In recent weeks O’Dowd officially visited USC (Nov. 25), UCLA (Dec. 2) and Arizona (Dec. 8). He also hosted Pete Carroll, Lane Kiffin (USC offensive coordinator) and Nick Holt (USC defensive coordinator) for Dec. 7, and Mike Stoops and Arizona staff members on Dec. 11.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time now," said O'Dowd. "The choice I made is the place I feel is the best for me and I hope everyone will support that. I had narrowed my list to four schools and each of them made it a difficult choice.
"The University of Arizona was the most difficult part of the process. They have the program heading in such a good direction and the future looks so bright but I just felt like I was needed somewhere else. I just felt like my future was at USC and so that's why I will be attending the University of Southern California."
O’Dowd is the third Army All-American offensive lineman who has verbally committed to the Trojans. James Wilson and Martin Coleman are the other two. O’Dowd told WeAreSC.com after his official visit that USC has plans for O’Dowd to compete at center in the fall and said in a previous interview he’d welcome the challenge.
More to come on the O’Dowd commitment, including video.