Radiohead to Get USC Trojans Remix at Grammys

NBC Washington

Ever wondered what “Creep” sounds like when played by a 300-piece marching band”?

According to the LA Times music blog, Pop & Hiss, the University of Southern California Trojans’ band will be backing up the “we’ll-play-whatever-kind-of-music-we-like-thank-you-very-much” Brit rockers Radiohead at the Grammys on Sunday.

It was unclear what song Radiohead will actually play although the LA Times blog claim they have it on good authority that Thom Yorke and his mates will be performing their Grammy-nominated song “House of Cards.”

The Trojans band also played with OutKast at the 2004 Grammys, and has been featured in films such as “Forrest Gump” and “The Naked Gun.”

Signing day replaces talent with more talent

Pedro Moura

One of the following two brief scouting reports obtained from Scout.com deals with a former USC linebacker and the other with his eventual replacement.

Can you guess who’s who?

“An excellent outside linebacker who, along with being a solid tackler, possesses a very good combination of height, bulk and overall speed.”

“A big body and a big hitter, he has the potential to be a top-flight linebacker at the next level ... has great closing speed and explodes through ball carriers.”

The former is three-year starter and likely 2009 NFL draft first-round selection Brian Cushing.

The latter is Jarvis Jones, who on Wednesday signed his letter of intent to enroll at USC this fall.

Jones — along with new linebacking recruits Frankie Telford and Marquis Simmons — will be counted on to help replace Cushing and Co. He should be up to the task.

But don’t take it from me — take it from USC linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.

“You’re really going to like Jarvis,” Norton told Ben Malcolmson of the website USCRipsIt. “He really hits hard and is a really solid player — a guy that really strikes you. He’ll make you forget about Brian Cushing real quick.”

Jones is a perfect example of why the USC football program consistently finishes at the top of the Bowl Championship Series rankings.

Although he was thought to be a surefire signee to a Southern school, considering his Georgia roots, USC swooped in at the last minute to grab Jones, the No. 3 ranked strongside linebacker in the class of 2009, according to Scout.com.

“We’re just ecstatic that we were able to get Jarvis,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “We think he’s going to have a chance to play, contribute and vie for playing time immediately when he gets here, and he’s perfectly statured for that.”

Eight defensive starters from the 2008 campaign will attempt to make the jump to the NFL, including all three linebackers and six of the front seven, but Carroll and his staff are well prepared to soften the blow.

Much like Jones will be treated as the heir to Cushing, the Florida product Telford is being looked at as the eventual successor of weakside linebacker Kaluka Maiava.

“[Telford] has an enormous understanding of defensive football,” Carroll said. “We see Frankie as a weakside linebacker, where Maiava and Keith Rivers played for us.”

Defensive tackle Fili Moala and defensive ends Kyle Moore and Clay Matthews are leaving; filling their places will be 320-pound junior college tackle Hebron Fangupo, class of 2009 ends Devon Kennard and James Boyd, and two 2008 four-star end recruits.

“Hebron has the kind of explosion and playmaking ability that you love,” Carroll said. “It’s coincidental that opportunity opens up at the [defensive tackle] spot with Fili taking off and here comes another big 300-pound kid that can fit the bill.”

Fangupo, from major college-prospect hotbed Mt. San Antonio College, will enter USC with two years of eligibility remaining. Kennard, the No. 1 ranked defensive end in this year’s class, or Boyd could feasibly redshirt, but there’s still a considerable flow of talent coming in.

The USC coaching staff continuously stockpiles top talent, to the point that it is in vogue in the college football world to say that “USC doesn’t recruit players, it selects them.”

So why do so many recruits consistently select USC, even in the face of dire competition for playing time they could so easily receive elsewhere?

“It’s always my job to give the guys a really good competitive opportunity,” Carroll said. “It doesn’t do a guy any good to just sit back and watch around here. You’ve gotta get out there and play and show us what you’re all about.”

Carroll and his son Brennan, the recruiting coordinator, consistently preach competition — and it shows, from the practice field to the classroom and from the assistant coaches to the recruiting hotbeds.

The concept doesn’t result in the signing of every potential recruit and certainly has hit its share of snags — namely linebacker Vontaze Burfict and receiver/corner Randall Carroll, both of whom reneged on soft verbal commitments to USC Wednesday — but the end result is a recruiting class full of players Carroll and his staff know will compete.

But again, don’t take it from me — take it from Jones himself.

“I want somebody who’s going to push me to the extreme,” Jones told USCfootball.com. “I want to be better than I already am because I want to be ready for the next level [after college]. I want a coach that’s on me, somebody that pushes me every day.”

That competition theme seems to be working out just fine.

Building the future: Signing Day 2009

Trojans pull in an all-star recruiting class on ’09 Signing Day

By Ben Malcolmson
USCRipsIt
PeteCarroll.com

Signing Day culminates more than a year’s worth of phone calls, plane flights, long drives and high school visits.

And seeing the end results — USC’s Class of 2009 signees — shows that it was all completely worth it for the Trojans.

“We’re extremely excited about this class,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “The athletes and competitors in this group could make it one of the best we’ve ever had. We couldn’t be more thrilled with how it all came together.”

The players below have officially signed to play for USC in 2009. Here’s a player-by-player breakdown — the most complete look at the newest Trojans you'll find — for each member of the Class of 2009:

ALSO SEE: USCTROJANS.COM'S SIGNING DAY CENTRAL - VIDEOS OF ALL THE PROSPECTS

QUARTERBACK

Matt Barkley
Newport Beach (Mater Dei HS) • 6-3, 220

The facts: Four-year starter who threw for 2,877 yards in 2008 and 3,565 yards in 2007, when he was named Gatorade national player of the year; Named to numerous All-American teams in 2007 and 2008; His father, Les, played water polo at USC in 1976-79; Enrolled in January and will compete during Spring Practice

Might remind you of: Carson Palmer

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Experience: Four-year starter in high school
2. Established: “Matt’s proven that he’s the best quarterback in the country”
3. Attitude: Great competitor, smart, and has everything really together

Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates: “His experience is the biggest thing — he’s played a lot of quarterback in his life. He looks polished, he can make all the throws, his arm strength is incredible. He has mobility and poise and the guy’s a winner. He’s already in the program and learning, which is great for him.”

WIDE RECEIVER

De’Von Flournoy
Van Nuys (Birmingham HS) • 6-0, 180

The facts: Averaged 24 yards per catch and had 9 TDs in 2008; Named to several All-American squads; Also returns punts and kickoffs

Might remind you of: A mixture between Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Explosiveness: Fast and quick
2. Pass-catching ability: Excellent hands and is a dominant receiver
3. Dynamic: Can return kicks and is very versatile

Wide receivers coach John Morton: “He’s got big-time speed and he’s really good after the catch. He plays fast, real fast.”

FULLBACK

Simione Vehikite
Kapolei, Hawaii (Kapolei HS) • 6-0, 245

The facts: Also played linebacker in high school; Recorded 119 tackles and 10 sacks in 2008; Was also recruited to play rugby for Team USA; Is a citizen of Tonga

Might remind you of: Stanley Havili

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Unique qualities: Perfectly fits into fullback role; also has defensive mentality
2. Toughness: Very physical nature
3. Great hands: Catches the ball very well

Running backs coach Todd McNair: “He’s a physical, good hard-nosed football player, a really tough dude. He’s versatile, he can play linebacker and fullback, and he plays fullback with a linebacker mentality. He can run, catch, hit, all that good stuff you want in a fullback.”

OFFENSIVE LINE

John Martinez
Murray, Utah (Cottonwood HS) • 6-3, 275

The facts: Made several All-American squads in 2008; Has four cousins who all played at Utah in the ’90s and early ’00s; Went to same high school as current USC fullback Stanley Havili

Might remind you of: Ryan Kalil

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Effort: High-energy guy
2. Toughness
3. Unique quickness and agility

Offensive line coach Pat Ruel: “He’s got good quickness, plays with a lot of passion and is a high-energy guy. He’s not the tallest lineman, but his tenacity and passion are off the charts. He plays with an extraordinary amount of effort — he’s always downfield making plays — so the minute we saw him and his effort, we knew he was a guy we wanted on our team.”



Kevin Graf
Agoura (Agoura HS) • 6-6, 315

The facts: Widely considered the top offensive lineman in the West; Named to essentially every All-American team; Four-year starter in high school; Also played basketball, baseball and threw shot put for the track team in high school; His father, Allan, lettered three seasons as an offensive guard for the Trojans in 1970-72; His brother, Derek, played center for the Trojans in 2002

Might remind you of: Deuce Lutui or Sam Baker

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Physicality: “One of most physical players we’ve ever recruited”
2. Dominant
3. History with program: Attended many high school summer camps and has a family legacy with the Trojans

Offensive line coach Pat Ruel: “He’s big, strong and athletic and has marvelous body control for a guy his size. He’s got real good strength, he plays with a very competitive nature, he’s got long arms and can bend and defend against the pass rushers. He also has power for the run game. I like that he has a very passionate way of playing.”

