Bears Stay Hot in the Portal, Add USC Linebacker AJ Tuitele

The Bears’ torrid portal recruiting success continued tonight as they added another key piece to their linebacker corps today with the commitment of USC portal transfer linebacker AJ Tuitele‍ today.

As a true frosh in 2025, the 6-3/215 Tuitele has a single tackle in limited backup duty, preserving his redshirt year this season.

Joining with Oregon redshirt frosh portal transfer LB Kamar Mothudi‍, the newest linebacker additions will fill a crucial void in the middle of the Bears’ defense with the departure of starters Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli through the portal.

Tuitele, a three-star recruit, was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Nevada by On3, No. 10 by 247Sports and No. 11 by ESPN. He was touted as the No. 15 linebacker in the country by On3, No. 48 by ESPN and No. 95 by 247Sports. He was ranked as the No. 147 player in the nation by On3.
 
Tuitele was rated the @1 linebacker in Nevada ‍as a senior in 2024 and totaled an amazing 167 tackles, including 37 TF and4 sacks. On offense, he totaled 15 carries for 189 rushing yards for 4 TDs, leading his squad to the Nevada 4A State Championship. 

Besides Mothudi, Tuitele joins fellow LB Tristan Jernigan‍, (Texas A&M), edges Emmanuel Okoye‍ (Tennessee), Solomon Williams‍, (Texas A&M) and Joshua Pierce‍ (UNT), DTs Jericho Johnson‍ (Oregon), Justin Beadles‍ (Louisville) and Ashun Shepphard‍ (Miss St), safeties Kingston Lopa‍ *Oregon) and Michael Hurst Jr‍ (NAU)‍, cornerbacks Marquis Groves-Killebrew‍ (Miss St), Daniel Harris‍ and Ricky Fletcher‍ along with QB Jackson Brousseau‍, running backs Adam Mohammed‍ (UW), Carter Vargas‍ (UC Davis) and Ashton Emory‍ (UTEP), receivers Cooper Perry‍ (Oregon), Ian Strong‍ (Rutgers) and Chase Hendricks‍ (Ohio), tight end Dorian Thomas‍ (New Mexico) and offensive linemen Jimothy Lewis‍ (Miss St), Jacob Arop‍ (South Dakota), Mykeal Rabess‍ (FIU) and Kahlee Tafai‍ (Minnesota).

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