OCRegister.com
LOS ANGELES — For three of the last five years, the recruiting service Scout.com has ranked USC’s classes No. 1 in the nation. This year, Scout.com has the Trojans at No. 16 going into Wednesday’s national signing day.
Rivals.com, another service that has lavished USC’s past recruiting efforts with praise, has USC at No. 10. According to the people who rank high-school football talent, today’s group might be the Trojans’ least-exciting recruiting class in seven years.
Has Pete Carroll lost the magic touch?
Not according to Carroll, who says the team’s lower ranking is a reflection of a glut of returning players at the skill positions. With Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain competing with junior Mark Sanchez to start at quarterback – and backup Aaron Corp standing by – the Trojans’ made no effort to sign a quarterback.
Seven-deep at tailback, they made scant effort to stockpile running backs.
“I don’t know how it will come out, but this is still a great class,” Carroll said. “When you don’t have a quarterback and you’re not featuring running backs – the high-profile, attention guys – sometimes you get overlooked. This is just not that year.”
Allen Wallace, the national recruiting coordinator for Scout.com, said he agrees with Carroll’s assessment. Wallace said adding Mustain to this class likely would allow it to crack the top 10.
Still, Wallace said USC went after some high-profile recruits beyond California – and missed out on them – downgrading the class. It is still possible that a high-profile player or two (linebacker Jerrell Harris of Gadsden, Ala., for instance) could decide to become a Trojan today. Last year, USC lifted its stock by signing tailback Joe McKnight from LSU’s backyard.
“Probably, some big guy is going to cause USC fans to drop their jaws,” Wallace said. “Then again, you never know when reality’s going to be different.”
According to Wallace, the Trojans had the No. 1 recruiting classes in 2006, 2004 and 2003.
USC coaches had little choice but to go looking for offensive linemen this year. They were thin in that area last year, then they lost four starters – seniors Sam Baker, Drew Radovich and Matt Spanos and junior Chilo Rachal, who stunned coaches by leaving early.
USC’s only five-star recruits are offensive linemen: Servite’s Matt Kalil and Tyron Smith from Moreno Valley. The Trojans also have a commitment from highly regarded offensive lineman Matt Meyer.
“The offensive line class SC is bringing in is not just good. It may be the best they’ve ever put together,” Wallace said. “Not only are they three of the top 10 in the country, they’re also tackles, the hardest guys to replenish.”
GATOR GRABS
The Trojans might have had their traditional Top 5 class if a couple of high-profile prep players hadn’t chosen Florida – and Coach Urban Meyer – over USC and Carroll. USC went hard after defensive tackle Omar Hunter from Georgia and linebacker Brendan Beal from Pennsylvania.
Both are headed to Florida.
“The biggest road block SC is facing is Urban Meyer,” Wallace said. “That guy can recruit.”
Source: A down year for USC football recruiting?