DEFENSIVE LINE

Kevin Greene
Oakland (Sacred Heart HS) • 6-3, 235

The facts: Had 45 tackles and 28 sacks in 2008; Made several all-state teams in 2008; Has played only two years of football; Also played basketball in high school; Tried out for the U.S. national handball team this year

Might remind you of: Everson Griffen

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Fast
2. Superb agility and quickness
3. Versatility: Could play defensive end or outside linebacker

Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin: “Kevin is fast, fast, fast, lightning fast. He runs a 4.4 40. He’s a little raw but he is fast. We can’t coach speed, but we can coach everything else. I’m fired up about Kevin. I don’t think I’ve ever coached a guy this fast.”



Devon Kennard
Phoenix (Desert Vista HS) • 6-3, 255

The facts: Had 111 tackles and 24 sacks as a junior in 2007; Made several All-American teams in 2008 even though he appeared in only 3 games before tearing knee ligaments; His father, Derek, was an All-American offensive lineman at Nevada in the early ’80s before playing 11 seasons in the NFL, including winning the Super Bowl as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in 1995

Might remind you of: Lawrence Jackson

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Polished: “One of the most complete defensive ends we’ve seen in years”
2. Smarts: Savvy, intelligent, 4.0 student and has great leadership skills
3. Excellent edge rusher: Could play the elephant position

Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin: “Overall, he probably has more awareness, more instincts that anyone. He’s a very instinctual player. He has great feet and good size and good speed for his position.”



James Boyd
Los Angeles (Jordan) • 6-5, 230

The facts: Recorded 106 tackles on defense while going 280-for-450 for a state-best 4,266 yards and 44 TDs as quarterback in 2008; Named to numerous All-American teams; Threw for 575 yards and 8 TDs in one game in 2008

Might remind you of: Uncomparable since he's such a unique athlete

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. All-around athleticism: Extraordinary quarterback and defensive lineman
2. Unique abilities: Fast and big
3. Versatility: All-City basketball player, which gives him special skills

Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin: “He’s a tremendous athlete and multitalented. He has had success doing it all. We’re really excited about him because of what he brings from an athletic standpoint at defensive end.”



Hebron Fangupo
Santa Ana (Mt. San Antonio JC) • 6-2, 330

The facts: Posted 47 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 6 sacks in 2008; Named to Super Prep JUCO 100 in 2008; Went on a Mormon mission after high school in 2004; Has two years of eligibility remaining

Might remind you of: Fili Moala

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Aggressive
2. Quick
3. Excellent penetrating ability

Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin: “He’s big, fast, explosive and quick off the ball. The best thing is that he can be a disrupter-type player, more of a penetrating-type player.”

LINEBACKER

Marquis Simmons
Compton (Dominguez HS) • 6-1, 225

The facts: Had 81 tackles and 7 sacks in 2008; Made several All-American squads in 2008; Was a three-year starting linebacker in high school; His brother, Melvin, played for the Trojans in 2002-03

Might remind you of: Kaluka Maiava

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Fast, quick and agile
2. Plays all over the field
3. Excellent on pass coverage and blitzing

Linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.: “He comes from a long line of Simmons linebackers, a fantastic football family. He can really step in and contribute right away. He’s fast, dependable, instinctive and really enjoys the game. He plays sideline to sideline and plays real well behind the line. He’ll help us on special teams.”



Frankie Telfort
Miami (Gulliver Prep HS) • 6-0, 205

The facts: Recorded 163 tackles and 4 sacks in 2008; Named to many All-American teams in 2008; Also played running back in high school

Might remind you of: Matt Grootegoed

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Speed: 4.4 40-yard dash; “Fastest linebacker we’ve recruited”
2. Smartness: Understands the game really well
3. Great coverage ability

Linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.: “Frankie is very explosive, very fast, instinctive and has a nose for the game. What really sticks out is that he’s really bright — he understands what’s going to happen before it happens. Guys like that are really awesome to coach.”



Jarvis Jones
Columbus, Ga. (Carver HS) • 6-3, 225

The facts: Had 77 tackles and 4 INTs in 2008; Named to several All-American teams in 2008; Also played basketball in high school and earned All-State honors in 2008

Might remind you of: Brian Cushing

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Explosiveness, quickness and agility
2. Size and strength: Has a perfect build
3. Great blitzer and tackler

Linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.: “You’re really going to like Jarvis. He really hits hard and is a really solid player — a guy that really strikes you. He’s tough, exciting to watch and he’s a fantastic tackler. He puts his body on you and enjoys physical side of game. He’ll make you forget about Brian Cushing real quick.”

DEFENSIVE BACK

Torin Harris
Las Vegas (Palo Verde HS) • 6-1, 175

The facts: Recorded 53 tackles and 5 INTs on defense in 2008; Caught 60 passes for 660 yards with 11 receiving TDs, along with 4 rushing TDs and 3 kickoff return TDs in 2008; Named to several All-West squads

Might remind you of: Kevin Thomas

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Classic cornerback build: Tall and rangy
2. Speed
3. Versatile: Can be used on kickoff return or offense

Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Rocky Seto: “He’s a perfect corner build — 6-0, really sleek, and really fast. He ran a 10.6 as a junior in the 100, which makes him legitimately fast. We’re really excited about him, there’s a terrific chance for him to develop early.”



T.J. McDonald
Fresno (Edison HS) • 6-2, 205

The facts: Had 87 tackles and 3 INTs in 2008; Played safety, linebacker, defensive end, fullback, tight end and wideout as a senior in 2008; Made several All-American squads in 2008; His father, Tim, was a two-time All-American safety and four-year letterman at USC in 1983-86 and also played 13 years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the 1994 San Francisco 49ers

Might remind you of: Kevin Ellison

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Awareness and knowledge of the game
2. Great skills in the run game: Plays close to the line of scrimmage
3. Instincts: Natural defensive player

Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Rocky Seto: “He’s big, physical, strong and highly competitive. He’s also a highly intelligent football player who’s very thorough and likes to learn about the game. He’s going to be awesome contributing and digging in right away to try and compete for playing time as fast as he can.”



Byron Moore
Carson (Narbonne HS) • 6-1, 205

The facts: Recorded 83 tackles, 4 INTs (2 were returned for a TD) and 15 deflections in 2008; Also had 61 catches for 963 yards and 8 TDs, along with 820 return yards with 4 TDs; Named to several All-American teams in 2008; Played defensive back and wide receiver in high school; Also was a sprinter for his high school track team

Might remind you of: Terrell Thomas

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Versatility: Can play safety and cornerback
2. Intangibles: Smart, savvy, great attitude and energetic
3. All-around athlete

Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Rocky Seto: “He’s very versatile, he can play corner or safety. He’s a strong, fast kid. And he loves to talk football.”



Patrick Hall
Oxnard (St. Bonaventure HS) • 6-1, 185

The facts: Had 72 tackles and 4 INTs on defense in 2008; Also played running back, gaining 784 yards on the ground and scoring 11 TDs; Made several All-American teams; His cousin, Keary Colbert, played wideout for USC in 2000-03 and ended his career as the Trojans’ No. 2 all-time receiver

Might remind you of: Josh Pinkard

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. All-around player: Can play any position
2. Overall athleticism: Plays like a linebacker, covers like a cornerback, has the range of a safety
3. Excellent speed

Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Rocky Seto: “He’s athletic, very rangy and a very versatile athlete. He’s very explosive and sudden. He’s a little bit different from the mold of safeties we’ve seen come through — different than Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison, the bigger guys. He’s a very dynamic player — he also played tailback in high school and he can do a lot of stuff.”



Jawanza Starling
Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln HS) • 6-1, 190

The facts: Made 50 tackles in 2008; Named to several All-American teams; Three-year starter; Also played baseball in high school; Attended same high school as current Trojan cornerback T.J. Bryant

Might remind you of: Will Harris

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. All-around athlete: Will play football and baseball at USC
2. Great instincts in the run game
3. Big hitter and a playmaker: “There’s nothing he can’t do on the defensive side of the ball”

Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Rocky Seto: “He’s a very physical player and had a lot of big hits in his film. He’s perfect for what we’re looking for in a safety with his ball skills and size. He’s a really good athlete.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Jacob Harfman
Chino (Mt. San Antonio JC) • 5-11, 200

The facts: Made 20-of-26 field goals and 69-of-76 PATs in 2008; Had 27 touchbacks on kickoffs in 2008; Averaged 40.0 yards per punt in 2008; Connected on a Mt. SAC record 56-yard field goal in 2008; Named to numerous JC All-American squads; Has two years of eligibility remaining

Might remind you of: David Buehler

Coach Carroll’s Three Things:
1. Huge leg: Consistently hits touchbacks on kickoffs
2. Could be the starting kicker and punter: “He might be one of the most valuable guys in this class since he can be our starter at two positions”
3. Natural skills for kicking

Special teams coordinator Brian Schneider: “Jacob’s got a powerful and accurate leg. He can kick touchbacks regularly, which helps our defense out tremendously. He’s also a punter and field goal kicker, so he can contribute in several ways. I’m really excited about seeing him come in and compete right away.”

