LOS ANGELES -- With little more than a week until signing day, the wheels are in motion across the country. In Heritage Hall, the pressure of scholarship reductions is keeping this staff running slightly hotter than normal. National signing day is set for Feb. 1, and WeAreSC takes the pulse of the committed class and looks at what Lane Kiffin and staff could be shooting for come next Wednesday.
Quarterback -- Committed: 0. Need: 0-1
It appeared that the only certainty of USC's 2012 recruiting class was that it would not include a quarterback. But that might not be so certain after all. USC signed two highly recruited quarterbacks last year and will have three young signal-callers battling to back up senior Matt Barkley this season. But with the possibility that the competition eventually could lead to a transfer, the coaches have explored several options at quarterback in this class. There was an early run at Jake Rodrigues (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) before he committed and enrolled early at Oregon. Then there was a passing interest in Nate Sudfeld (Modesto, Calif./Modesto Christian), but no offer was extended. And recently, attention shifted to Washington commit Cyler Miles (Denver/Mullen). The interest in USC is legitimate from Miles, but it will take a very strong push in the final week for the Trojans coaches to convince him to switch his commitment. If a top talent like Miles doesn't sign with USC, the Trojans won't sign one just to get one, considering that the 2013 crop will be loaded on the West Coast.
Running back -- Committed: 0. Need: 1
The transfer of Amir Carlisle to Notre Dame and George Farmer's move back to wide receiver leave USC with just three scholarship tailbacks heading into spring ball. There is really no way to sugarcoat how badly the Trojans need a tailback in this class. Unfortunately, it is a down year in California at the position and the top two West Coast targets the Trojans did go after will be suiting up against them in the coming years. The top back in the state, Byron Marshall (San Jose/Valley Christian) is headed to Oregon, while KeiVarae Russell (Everett, Wash./Mariner) is on his way to Notre Dame. At this point, the Trojans seem to be pinning their tailback hopes on D.J. Foster (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro), who is down to Arizona State, California and USC and will announce his decision this Friday.
Foster was considered a longshot for the Trojans during the season, but the coaching fallout at Arizona State led to him reopening his recruitment and looking at USC and California. Now, it appears the Sun Devils are back in the mix and could be in good position for Foster. The Trojans will hope a solid official visit two weeks ago will carry enough weight to sway his decision. With the USC coaches looking to bring in another group of official visitors this weekend, it wouldn't be a shock to see a running back pop up on the list as a surprise addition.
Fullback -- Committed: 1. Need: 1
After graduating Rhett Ellison and Ross Cumming, the Trojans will be without a returning fullback this season. But the Trojans will add the No. 1 fullback in the country, Jahleel Pinner (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) to the mix this fall. Pinner is a versatile player at the position and can do everything that will be asked of a USC fullback. He'll have a chance to compete for the starting spot from the moment he steps on campus, and his familiarity with a pro-style offense at Mission Viejo will be a big plus in his early development.
Tight end -- Committed: 1. Need: 1
The talk early on was that the Trojans wanted to take two tight ends in this class, as they made an offer to UCLA commit Ian Taubler (Fresno, Calif./Bullard). But as signing day draws near, it is becoming clear that the USC coaches will be very happy to sign their lone commit at the position, Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney). Cope-Fitzpatrick is a solid addition to what is becoming a terrific group of tight ends at USC. He was listening to Colorado late in the process, but a very productive official visit to USC this past weekend sealed the deal for Cope-Fitzpatrick.
Wide receiver -- Committed: 1, Need: 2
This has been an interesting spot for the Trojans in this class, as they received early commitments from Jordan Payton (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian), Jaydon Mickens (Los Angeles/Dorsey) and Darreus Rogers (Carson, Calif./Carson) and could be on the verge of signing none of them. Payton and Mickens split from USC long ago, but the Trojans are doing everything they can to hold onto Rogers, who recently took an official visit to Arizona State and came back unsure of where he will sign. That has long been a worry with Rogers, who has seemed intrigued by the Sun Devils throughout the recruiting process. The USC coaches have made Rogers abundantly aware that he is their top receiver target, so his recruitment is sure to heat up over the next week.
Another target visiting this weekend is Nelson Agholor (Tampa/Berkeley Prep), a two-way player who has held high interest in USC since the Trojans provided his first scholarship offer. Agholor has twice unofficially visited USC and there is a possibility that a very good final visit could help the Trojans land one of the country's top athletes. But Florida is in the mix for Agholor as well, and he has strong ties to that program. USC will also host California commit Bryce Treggs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) this weekend, although all signs point to Treggs sticking with his commitment to the Golden Bears.
Offensive line -- Committed: 3. Need: 5
USC holds commitments from Max Tuerk (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita) and Jordan Simmons (Encino, Calif./Crespi), with Chad Wheeler (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica) already enrolled and taking classes. It's an incredibly strong start, but it could finish even stronger with the realistic possibilities still out there. With the ability of Tuerk and Simmons to play tackle and guard, it opens up the options for the USC coaches to take an additional guard and tackle, or two tackle prospects.
