, 265-pound Gibson was committed to the Trojans for nearly three months before reopening his recruitment. He announced his decommitment after arriving at Ohio State on Tuesday for his midweek official visit with the Buckeyes.

Gibson has already taken official visits to Georgia, Auburn and South Carolina in addition to Tennessee. After his visit to Ohio State, he’s scheduled to take an official visit to Oklahoma this weekend.

He’s ranked by 247Sports as the No. 17 overall prospect and No. 1 edge rusher in the 2025 class and the No. 6 rising senior from the state of Georgia. He’s a four-star prospect in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, where he’s ranked the No. 36 overall player and No. 2 edge rusher in the 2025 class.

In late April, after announcing his commitment to USC on March 24, Gibson traveled to Tennessee for his first visit with the Vols in more than two years. After the visit, he indicated that he “more than likely” would take an official visit to Knoxville during the season. He later adjusted his schedule to make room for an official visit to Tennessee last weekend.

Gibson said after his April visit to Tennessee that he was impressed by “everything, honestly,” that he saw and heard at Tennessee. The Vols showed Gibson plenty of attention while he was there, and they have continued to make him a priority over the past several weeks.

“I liked everything about it,” Gibson said at the time. “It was just me and (four-star edge rusher) Zion (Grady) there, so it wasn’t really too much going on. It was just really talking. It wasn’t really, mostly about football. It was just a smooth day, honestly.”

The Vols are recruiting Gibson as a projected edge rusher who could play the Leo position in defensive coordinator Tim Banks‘ system. Gibson said in April that they like “my size, my get-off” and that he “can change how the game is going at any given time, and that I’m basically SEC-made.”

According to 247Sports’ official evaluation of him, written by director of scouting Andrew Ivins, Gibson is a “long-limbed pass rusher that can close on quarterbacks.”

“On the lighter side at this stage and lacks requisite play strength, but owns favorable features with a 7-foot wingspan and 10-inch hands on a frame that’s pushing 6-foot-4,” Ivins wrote of Gibson in February. “Seems to be at his best when asked to attack the corner out of a two-point stance as he will cross offensive tackles and dart inside or outside. Active with the hands and will do his best to fight through blocks or hold up traffic.

“Rather quick-footed and has flashed the ability to work laterally, but improved flexibility will only allow him to change course much easier. Must also keep tinkering with his technique and add some more advanced moves to the menu if he wants to emerge as a true impact player up front.

“Should be viewed as a high-ceiling defender that could fit a variety of different roles given growth potential and gap-closing burst. Likely going to need a developmental year or two before he’s ready to go on Saturdays, but could work his way into the rotation relatively early and help generate pressure in obvious passing situations.”