Top recruit Frankie Telfort announces his choice of school: USC.

Gulliver's Frank Telfort headed to USC

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

Gulliver linebacker Frank Telfort is joining the "Trojan Army.''

Telfort, Miami-Dade County's No. 8 recruit and most high-profile undecided recruit heading into National Signing Day, committed to the University of Southern California during a live broadcast on ESPNU Wednesday morning.

''I'm going to play my college ball at USC,'' Telfort said, surrounded by his parents at a studio in downtown Miami.

Telfort (5-11, 205 pounds, 4.4 speed) chose the Trojans over defending national champion Florida and Stanford. Telfort, who says he would like to pursue a degree in the medical field, considered the latter very strongly because of its strong academics.

Telfort said he was impressed with the school after a long talk he had recently with USC assistant coach and former star NFL linebacker Ken Norton Jr.

Telfort said he projects to play linebacker and/or safety for the Trojans, who won the Rose Bowl this past season and finished in the top three in both major national polls.

Telfort led Gulliver to the Class 2A state championship game this past season with a team-best 163 tackles and four sacks. He was a first-team All-State and All-Dade selection, and is rated the No. 8 outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com.

Defensive ends: Kennard heads west to Southern Cal

By Richard Obert, The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic

PHOENIX — Calling Southern California "an atmosphere where you're destined to be great," Devon Kennard put on a USC hat and pledged to the Pac-10 power Wednesday morning in front of classmates and faculty at Phoenix Desert Vista's auditorium.

USC's new defensive line coach, Jethro Franklin, was in attendance.

Kennard, a 6-3, 257-pounder who is the No. 1 defensive end recruit in the country, according to a consolidated rankings list, called the in-home visit last week with Franklin and new USC defensive coordinator Rocky Seto key to clinching his decision. Texas and California also were in the running.

"Texas is winning also, but it was a comfort feeling," Kennard said. "I felt more comfortable in the Pac-10 and more comfortable in California, and that's why I made that decision."

Kennard, who is four months into rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee, said he wanted to leave Arizona but be close enough for his family to see him play.

"He had a tough decision," said Derek Kennard, Devon's father who played in the NFL. "He's committed."

Devon's brother, Derek Jr., handled most of the recruiting calls during the process.

The elder Kennard said he did reference checks to make sure his son made the correct decision. But in the end, it was Devon's choice.

"I kept asking my dad, and he said, 'It's your decision,' " Devon said. "That's when I became a man, because it was my decision."

Kennard attended USC's Rising Stars Camp the last two summers. Last summer he was so dominant that his stock rose to near the top at any position in the nation. He said he came away impressed with how USC coach Pete Carroll runs practices.

"It's so up-tempo," Kennard said.

Kennard included Arizona State among the five schools he seriously considered.

He said he had a good relationship with ASU assistant Grady Stretz and enjoyed his conversations with coach Dennis Erickson.

"But I wanted to get out of Arizona and do something new," Kennard said. "My family really supported that."

Kennard, an honor student, said he was being cleared Tuesday to begin agility drills. He said he does not intend to redshirt. "I want to make an impact for my team as a freshman," he said. "I'll be ready."

•Surprise of the day: No. 47 Sam Montgomery of Greenwood (S.C.) looked like he was headed to North Carolina, but signed with LSU. According to ESPN/Scouts Inc., he wanted to be part of the No. 1 recruiting class. The South Carolina All-State honoree went to LSU despite the Tigers' loss of defensive line coach Earl Lane, Montgomery's original recruiter.

•Staying home: South Florida, a rising power in college football, keeps No. 96 Ryne Giddins of Armwood (Seffner) in state.

A Trojan Once Moore

By Kevin Carden

For Narbonne safety Byron Moore the recruiting trails has had many unexpected twists and turns, but in the end he followed his heart, which led him back to the hometown USC Trojans.

For Narbonne safety Byron Moore the recruiting trails has had many unexpected twists and turns, but in the end he followed his heart, which led him back to the hometown USC Trojans.

“It’s a dream come true,” Moore said of his commitment to the Trojans. “I have been evaluating since I de-committed from USC, and I just kept thinking about how it’s always been my dream, and I decided to just go with it and live my dream.

“Like USC always says, ‘Live your dream’, I’m going to go ahead and live it.”

Moore, who reopened his recruitment two weeks ago, picked the Trojans over Notre Dame and Colorado.

“My relationship with the coaches was the strongest with USC, of all the three schools,” he explained. “That just made me more comfortable with USC.

“Coach Rocky Seto, Coach Ken Norton and Coach Carroll, they always stayed in contact with me and always told me what a great fit I would be in the program and how they love me as a person,” Moore said. “Once they started recruiting me they have always had a plan laid out for me.”

The versatile defensive back will get an opportunity to show his skills as both a safety and cornerback.

“That’s one of the biggest things that helped me in my recruitment. Even though I played safety I have great coverage skills,” Moore said. “So a lot of schools that looked at me loved that I could play corner or safety.

“I will go in and start out in that corner spot. When everyone leaves all those spots will be wide open so I can choose which ever one I want to go after.”

The four-star prospect said he was honored to be a part of USC’s stellar 2009 recruiting class.

“It’s a really great feeling knowing that I will be playing for one of the best schools, and I’m coming in as part of one of the top classes,” Moore said. “It’s great knowing that you’re going to be surrounded by great players for the next four years.”

Versatile defensive back Byron Moore committed to USC on Wednesday.

Jones - “I knew this morning”

By Gerry Hamilton

Columbus Carver linebacker Jarvis Jones knew the decision would be a tough one and it turned out to be just that in selecting the USC Trojans over the Texas Longhorns. In fact, Jones says he didn’t know he would pick USC until he woke up Wednesday morning.

Jarvis Jones is finished with the process that can be overwhelming for so many 17 and 18 year olds. On Wednesday shortly after 1:30 eastern time, the #72 prospect in the 2009 class stepped to a table with five hats from left to right, Georgia, Texas, USC, Florida and LSU. After toying with the crowd of more than 200 hundred touching both the Georgia and Florida hats, Jones calmly picked up the USC hat and put it on his head smiling. It was as if Jones felt relieved that the process was finally over.

After all of the photographs and TV interviews concluded, Jones sat down with Burnt Orange Beat to talk about how close and difficult the decision was. Jones said he knew he would put the USC hat on this morning.

“I thought about it last night man,” Said Jones. “I went to bed thinking USC or Texas. This morning it was USC and I followed my heart. I just woke up and said I was going to USC. Coach Muschamp and I developed a great relationship. I love the University of Texas, man. It’s a great school. I think USC is a great school and Coach Norton and I developed a great relationship too. He played linebacker and was a great linebacker. I think he can help me in situations he’s been in coaching my through those situations. I think either one I went to, I couldn’t have gone wrong. They were both great schools. All of the schools were great,” added Jones.

One thing that is for certain after speaking with Jones a few minutes following his announcement is that he kept to himself and even the colleges in contention didn’t find out their fate until he announced his decision.

“Well, the schools probably haven’t found out unless someone just told them (after he announced). I’ve been trying to stay to myself this week. I’ve been kind of frustrated and really didn’t know where I wanted to go. There were so many great opportunities,” Jones said.

As for when was the last time Jones spoke with a coach from USC or Texas, Jones said it was two days ago.

“It was Monday,” Jones said.

In SEC Country, the pick by his teammates and peers was the Florida Gators. The people closest to Jones knew that the four-star linebacker had grown up loving the Gators. Jones said he was still thinking of an SEC team on Sunday night.

“I t was kind of crazy man. Sunday after I got back from LSU, it was really Texas, LSU and USC. I really didn’t know where I wanted to go. Right now I’m relieved, but I still don’t know where I want to be at. It’s kind of surprising that I just did this, but I’ve made my choice and I’m going to go with it,” Jones said.

