Fremont High is less than five miles from USC, but it might as well be in another state because players from central Los Angeles have had a hard time signing with the Trojans.
On Wednesday, Fremont All City defenseman Andrew Williams signed with USC, the first downtown signee since Joseph Lewis and Greg Johnson signed out of Hawkins High in 2017.
Fremont coach Derek Benton said he recognizes the significance of the accomplishment.
“This is a historic moment for the city and the school for an African-American,” he said.
USC has signed city section athletes in recent years. Anthony Beavers (2021), Joshua Jackson (2020) and Raymond Scott (2018) are from Narbonne.
Williams is perhaps Fremont College's best prospect since wide receiver Mark Bradford, who graduated in 2003 and went on to star at Stanford. The late Ricky Bell was a star defensive back for the Trojans in the 1970s from Fremont before becoming a first-round NFL draft pick.
Williams is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and had 10 sacks last season.
Living 10 blocks from Fremont with his grandmother since he was 7, Williams said he didn't discover football until his freshman year. He said he has too much free time until he goes to high school and finds something to focus on. USC assistant coach Chad Savage noticed him when he was an assistant at Colorado State.
Now he has to become a trendsetter and show others the path to college.
This is a daily look at positive developments in school sports. To report any news, email [email protected].
