A top high school football recruit in Utah is adamant he did not steal from USC’s locker room during a recent visit to the school.
Two days after Ja’Kobi Lane accused Brawley Tuitupou of nabbing “my cleats and a bunch of stuff” while on a trip to the Southern California university, the teenager issued a statement flatly denying the Trojan receiver’s allegations.
“I want to address the situation that’s been discussed online and be clear about the facts,” Tuitupou, a 6-foot-4 athlete, wrote on his social media pages late Tuesday evening.
“I did not steal any gear, nor would I ever knowingly possess stolen property. The items in question were purchased by me in good faith, and I have documentation showing that I paid for them under the context that they had been obtained legitimately. At the time of purchase, I had no reason to believe they were connected to any issues.”
Lane made his allegations against Tuitupou on Sunday night, calling the high schooler a thief in an X post that’s now been viewed six million times.
Lane shared two screen grabs in his post — one of Tuitupou’s Instagram page and another of several USC football-branded items — and he wrote, “This kid stole my cleats and a bunch of stuff from the sc locker room. All yall kids out there just know this is simply unacceptable.”
Tuitupou said in his statement that after Lane fired off the note, he “began working to resolve the issue and return the items back to their rightful owners.”
“I take my character and reputation seriously,” he said, “and anyone who knows me understands that I try my best to let integrity, faith, and respect guide my actions.”
Tuitopou went on to say he respects Lane and “would never intentionally do anything to disrespect him.”
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“I’m thankful the facts are coming to light, and I’m focused on moving forward to better myself both on and off the field.”
Lane — who starred for the Trojans from 2023 to 2025 — declared for the NFL draft this offseason and is projected to be a first- or second-round pick.
Tuitupou, meanwhile, is a three-star prospect from from Orem who holds offers from multiple schools, including Florida, Penn State and South Carolina.