He added, “Growing up, I was a Florida Gator fan. I’m still a Florida Gator fan. I love them Gators. Like I said, Coach Norton and Coach Muschamp and I developed great relationships. Coach Muschamp was recruiting me when he was at Auburn, so we’ve got a great relationship. Coach Norton and I have a great relationship. Florida is still in my heart and I’ll follow Florida football. I’ve made my decision and have to live with it.

There had been talk recently that the switch of linebacker Vontez Burfict from USC to Arizona State and Brandon Spikes staying at Florida for his senior season swayed his decision. Jones says that is not true at all.

“I really didn’t know anything about that (Burfict) until last night. They (people) are saying I’m afraid of competition and that will never happen. Other player’s decision had nothing to do with mine,” Jones said emphatically.

Pac-10 Roundup: Trojans have another big year

LOS ANGELES — Coach Pete Carroll and the Southern California Trojans, who already had the nation’s most highly recruited quarterback on campus, received letters of intent from 16 more prized recruits on signing day Wednesday.

Matt Barkley, considered by many the best quarterback — and maybe the best player — in the country, graduated early from Mater Dei High in nearby Santa Ana and enrolled at USC last month.

Defensive end John Martinez of Salt Lake City and defensive end Devon Kennard of Phoenix are among the group of 14 high school players and two junior college players who committed to USC.

“We’re very pleased with this class of recruits, as these are top-quality players both athletically and academically,” Carroll said.

“We signed three players who were ranked as the top at their position in the nation (Barkley at quarterback, Kennard at defensive end, Martinez at center), highlighted by the No. 1 player in the country in Matt Barkley.”

The Trojans’ incoming class was ranked either No. 2 or No. 3 on top-10 lists by recruiting experts.

“This is an extraordinarily fast class across the board and every player is really athletic,” Carroll said. “They are all very versatile players who can contribute on either side of the ball. ... Every one of these players will have a chance to contribute this year and we expect them to do so early on, especially at the linebacker and defensive end spots.”

UCLA

LOS ANGELES — Coach Rick Neuheisel, hoping to return UCLA football to national prominence, believes the Bruins’ new class of recruits will shore up the team’s weaknesses.

The incoming class, ranked in a tie for fourth by one recruiting service and listed at No. 16 by another, includes 22 high school seniors and two junior college transfers.

Among the group of incoming prep stars is Morrell Presley of nearby Carson. One of the most highly regarded tight ends in the country, he enrolled at UCLA last month after graduating early from high school.

Considered among the top prospects that Neuheisel lured to Westwood this year, in addition to Presley, are wide receiver Randall Carroll, offensive lineman Xavier Su’a-Filo and quarterback Richard Brehaut.

California

BERKELEY, Calif. — Jeff Tedford emphasized needs over names in California’s latest football recruiting class, and the coach ended up with help at nearly every one of the Golden Bears’ neediest positions.

Mission Viejo quarterback Allan Bridgford and Seattle-area defensive lineman Deandre Coleman highlighted Tedford’s 18-player recruiting class, which was ranked in the top half of most recruiting observers’ Pac-10 lists Wednesday.

“We’re excited about this class,” Tedford said. “We feel we addressed all of our needs, and we’re bringing in a group of players with the speed and athleticism to compete at a high level.”

The Bears also signed Charles Siddoway, rated the top recruit coming out of Oregon this winter by rivals.com.

Stanford

STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh has been given to hyperbole in the past. This time it’s another dandy.

When he spoke with the current group of recruits during the recruiting process he made them one promise: “We promised them we will win,” Harbaugh said. “We promised they will be part of a championship team.”

Rated as high as the 12th best class in the country, the class is headed up by highly-regarded prospects Levine Toilolo, a 6-foot-8 tight end out of La Jolla, Calif., Shayne Skov, a 6-3, 235 linebacker from nearby Piedmont, wide receiver Jamal-Rashad Patterson from McDonough, Geo. and San Diego running back Tyler Gaffney, a two-sport athlete who will also play baseball for the Cardinal.

Arizona State

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict has a lot to live up to after signing with Arizona State on Wednesday.

The school’s official release called Burfict “the most highly ranked football prospect ever to sign a letter of intent to attend Arizona State University.”

Coach Dennis Erickson added to the hype as he unveiled his 2009 recruiting class.

“I’ve been recruiting a long time, and I don’t know that I’ve seen a better high school football player than him, when you watch him, plus all the other intangibles he has that make him a great football player,” Erickson said.

Burfict, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound product of Corona, Calif., leads a 21-player class that includes nine Arizonans and six Californians.

Another notable recruit is 6-foot-8 quarterback Brock Osweiler of Kalispell, Mont. He graduated high school in December and has already enrolled at ASU. He will join the wide-open derby to replace longtime starter Rudy Carpenter next season.

Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona coach Mike Stoops unveiled a 24-player recruiting class led by two-way standout Adam Hall, a product of Tucson’s Palo Verde High School. No controversy this time.

The class includes six junior college transfers and is heavy on defense, with five linebackers and four linemen.

The 6-foot-4 Hall, who is listed as an “athlete,” is likely to play safety, Stoops said.

Washington

SEATTLE — New Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has signed 18 players to national letters of intent to play football for the Huskies.

The list is highlighted by a trio of prep standouts from California, where Sarkisian heavily recruited while coaching at USC. They are safety Nathan Fellner from Clovis West High School near Fresno, Calif; quarterback Keith Price from St. John Bosco High School in the Los Angeles area; and James Johnson, a wide receiver from the San Diego area who made his final decision on Wednesday.

Sarkisian’s first class features only two players from Washington: linebacker Andre Pulu from Federal Way and cornerback Desmond Trufant from Tacoma — the younger brother of former Washington State and current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant.

Washington State

SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington State football coach Paul Wulff on Wednesday signed 22 new players for next year, nearly all of them high school recruits.

Wulff said the recruiting class was solid, but would not cover all the holes of the Cougars, who had one of the worst teams in school history last year.

“We don’t have enough scholarships available, with the 25 limitation, to fit all our needs,” Wulff said. “But we did cover every area and that was vital. We are still another year away before we can start filling in every need exactly.”

Two players are junior college transfers, Johnny Forzani and highly-touted Brandon Rankin.

Forzani, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound wide receiver, has already enrolled at WSU. His high school did not have a football team, but he played for the practice squad and the junior team of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. His father, Tom, played 12 years in the CFL and is in the league’s hall of fame.

Rankin is a 260-pound defensive end from Butte College in California, who has not yet qualified academically, and will be offered academic support so he can enroll next year, Wulff said.

But Wulff repeated his desire to build his program through high school recruits, rather than transfers.

Carver linebacker Jarvis Jones signs with USC Trojans

By Jerry F. Rutledge Ledger-Enquirer.com

Jarvis Jones had a list of final college destinations that could seemingly not go wrong, with powerhouse programs Florida, Georgia, LSU, Texas and USC all ready to make his dream of big-time college football a reality.

Ultimately, his course of action was to choose the school that felt the most right. The Carver linebacker felt that school was the University of Southern California.

He announced his selection in the Carver High School media center with more that 150 people in attendance.

The highly anticipated announcement was carried live on www.ledger-enquirer.com, with the Web site seeing unique visitors jump 278 percent above normal (from 1,509 to 5,709) for the noon-2 p.m. time period.

“It was a tough decision. I felt like I could have done some of the same things at Texas that I hope to do at USC,” Jones said after the announcement. “But I liked the opportunity at USC, the coaches and the players.”

USC coach Pete Carroll has turned the Trojans program into a perennial power again.

The Trojans have won two national championships in the past six years and were in the discussion deep into the season each of the other years.

Carroll’s staff is known for its recruiting in fertile southern California and across the United States, too, reaching into the Midwest, Texas and East Coast to bring select talented players.

They have secured one of the Southeast’s most honored high school seniors by reaching into Georgia to sign Jones, a U.S. Army All-American.

The 6-3, 226-pound linebacker has been an impact player since stepping onto the Carver campus as a freshman, being selected the 2006 Ledger-Enquirer Player of the Year in basketball his very first year of varsity action.

Jones has been the Ledger-Enquirer’s football Defensive Player of the Year the last two years as the Tigers won the 2007 GHSA Class AAA state champion.

Carver coach Dell McGee said Jones has been just as good for the Tigers off the football field. “He’s a great kid, first of all. He’s the type kid that does everything a coach asks and beyond.”

After making his final official visit over the weekend to LSU, Jones had narrowed his decision to between Texas and USC.

Wil Muschamp, the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator and head coach in waiting, was Jones’ recruiting coach while Todd McNair was the recruiter for Southern Cal.

But the coach that perhaps made the bigger impact on Jones’ decision was USC linebacker coach Ken Norton.

