Former USC CB Ceyair Wright who also played Lebron James’ son in Space Jam 2 commits to Matt Rhule’s Nebraska

By Aman Sharma

Modified Jun 29, 2024 15:11 GMT

Ceyair Wright, former USC cornerback, has committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, bolstering head coach Matt Rhule's rebuilding efforts. Wright, a standout four-star recruit from the 2021 class, appeared in 23 games for the Trojans, starting 11 of them in 2022.

At 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, Wright is a solid contributor in the secondary. His transfer is a major occasion for Nebraska, particularly given that two years remain in his college eligibility. Wright's time at USC came to an end during the 2023 season when he officially entered the transfer portal on April 26. He joins Nebraska as a graduate transfer, having majored in Communication at USC.

Wright's athletic prowess is complemented by his acting career. He gained notable recognition for portraying LeBron James' fictional son in the 2021 film "Space Jam: A New Legacy." Additionally, he appeared in TV shows like “2 Broke Girls,” “Training Day,” “Life in Pieces,” “Instant Mom” and “Grown-ish.”

In Nebraska, Wright will compete for a starting position in the secondary against players like Malcolm Hartzog, Jeremiah Charles and Dwight Bootle II. His extensive playing time at USC, including 623 defensive snaps in 2022 and 202 in 2023, positions him well for this challenge.

Ceyair Wright is one of several recent additions to Nebraska's 2024 roster, joining other recruits such as German offensive lineman David Höffken, NAIA quarterback Jalyn Gramstad, running back Mekhi Nelson and Iowa Western C.C. kicker John Hohl. With Wright's commitment, the Cornhuskers hope to strengthen their defense and make significant strides in the competitive Big Ten conference.

Ceyair Wright's career at USC

Rated No. 78 overall and the No. 7 cornerback by 247 Sports, Ceyair Wright initially chose USC in 2021 over Nebraska, despite the Cornhuskers being among his finalists.

The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback played 23 games for the Trojans, with 2022 being his standout season. That year, Ceyair Wright started 11 of 14 games, recording 28 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. Over three seasons, Wright accumulated 41 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and five pass deflections.

Now that the athlete is heading to Nebraska, Fox Sports' Joel Klatt predicts a strong season for the team in 2024:

“Nebraska has a team that I think could be really good. They were 5-7 a year ago. ... They were very competitive, way more competitive in Matt Rhule’s first season than their 5-7 record indicates. (If) they get a little bit better quarterback play and namely just protecting the football, they’re going to be much better. He’s a builder.” [Time stamp: 3:36]

Nebraska's defense, which finished among the top 15 teams in terms of scoring defense and total defense facilitated by Tony White's leadership, has seven starters returning. Ten offensive starters are coming back, setting up high hopes for improvement after a 5-7 down year in Rhule's debut season.