Defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu switches commitment from Washington to USC

USC’s recruiting efforts are paying off with less than two weeks until signing day.

On Monday, after making an official visit to USC over the weekend, Marlon Tuipulotu announced on Twitter that he would switch his commitment from Washington to USC.

“This was a tough decision for me,” wrote Tuipulotu, who committed to the Huskies last April.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Tuipulotu from Central High in Independence, Ore., is considered among the best defensive linemen in the nation.

USC also recently added defensive lineman Brandon Pilli to its 2017 class.

Pili announced his commitment on Saturday at the Polynesian Bowl, a high school showcase for seniors of Polynesian heritage in Hawaii.

The 6-4, 310-pound Pili is from Anchorage, but enrolled at Westview High in Portland, Ore., to play his senior season. He has since returned to Anchorage.

Pili made an official visit to USC last November and chose the Trojans among offers from Colorado, Hawaii, Notre Dame and Oregon State.

Tuipulotu and Pili’s commitments come shortly after two recruits, safety C.J. Miller and receiver Juwan Burgess, announced their decommitments.

Miller, from McEachern High in Powder Springs, Ga., committed last June without ever having made a visit to campus, but announced on Twitter last week that he would be “fully opening back up my recruiting.”

Burgess also decommitted last week on Twitter, while announcing that he would sign with Indiana.

USC has 23 scholarships available in the 2017 recruiting class.

Eighteen scholarships have been claimed: Four recruits have enrolled in classes (Linebacker Taylor Katoa, long snapper Damon Johnson, quarterback Jack Sears and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees) and 14 other recruits have committed.

Recruits can sign a letter of intent on Feb. 1.

Here’s a look at who has committed to USC’s 2017 class:

Player, position, height, weight, school, comment:

Bubba Bolden; S; 6-2; 200; Las Vegas Bishop Gorman HS: After committing to USC in Dec. 2015, he announced seven months later that he would reconsider his options. He recommitted during the broadcast of the Army All-American game.

Stephen Carr; RB; 6-0; 200; Fontana Summit HS: In March 2015, he became the first player to announce his commitment to USC as part of the 2017 class.

Hunter Echols; DL; 6-4; 230; Los Angeles Cathedral HS: Committed to UCLA before he switched to USC.

Juliano Falaniko; LB; 6-4; 200; Pago Pago A.S. Leon HS: Would be the first player to enroll at USC from an American Samoan high school since defensive lineman Travis Tofi in 2002.

Je’Quari Godfrey; CB; 6-2; 175; Oakland Bishop O’Dowd HS: He was committed to California for eight months before switching to USC on Jan. 15.

Randal Grimes; WR; 6-5; 210; Las Vegas Desert Pines HS: Filling in at quarterback for a game last season, Grimes completed five of six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Damon Johnson; LS; 6-0; 205; Citrus College: The former Glendora High star did not play football last season.

Tayler Katoa; LB; 6-2; 225; Layton (Utah) HS: Played quarterback, defensive end and linebacker in high school.

Erik Krommenhoek; TE; 6-5; 235; Danville Monte Vista HS: Parents attended UCLA.

Terrance Lang; DL; 6-7; 265; Pasadena Maranatha HS: Also a basketball player, he has played football for just two seasons.

Jacob Lichtenstein; DL; 6-5; 240; Weston (Fla.) Cyprus Bay HS: Chose USC from among more than 30 scholarship offers.

Marlon Tuipulotu; DL; 6-2; 295; Independence (Ore.) Central HS: He was committed to Washington for nine months before switching to USC.

Jalen McKenzie; OL; 6-5; 305; Concord Clayton Valley HS: The son of Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie; older brother Kahlil plays at Tennessee.

Brett Neilon; OL; 6-2; 275; Santa Margarita HS: Former USC offensive lineman Max Tuerk, now with the Chargers, also attended Santa Margarita.

Brandon Pili; DL; 6-4; 310; Portland (Ore.) Westview HS: From Anchorage, but played senior season in Oregon to gain exposure.

Jack Sears; QB; 6-3; 205; San Clemente HS: Committed to Duke before settling on USC. Followed Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold as San Clemente’s quarterback. Passed for 2,602 yards and 37 touchdowns with six interceptions and rushed for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns for a team that won a state championship.

Alijah Vera-Tucker; OL; 6-4; 290; Oakland Bishop O’Dowd HS: Chose USC from among offers from Nebraska, Oregon, Texas A&M and Washington.

Andrew Vorhees; OL; 6-6; 290; Kingsburg (Calif.) HS: Played on the offensive and defensive line in high school.

lindsey.thiry@latimes.com

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