Norton, the son of former world heavyweight champion Ken Norton, was an All-American linebacker at USC’s crosstown rival UCLA during his playing days before earning All-Pro honors for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers.

After Jones made his visit to Los Angeles in late October, people around the Carver program said the way Norton worked with the Trojan linebackers had impressed him.

The new Trojan admitted as much after the signing ceremony, noting Norton’s experience as a linebacker during his playing days.

Jones was one of the last of the top recruits in the Southeast to make a college choice and his decision had become an object of intense speculation on message boards devoted to his final quintet of teams.

Scout.com and Rivals, two of the nation’s major recruiting services, local television and radio were in evidence during the ceremony.

Jones was one of 10 Carver players who signed or will sign college scholarships this spring.

Rather than save the suspense until the end of the group, Jones announced his decision upfront.

After touching caps for the other finalists, tugging one cap a couple of inches before moving to another, he finally picked up the garnet and gold USC hat to the applause of the audience.

The final chapter of arguably the biggest recruiting race in recent Chattahoochee Valley memory was over.

• Video | Jarvis Jones picks USC
• Video | Jarvis Jones talks about choosing USC

USC only signs the best of the best

The philosopher Derek Zoolander once suggested that, "Maybe there's more to life than being really, really, really, ridiculously good looking."

Don't tell that to USC fans, who are welcoming a football recruiting class that is, on paper, ridiculously good looking. Again.

Under Pete Carroll, the Trojans have consistently landed some of the nation's best classes. It's no surprise that a legendary program with a popular coach can score points with the recruiting services. It is a surprise how they do it with just a handful of players. When a site like Rivals.com or Scout.com ranks the schools, it's based on a system where individual signees are worth certain points. All players are graded from one to five stars -- the higher, the better.

Having five stars is no guarantee of being a superstar, and having three doesn't relegate you to the practice squad (even at USC). One of the top performers of the Carroll era, wide receiver Mike Williams, was a three-star recruit. Jeff Schweiger was a five-star, but transferred to San Jose State after not seeing much playing time in Troy.

While it's not a perfect predictor, many teams just wish they could get a couple four-star players. Heading into a typical signing day, USC's average commit is rated over four stars. They often finish with the entire class average above that preposterous threshold. With a relatively small group of 18 signees, the 2009 Trojans come in at a mere 3.94 on Scout.com and 3.89 on Rivals.com -- both tops in the nation.

If players wore their rankings on their sleeves, USC's next practice would have more stars running around than the Pentagon. The Trojans stocked up particularly well at quarterback, offensive line, defensive line and in the secondary. They even signed a kicker. A pair of highly regarded linebackers also became Trojans, though USC lost out on another two that were on the top of their wish list. USC didn't do much at tailback, unless uncommitted Bryce Brown decides to sign with the Trojans. Expect that to be a priority next year.

If history repeats itself, USC won't have much to worry about in 2010. They've had the nation's best average player rating on both services for five of the last six years. They were "down" in 2008, finishing second with Rivals and third with Scout. Over that entire period, the Trojans have collectively averaged 4.10 stars on Scout and 3.99 and Rivals.

When it comes to recruiting, there's USC -- and there's everybody else.

-- Adam Rose

Trojans get top-three recruiting class, but focus is on those who got away

Agoura High offensive lineman Kevin Graf signs his national letter of intent to attend USC. Graf was one of 15 recruits to sign with the Trojans on Wednesday. (Courtesy Photo)

By Scott Wolf, Staff Writer

Recruiting is like everything else for USC football.

Expectations tend to override reality. A 12-1 season and trip to the Rose Bowl is nice - unless you expect national a championship.

And a top-five recruiting class is considered a bare minimum for the past seven years, so no one celebrated Wednesday when the Trojans finished fourth in the rankings.

Instead, USC fans focused more on the high-profile recruit who got away.

While Scout.com and Rivals.com each rated USC No.4 in the nation, the story of the day was the stunning announcement of middle linebacker Manti Te'o, who announced he would go to Notre Dame instead of USC.

Te'o ruined a fast start Wednesday when cornerback Byron Moore from Narbonne High of Harbor City surprisingly selected USC after decommitting two weeks ago. USC then secured the commitment of outside linebacker Frankie Telfort, the first Miami native to choose USC in the Carroll era.

But that joy evaporated when Te'o, considered an heir apparent to Rey Maualuga, chose Notre Dame.

"He was up all night trying to figure it out," Carroll said. "We were all over it. We got some guys that we didn't think we would have a shot at and a couple guys we thought we could have went the other way."

Carroll said players' families played a role in at least five recruits' decisions, "in both directions." He would not say Te'o was one of those five players.

Te'o's decision stung because USC had already lost the nation's other top prep middle linebacker, Vontaze Burfict of Corona Centennial, when he decommitted and signed with Arizona State because he was concerned he would not qualify academically with the Trojans.

"We were in those guys. We were trying to get everyone," Carroll said.

Te'o appeared to favor USC on Tuesday but abruptly changed his mind Wednesday. Without the highly publicized linebacker, Carroll focused on the surprising signing of linebacker Jarvis Jones from Columbus, Ga. He chose USC over Georgia, Texas and LSU.

Carroll said Jones could play middle linebacker, perhaps to deflect criticism over losing Te'o.

"He's a sleeper," Carroll said of Jones. "We think he'll have a chance to contribute immediately. He's that dynamic."

USC also lost wide receiver/cornerback Randall Carroll, who originally committed to the Trojans, then spent months looking at just about every other school before selecting UCLA.

If quarterback Matt Barkley had committed Wednesday instead of nearly a year ago, there would probably be noisemakers going off inside Heritage Hall.

"I don't want to dwell only on Matt, but that's an incredible start to get the top quarterback in the country," Carroll said.

Carroll said Barkley would be part of the competition to start next season with Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain, but Barkley would need to make an incredible jump to start, even though he will participate in spring.

Carroll focused on the versatility of the class, as safeties Patrick Hall and T.J.McDonald each played running back and wide receiver in high school. Hall could see action as the Trojans' kick returner and play both ways.

Defensive end James Boyd was also a quarterback at Jordan of Los Angeles and is one of the top scorers in the City Section basketball.

"We never had a guy who could do that much coming to play defensive end here," Carroll said. "I look back to all the guys we've had who played so well, and try to think of Kenechi Udeze being a quarterback, or Lawrence Jackson being a leading scorer in basketball," Carroll said.

There was also more mystery Wednesday night. Safety Jawanza Starling of Tallahassee, Fla., announced he would play for the Trojans. But Starling never faxed his letter of intent to USC. He also did not contact the university.

That led to speculation he reconsidered his college choices. Notre Dame was Starling's second choice.

USC continued to recruit Wednesday. Highly regarded wide receiver Orson Charles of Tampa, Fla., visits this weekend. There is also a chance that Bryce Brown, ranked the No. 1 tailback in the nation, will make an official visit. He committed to Miami but is looking at other schools.

Also:Carroll said safety Josh Pinkard received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. Pinkard was invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis but will instead play one more season for the Trojans.

Trojans' Carroll happy with the net result

By MICHAEL LEV

The Orange County Register

LOS ANGELES – USC lost some recruits Pete Carroll expected to secure. It landed some he feared might get away.

At the end of 2009's national signing day, Carroll liked the net results – another class ranked among the best in the nation.

"You never get all the guys you want," Carroll said. "But we know we had a great class."

The headliner is Mater Dei quarterback Matt Barkley, whom some rate as the top prospect in the nation. He enrolled last month and was almost an afterthought Wednesday amid all the hoopla of the comings and goings.

USC recovered from the unexpected loss of Hawaii linebacker Manti Te'o (to Notre Dame) and the decommitment of Corona linebacker Vontaze Burfict (to Arizona State) by getting two out-of-state substitutes: Jarvis Jones of Columbus, Ga., and Frankie Telfort of Miami.

USC also lost a couple of battles to UCLA, where offensive lineman Xavier Su'a-Filo of Utah and cornerback-receiver Randall Carroll of Los Angeles ended up signing.

But USC still ended the day with nine of ESPN's top 114 prospects and eight of Rivals' top 100.

Te'o, Burfict and Su'a Filo each had potential downsides. Te'o and Su'a-Filo have said they plan to go on LDS missions after their freshman seasons. Burfict reportedly would have had trouble qualifying academically.

"You miss on Vontaze Burfict, you miss on Manti Te'o, but Pete always has a backup plan," said Greg Biggins, recruiting director for ESPN RISE.

"There's a drop (in talent). But saying that, Jones is a top-10 guy (at his position), and so is Telfort. Jones was wanted by every school in the country.

"I'm not going to say it's a blessing in disguise, but I think they rebounded really well."