There remain three high-priority tackles still uncommitted in Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente), Zach Banner (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) and Andrus Peat (Tempe, Ariz./Corona Del Sol). Interior line prospect Hiva Lutui (Euless, Texas/Trinity)is also a candidate for a final scholarship spot. Banner and Murphy are both coming off terrific official visits to USC. The Trojans look to be in the driver's seat for Banner and made up serious ground on Stanford for Murphy. Lutui recently decommitted from UCLA, but Utah could be a player for him. Peat will be tough to pull away from Nebraska, where his brother is currently enrolled, but again, the Trojans used a very good official visit to put themselves in the thick of things heading toward signing day.
Defensive line -- Committed: 3, Need: 5
The defensive end position is going to get a boost this spring with the addition of early enrollees DeVante Wilson (Corona, Calif./Corona) and Morgan Breslin (Walnut Creek, Calif./Diablo Valley JC). In addition, the Trojans have a commitment from Pio Vatuvei (Patterson, Calif./Patterson). Vatuvei can play end or tackle but will begin his career at USC on the outside. That leaves a gaping hole in the middle for this defensive line class, and there doesn't seem to be an easy answer.
The ship seems to have sailed with Ellis McCarthy (Monrovia, Calif./Monrovia), who looks solid to UCLA and isn't looking to continue the recruiting process. Aziz Shittu (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) has been a top target for months, but the Trojans will be in a battle with Stanford, Cal and UCLA for his services. The one-time Stanford commit was accepted by Stanford admissions recently, which could put the Cardinal in a good spot.
Outside the state, the Trojans are in the mix for several longshot prospects, including defensive end Leonard Williams (Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland), who visited USC this past weekend, and three recruits who will take official visits this coming weekend -- defensive ends Dante Fowler Jr. (St. Petersburg, Fla./Lakewood) and Tyriq McCord (Tampa/Jefferson), and defensive tackle Justin Shanks (Prattville, Ala./Prattville). Williams has Florida and Auburn at the top of his list, and it remains to be seen if the Trojans can crack that by signing day. McCord committed to Miami a few weeks ago but still calls his unofficial visit to USC this past summer the best trip he has taken. It will be interesting to see what comes of his official visit this weekend, but distance won't be easily overcome for the Trojans. Fowler and Shanks are committed to Florida State, and while both have been recruited by USC for months, it would be a shock if either wound up in cardinal and gold.
Still, the most intriguing name on the radar is former USC commit Arik Armstead (Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove). Armstead has the ability to play defensive end or tackle and would be a very welcome addition to the Trojans recruiting class. It is going to be an uphill battle for Lane Kiffin and staff over the next week, but the fact that Armstead is willing to take an in-home visit with USC on Thursday offers a glimmer of hope. As with the running back spot, it would not be a shock to see a surprise defensive tackle or two turn up as official visitors this weekend.
Linebacker -- Committed: 2. Need: 2
The Trojans will bring in a very promising duo at linebacker in Jabari Ruffin (Downey, Calif./Downey) and Scott Starr (Norco, Calif./Norco), who already is enrolled. They are two of the top linebackers on the West Coast and will be able to push for early playing time in a linebacker unit that has become one of the deepest groups on the USC roster. Both players committed early, and although there was some attention paid to additional linebackers, it's a safe bet that Ruffin and Starr will be the only signees at the position.
Cornerback -- Committed: 1. Need: 2
Kevon Seymour (Pasadena, Calif./Muir) was an incredibly important get for the Trojans, as he was the top local player at a position of need for this class. While the numbers look good at the cornerback spot, the position has some potential injury concerns and could use an additional signee. The Trojans made a hard run at Tee Shepard (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) before he stuck with his plan to enroll early at Notre Dame, and hosted Tracy Howard (Miramar, Fla./Miramar) two weeks ago. There was also interest in Cleveland Wallace (San Jose/Oak Grove), although the Oregon State commit said he won't use an official visit to see USC this weekend. There will be a hard push for Howard, who enjoyed his visit to USC but will be tough to pull out of the state of Florida. An additional cornerback would be welcome, but the staff won't dip below a certain point, and would gladly use the spot on an additional lineman.
Safety -- Committed: 2, Need: 2
Without grabbing a high school recruit, the Trojans loaded up at the safety spot with transfers Gerald Bowman (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce College) and former Florida Gator Joshua Shaw. There are still questions about how quickly they will be able to contribute -- Bowman is awaiting word on whether he can enroll early, Shaw will apply for a hardship waiver to be eligible to play this year, but adding veteran players who will be able to step in right away for departing seniors after the 2012 season was a big plus for the Trojans. The position is loaded in 2013, so missing on high school talent in this class is not much of an issue.
Erik McKinney is the recruiting editor for WeAreSC.com and has covered the Trojans since 2004. He can be reached at [email protected].