The top high school football recruit in Utah is strongly denying accusations that he stole items from the University of Southern California’s locker room during a recent visit.
Shortly after Jacobi Lane claimed that Brawley Tuituupou had taken “my shoes and a bunch of stuff” from the USC facilities, Tuituupou issued a statement refuting Lane’s claims.
“I would like to clarify the situation that has been talked about online,” Tuituupou, a 6-foot-4 athlete, wrote on his social media late Tuesday night.
“I’ve never taken any gear unlawfully, nor have I knowingly kept anything that was stolen. I have proof showing that I bought these items honestly and that they were acquired legally. At the time of purchase, I had no reason to suspect they were involved in any misconduct.”
Lane’s accusations, which were posted on Sunday night, labeled Tuituupou as a thief in a now widely shared post viewed six million times.
In his post, Lane included screenshots showing Tuituupou’s Instagram and football gear from USC, stating, “This kid stole my cleats and a lot of stuff from the SC locker room. All the good kids know this is simply not acceptable.”
Tuituupou responded, noting that he immediately initiated efforts to resolve the situation and return the items to Lane.
“I take my character and reputation very seriously,” Tuituupou stated. “Anyone who knows me understands that I strive to let integrity, faith, and respect dictate my actions.”
He expressed respect towards Lane and emphasized that he would “never intentionally disrespect him.”
Ending his statement, Tuituupou added, “I’m thankful that the truth has surfaced, and I’m focused on growing, both on the field and personally.”
Lane, who played for the Trojans from 2023 to 2025, has declared for the NFL Draft this offseason and is anticipated to be chosen in either the first or second round.
Tuituupou, on the other hand, is a three-star recruit from Orem with offers from various schools like Florida State, Penn State, and South Carolina.