Pete Carroll emphasized more than once that many of this year's recruits would get a chance to play immediately, especially the linebackers and pass rushers. USC lost a lot of players at those positions, with three projected for the first round of the NFL draft. But Carroll also made the point to debunk the theory that he has too many good players, leaving minimal opportunities for meaningful snaps.

"There's so much that other schools will talk about, and it's basically about the competition," Carroll said. "The kids that come (to USC) are the kids that are ready and can't wait. They're the kids that aren't worried about who else is playing at their spot.

"You can hear it. You can hear them talk. They don't even worry because they know they're going to play. And they do.

"I think it amazes people that kids play so early here."

Will Barkley be among them? By enrolling early and participating in spring practice, he will have a shot, albeit a long one, to become Mark Sanchez's successor. Redshirt sophomore Aaron Corp and junior transfer Mitch Mustain are the favorites.

"It's all you can hope for in this situation," Carroll said of Barkley's early enrollment. "He is here, ready to take advantage.

"Matt's going to get a great look. That'll put the heat on the other guys."

NOTE

The NCAA granted senior defensive back Josh Pinkard a sixth year of eligibility, Carroll said. Pinkard missed most of the 2006 and '07 seasons because of knee injuries.

USC football recruiting: Carroll talks Barkley

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006

I guess Matt Barkley needed no introduction.

Coach Pete Carroll spoke at length about every prospect that signed with USC on Wednesday, except for his five-star quarterback. No, Carroll instead offered this not-so subtle reminder during his opening statement: “When you start off with the best player in the country, it’s an extraordinary boost to your class.”

Barkley (Mater Dei High), rated the top overall player in the nation by several recruiting services, has already enrolled at USC and begun working out on campus with the quarterbacks and receivers.

I asked Carroll how much that will mean come spring. His response?

“It’s all you can hope for in this situation,” Carroll said. “When recruiting Matt long time ago, we talked about opportunity he might have if he hits it right. (The day Mark Sanchez left) one of the first guys I ran into was Barkley, and his eyes were like this (Carroll motions real wide). He is here, ready to take advantage of jumping in with both feet and giving himself the best opportunity to battle Aaron (Corp) and Mitch (Mustain).

“The newest guys to us are ones we need to see the most, throw them in and see how they handle it. Matt’s going to be one of those guys. We want to find out where he fits in. Matt’s going to get a great look. It’s a great asset (for him to enroll early), not only will he be so much better transitioned for summer time, that’ll put the heat on the other guys.”

Signing Day thoughts

Garry Paskewitz WeAreSc.com

It was an interesting day, to say the least. Signing Day 2009 was expected to be a day filled with a lot of Trojan news but it ended up taking even more twists and turns than normal.

Things got started early on Wednesday morning with the ESPNU announcement from Byron Moore that he would be a Trojan. That was certainly a weird turn of events. For so long Byron had been one of the stalwarts of the USC class but then two weeks ago he had suddenly de-committed without offering up too many details. The rumors had been running rampant in the hours leading up to signing day that he could end up coming back to the Trojans but when the announcement finaly went down it was still a bit of a shock. To then hear that Byron was coming in as a corner, instead of at safety, was also welcome news as his type of athleticism should allow him to make a natural fit at the college level. Moore was considered an important get for Notre Dame, so much so that it wasn't a coincidence that the Irish offered his good friend and Nartbonne junior teammate Sean Parker a scholarship just before signing day. The Trojans were able to grab Moore from the clutches of the Irish but it wouldn't take long for Notre Dame to pull a shocker of their own on this day.

As we waited for the announcement from Manti Te'o, another out of state player was getting ready to make his college choice known. Frankie Telfort is a swift and hard hitting athlete from Miami who could play either outside linebacker or safety. The Trojans had long been on his short list of favorites and he was just one of those guys you had a feeling could end up wearing the Cardinal and Gold. when he made it official that he would indeed come to USC, the news was welcomed by Trojan fans with much enthusiasm. First Moore, now Telfort, this day was starting off great.

Now it was Manti time. Sure, there were other schools rumored to be involved. Even though BYU had been eliminated, we knew Notre Dame and UCLA were still in the picture but, come on, this one was a done deal for SC, right? Wrong. Manti came to the stage at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu and looked almost subdued as he announced that he would be attending Notre Dame. What?!?! By all accounts, Manti had just completed a terrific official visit to USC where other recruits said they all felt he would end up a Trojan. What happened? Well, the parents for one thing. His parents really had a good feeling about Notre Dame from a visit they took earlier in the year. Also, we were told that Charlie Weis had an incredible in-home visit with the family that really went over well. Still though, this one was a shock. About two weeks we had been told by a sportswriter from a Honolulu newspaper that Notre Dame would be the team to beat for Manti and we took that with a huge grain of salt. We even reported it that way on the message boards, take it for what it was worth. Well, it turned out to be pretty accurate. As far as Manti, we wish him well although one would have thought he would be happy at announcing his future college choice. I don't pretend to know Manti but he looked far from thrilled as he made the announcement yesterday.

The news on Te'o was a stunner and it took the air out of the room in the WeAreSC offices for a little bit. We just didn't see that one coming. Then the news came that Alshon Jeffrey had signed with South Carolina. Double ouch. We knew the local schools, and his family, were pushing hard for Alshon to stay closer to home but to that point he had seemingly resisted those efforts and was staying true to his word to come to USC. As it turned out, he did sign with USC, it was just the wrong one. This was not good. Jeffrey was one of my favorite players in this class and I really looked forward to seeing what he could do in our offense. Oh well, it's not like we needed a ton of receivers, it just would have been nice to get this one.

We went through the rest of the morning and things started to smooth out a bit. The offers were coming through the Heritage Hall fax machine. Kennard, McDonald, Harris, Greene, Flournoy, Martinez, Graf. OK, maybe we were starting to get back to some sense of normalcy. Coming up was a huge announcement, this one coming from GA linebacker Jarvis Jones. With the loss of Te'o, and the earlier de-commit from Vontaze Burfict, the linebacker spot was suddenly in desperate need of some bodies for this class. We had Marquis Simmons in the fold and Telfort, as I mentioned earlier, could easily play OLB as well but we needed a big horse, a another top guy to really solidify this position. Jones had always listed SC among his top schools and surely he recognized the opportunities that were available at SC right now, didn't he? Yes, he did. Jones announced that he will be a Trojan. This was huge. I'm not going to try and sugarcoat the losses of Te'o and Burfict. They hurt, no doubt. However, it's not like we're replacing them with a couple of stiffs. Telfort was ranked by ESPN as the #3 OLB in the nation while Jones was #6. It wasn't the linebacker class many had envisioned even a week or two ago but it's still a pretty darn good one no matter how you look at it.

There was one more pleasant surprise waiting for the Trojans from the state of Florida and it came with the announcement from Jawanza Starling that he would be a Trojan. Much like his former Lincoln HS teammate T.J. Bryant, Starling had kept things very quiet during his recruiting process and because of that he was pretty much an unknown commodity in recruiting circles. If you've followed the sites you might know his name but there were very few articles, videos or information floating around about Jawanza. Needless to say though, he is big time. The thought of adding him to our already incredible defensive back class was enticing, to say the least.

As the day continued to go along, it was noticeable that a few letters of intent had yet to arrive. Starlings was not in yet, nor was a letter from Chris Metcalf or Randall Carroll. The one from Carroll was understandable. He was announcing during the Prime Ticket special later that night and was looking to keep his choice a secret until then (he eventually chose UCLA). The lack of a letter from Metcalf was a little puzzling and the situation has yet to be resolved. There are many rumors and speculation about his situation right now but not a lot of facts, all we know is that Chris has yet to sign a letter to any school. As far as Starling, the rumors were flowing that he was changing his mind because the Trojans had too many defensive backs and that he was still considering the Irish. Notre Dame fans were almost giddy at the thought of grabbing another player from USC's grasp. By Thursday morning, however, those thoughts were squashed as Jawanza faxed in his USC letter and he was welcomed as the 18th member of the Class of 2009.

Right now we continue to wait for an update on Metcalf and then there are also a couple more possibilities as RB Bryce Brown and TE Orson Charles are scheduled to make official visits to USC later in the month. That will probably be it as far as finishing up the class but with these coaches you never know if there is a last minute surprise to add to the mix. We will just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

Trojans' class is secondary to none

By Erik McKinney WeAreSC Assistant Editor Posted Feb 5, 2009

At the conclusion of the 2009 season, the USC Trojans will say goodbye to at least four, and possibly five, starters in the defensive secondary. Taylor Mays, Josh Pinkard, Kevin Thomas and Will Harris are suiting up for their final year of eligibility in cardinal and gold, while redshirt junior Shareece Wright is certainly someone who could jump to the NFL after a great season.

That would leave just five scholarship players in the USC secondary heading into the 2010 season. That is, unless Trojan head coach Pete Carroll decided to do something about the secondary situation with the class of 2009.

Enter arguably the greatest collection of talent at one position in any of Pete Carroll’s nine recruiting classes.

With T.J. McDonald (Edison High School, CA), Jawanza Starling (Lincoln High School, FL), Patrick Hall (St. Bonaventure High School, CA), Byron Moore (Narbonne High School, CA), Torin Harris (Palo Verde High School, NV) and possibly both Chris Metcalf (Compton High School, CA) and Frankie Telfort (Gulliver Prep, FL) hitting the USC backfield this fall, depth will no longer be an issue at any of the secondary positions in the near future for the Trojans.

The Trojans would have had just three scholarship cornerbacks heading into the 2010 season (T.J. Bryant, Brian Baucham and Marshall Jones), but with the additions of Moore and Harris, that position got a bit more interesting.

It’s tough to imagine either true freshman making an impact as early as this season, with a number of upper classmen entrenched ahead of them, but that doesn’t mean the Trojans didn’t get two great ones.

Harris, who former Trojan cornerback and WeAreSC football analyst Darrell Rideaux says reminds him of Eric Wright (on the field), will head in to USC as one of the unsung members of the 2009 class, mostly because he committed early, never wavered and didn’t make a lot of noise during the recruiting process. But Harris has the size (6-1, 175) and speed (clocked at 10.6 as a junior in the 100-yard dash) to become a fantastic Trojan cornerback during his career.

According to Rideaux, Harris possesses excellent skills for a premier cornerback, with fluid hips, long arms and an aggressive attitude that allows him to set the edge on run plays and force them back inside. He’ll need to work on his zone coverage technique, as he’s mostly been asked to play man-to-man in high school and can get away with not playing on the upfield shoulder of opposing wide receivers because of his great speed and tremendous athletic ability at the high school level.

Moore was an interesting recruiting story due to the fact that he committed early to UCLA, de-committed and committed to USC after a tremendous Rising Stars Camp, then de-committed from USC only to recommit to the Trojans. The good news for Trojan fans is that once all the ups and downs of his commitment process are forgotten, Moore could be remembered as the best player in this entire secondary class.

He’s a tremendous athlete who could play both safety and cornerback (he also caught 61 passes for 963 yards and eight touchdowns last year), but he’ll most likely end up at corner for the Trojans.

“He is extremely physical and weaves in and out of his peddle with ease,” Rideaux said. “With a little polishing, he could be the best of the bunch. I think he has the greatest upside at corner and can contribute right away once he believes that he is suited to be a cover corner.”

Rideaux said that Moore has a bit of an issue with getting into a trail position during one-on-ones, as a result of not getting leverage on a receiver and forcing them either inside or outside. But this is something that will be easily correctable by coaches Rocky Seto and Kris Richard, probably during his first training camp.

At the safety position, the Trojans may now have the capability to toss five tremendous athletes into the mix and see how things settle.

McDonald and Starling are the only guarantees to find themselves battling it out with Drew McAlister and Shane Horton leading into the 2010 season, as they are the two true safeties in this class. But with Hall and possibly both Telfort and Metcalf (Telfort is a ‘maybe’ because he’s being brought in as an outside linebacker and Metcalf falls into the same category because his letter of intent still hasn’t arrived and he too could end up closer to the line of scrimmage).

McDonald is the son of former Trojan Tim McDonald and already possesses a collegiate-level physicality and understanding of the game.

Rideaux thinks McDonald could end up as a free safety at USC, but there’s no debate about his potential.

“Against the run, McDonald takes good read angles and shows good judgment,” Rideaux said. “Against the pass, he has very good cover skills and understands leverage in zone coverage and takes good pick angles in man coverage. He reads the quarterback well and plays down hill. He has a strong presence around the ball and could make an impact as a gunner on special teams.”

McDonald and Starling differed during the recruiting process – McDonald committing about as early as possible and Starling waiting until the last possible day to decide – but they are very similar in how much potential they show.

Like McDonald, Starling is a tremendous hitter and brings a Trojan-like physicality to the safety position.

“He roams sideline to sideline, changes direction and gets back to full speed very well,” Rideaux said. “He has very good ball skills and can turn into a wide receiver in the open field. On film, he has very good closing speed and will run through ball carriers during tackles.”

Hall is less of a pure safety than the first two, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be every bit as good.

“He’s a little bit different from the mold of safeties we’ve seen come through — different than Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison, the bigger guys,” USC defensive coordinator Rocky Seto said about Hall.

Rideaux sees Hall as a natural fit at either free safety or running back, but also thinks that Hall could develop into a great cornerback if he concentrated solely on that position.

“He has good size and fluid hip movement,” Rideaux said. “He shows tremendous range in his ability to play either corner or safety.”

In high school, Hall could bail himself with his athletic ability when his technique got him in trouble as a defender. With a few tweaks from the USC coaches, Hall might be able to alleviate that problem for good.

Metcalf and Telfort are still the wildcards in this surprising safety surplus.

If Metcalf does indeed become a member of the 2009 class, most people feel that a switch to linebacker is a foregone conclusion, which would delay the time that he could make an eventual impact on the field, because he would need to add so much weight.

Telfort has been mentioned as a possible safety prospect because of his relatively small stature (under 6-0) and great coverage ability, but the Trojan coaches don’t seem to have a problem starting him out at outside linebacker.

Carroll has already tabbed Telfort as “the fastest linebacker (he’s) recruited” and Telfort will also have a special place as the first Miami, product to don the cardinal and gold under Carroll’s guidance.

Telfort should also quickly endear himself to Trojan fans, who could be reminded of former linebacker Matt Grootegoed when they watch the undersized Telfort fly around and make play after play. Telfort would need to improve his play-action recognition and overall pass coverage if he were to flip back to safety, but the Trojan coaches are so high on his overall football IQ and potential to become an impact player that finding an eventual position isn’t even a concern at this point.

The running back class of 2003 – with Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Chauncey Washington and Desmond Reed – could remain as one of the great talent pulls at one position in college football history for a long time, but this defensive secondary class (at first glance, at least) looks like it could compare favorably.

Football Adds One More To 2009 Recruiting Class

Feb. 5, 2009

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SIGNING DAY 2009 PLAYER VIDEOS

LOS ANGELES-Defensive back Jawanza Starling of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Fla., has signed a letter of intent with USC, Trojan football head coach Pete Carroll announced today (Feb. 5).

Starling becomes the 18th member of the 2009 USC football recruiting class, which has been ranked among the nation's Top 5 by many media outlets.

The 6-1, 190-pound Starling made 50 tackles in 2008 and earned Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Super Prep All-Dixie and Prep Star All-Southeast honors as a senior at Lincoln (home of current Trojan cornerback T.J. Bryant). Lincoln played in the 2008 Florida state 4A championship game.

As a junior in 2007, he had 98 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, 5 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. He was a 3-year starter. He also played baseball at Lincoln. His cousin, Bryan Evans, is a senior cornerback at Georgia.

Signings make Pete Carroll smile

By Gary Klein

February 5, 2009

Pete Carroll was in a markedly better mood Wednesday than the last time he sat for a news conference in USC's Heritage Hall.

Gone was the agitation Carroll exhibited last month over quarterback Mark Sanchez's exit to the NFL. Carroll instead displayed his characteristic optimism as he reviewed the Trojans' 2009 recruiting class on the first day that high school and junior college players could sign national letters of intent.

It was nearly the end of a roller-coaster day in which the Trojans lost several players who had committed, fell short on a few others they had hoped to land, and gained several they were mildly surprised to have enticed.

"We never are ever going to be satisfied when we don't get everybody that we want," Carroll said.

"But we know that we had a great class and from top to bottom this is an extremely competitive bunch of guys."

USC announced the signing of 17 players, but the class is expected to grow as at least one more letter of intent arrives and the hunt for a few still-uncommitted high-profile players continues.

"It's never over," Carroll said, grinning.

By day's end, however, USC again had put together one of the nation's top classes. Rivals.com ranked it fourth, ESPN ranked it fourth and Scout.com ranked it seventh.

The Trojans got a major head start with the arrival in January of former Santa Ana Mater Dei High quarterback Matt Barkley, who will compete against Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain and Garrett Green in spring practice to replace Sanchez.

Barkley, the top-rated player at his position in the nation, is one of only five offensive players in a class that includes 11 defensive players and a kicker.

Despite losing out to Notre Dame on linebacker Manti Te'o of Hawaii, USC demonstrated its national reach by attracting six players from outside California.

Linebackers Frankie Telfort (Florida) and Jarvis Jones (Georgia), defensive lineman Devon Kennard (Arizona), defensive back Torin Harris (Nevada), offensive lineman John Martinez (Utah) and fullback Simione Vehikite (Hawaii) signed Wednesday.

Safety Jawanza Starling (Florida) announced he would attend USC but did not fax a signed letter of intent.

The class is devoid of a tailback, but that could change as the Trojans continue to pursue Bryce Brown of Wichita, Kan., the nation's top-rated running back.

Brown, who has already graduated from high school, is scheduled to visit USC in the next few weeks.

Nabbing another marquee player would help lessen the blow of losing three players who had committed to the Trojans.

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict of Corona Centennial High signed with Arizona State. Receiver Alshon Jeffrey chose to play at home state South Carolina. And Los Angeles Cathedral's Randall Carroll, a receiver and defensive back, signed with UCLA.

The signing of Telfort and Jones eased some of the sting, but Pete Carroll was disappointed that Te'o chose Notre Dame over the Trojans.

USC's loss of its entire starting linebacker corps from last season, and the potential playing time that might have afforded, was not enough to entice Te'o, who visited USC last week and was also considering UCLA.

"He seemed real happy on his trip," said USC offensive lineman Abe Markowitz, who played with Te'o at Honolulu Punahou High. "It would have been a good fit for him. He likes our style and our aggressiveness, so I thought he would come here."

Byron Moore of Harbor City Narbonne, who originally committed to UCLA, then switched to the Trojans, then dropped USC and said he was considering Colorado and Notre Dame, was among four defensive backs to sign with USC.

Carroll said his staff focused on the position group because of the expected departures of safeties Taylor Mays, Will Harris and Josh Pinkard in 2010.

Pinkard, who sat out nearly all of the 2006 and 2007 seasons because of knee injuries, was invited to this month's NFL scouting combine, but the NCAA officially granted him a sixth year of eligibility this week, Carroll said.

Signing Day Notebook: Resiliency Ruled

Maxpreps

By Mitch Stephens

MaxPreps.com

At the end of the day – one of college football’s most over-used phrases – the 2009 National Signing Day will be remembered for resiliency.

The top colleges all took some major gut punches early but stayed the course to bring home loads of promise, speed, strength and most important, recruits.

The most resilient was probably USC, which was shun by four major recruits – three whom had already committed – but rebounded to score a national-best 10 of CBS Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s Top 100 players.

Among those were No. 1 Matt Barkley, No. 4 Devon Kennard and the most unexpected score, linebacker Jarvis Jones, the No. 13 recruit all the way from Columbus, Ga.

Jones was a much-needed boost after the Trojans lost two of the country’s top linebackers and national recruits Manti Te’o and Vontaze Burfict to Notre Dame and Arizona State, respectively.

The Trojans also went deep into the south to get another impact linebacker in No. 61 overall Frankie Telfort (Gulliver Prep, Coral Gables, Fla.) late in the day

“They didn’t crumble after the early disappointments,” said Lemming, whom ranked the Trojans No. 3 overall. “They rebounded and did what they had to do.”

Ohio State lost blue chip defensive back Justin Green to Illinois, but came back in volumes and quality more so than elite talent with 27 signees, including three Top 100s recruits in LB Dorian Bell (No. 27), DL John Simon (No. 34) and RB Jaamal Berry (No. 89).

Florida saw slight but swift WR Nu’Keese Richardson (Pahokee, Fla.) go to Tennessee and Jones slip to USC, but the defending national champs still grabbed five players between No. 22-66, including highly sought-after LB Jelani Jenkins from Maryland and athletic Andre Debose, who Urban Meyer said has a legitimate shot to contribute as a true freshman.

“We watched (Debose’s) highlight tape and it may have been the most impressive one I’ve ever seen,” Meyer said.

The two most impressive recruiting jobs were done by Southeastern Conference rivals Alabama and LSU, each of which lost some key talent early.

LSU lost out on receivers Debose and DeAngelo Benton who shocked everyone by going to Auburn.

But the Tigers didn't flinch getting five of the top 33 recruits and eight in the top 100 led by QB Russell Shepard (No. 5 overall), WR Rueben Randle (No. 9) and safety Craig Loston (No. 14). The Tigers secured 25 signatures overall.

That was third only to 27 each for Ohio State and Alabama, which seemed to have the best shot at highly-regarded OL Bobby Massie, who ultimately picked Mississippi.

‘Bama didn’t miss out on many others, getting four of the top 23, including the nation’s best cornerback D’Andre Kirkpatrick (No. 12 overall) and his high school teammate, No. 96 overall WR Kendall Kelly (Gadsden City, Ala ).

Running back Trent Richardson, (No. 19), OL D.J. Fluker (No. 20) and WR Nico Johnson (No. 23) were others secured by Nick Saban and his staff.

“I think there are skill players on offense (we got) who could make explosive plays,” Saban said.

BIGGEST SURPRISES

As usual, there were fireworks and surprises throughout the day. All centered around USC. The biggest:

1. Hawaii prep legend Te’o (Punahou, Honolulu), who came on live TV, spent five minutes explaining his final thought process, then lifted a Notre Dame cap, picking the Irish over USC. “Either school would have been a good fit,” Te’o said. “I made the decision this morning at 5. I just prayed so hard. Notre Dame was a better fit.”

2. USC gained some face by securing Byron Moore Jr. (Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif.), the nation’s No. 17 safety, who committed to USC two weeks ago, decommitted last week, then on Wednesday sent his letter of intent to the Trojans. Now that's a roller coaster ride.

3. USC lost a player to of all schools. ... USC. Setting the tone for Southern Cal's odd day was the first big developments when yet another Trojan commit Alshon Jeffery (Calhoun County, S.C.) switched to another USC – the University of South Carolina. Jeffery is the nation’s No. 5 receiver and No. 31 recruit overall.

4. Ten minutes later, yet one more USC recruit Burfict (Centennial, Corona, Calif.), a local kid who had been committed since well before the summer, switched gears and picked Pacific-10 rival Arizona State. Grades apparently were at the root of why Burfict, who led Centennial to a state Division I Bowl championship, changed his mind after such a long courtship.

LARGEST SIGNING CEREMONY

The biggest single gathering of Division I talent took place in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., not coincidently, the home of the national defending high school champion, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders.

The Raiders signed a staggering 11 players to Division I programs, including quarterback Ryan Becker (Penn) and wide receiver Duron Carter (Ohio State), son of former NFL standout Cris Carter.

The elder Carter starred at Ohio State, but his son grew up a Michigan fan. What changed his mind?

“It wasn’t my dad,” he said. “When I visited the campus I was just blown away. It was absolutely the right place.”

Aquinas has obviously been the right place for coach George Smith.

“To see kids move on and play at the next level is very, very gratifying as a coach,” Smith said. “To see this many move on at once is overwhelming. I could go on and on and on about these guys. They’re fantastic.”

MORE NEWS AND NOTES

- The nation’s top running back and No. 2 recruit Bryce Brown (East, Wichita, Kan.) verbally committed to Miami but has yet to sign. The MVP of the Army-Navy All-Star game in San Antonio last month is reportedly clearing his head while vacationing in Nebraska. Supposedly he has had a change of heart and is leaning toward USC. The Miami home page had all of their 20 signees in early evening and Brown wasn't among them.

- Ka'Lial Glaud, a big time East Coast offensive line recruit from Winslow Township (Atco, N.J.), flipped a coin to decide his college choice. Glaud borrowed a quarter from his school principle and announced in front of a gather "heads for West Virginia, tails for Rutgers." It came up tails and Rutgers had their man. Just keep him out of Atlantic City. See story.

- In yet two more cases where USC was beaten out by a rival, in this case cross-town nemisis UCLA.

Xavier Su'a Filo, a massive offensive lineman who led Timpview to a Utah 4A state title, and in the last announcement of the day, wide receiver Randall Carroll, the country's No. 52 recruit overall, de-committed from the Trojans and sign with UCLA.

FINAL UNCOMMITTED LIST

Eleven of the 13 top 100 recruits who had not committed before the day picked schools. Here is entire list.

No. 7: LB Manti Te’o (Punahou, Honolulu), Signed with Notre Dame

No. 9: WR Rueben Randle (Bastrop, La.), LSU

No. 11: WR-DB Marlon Brown (Harding Academy, Memphis, Tenn.), Georgia

No. 12: CB D’Andre Kirkpatrick (Gadsden, Ala.), Alabama

No. 13: LB Jarvis Jones (Carver, Ga.), USC

No. 24: WR Patrick Patterson (Noxubee County, Mason, Miss.), Mississippi

No. 26: LB Jelani Jenkins (Our Lady of Good Counsel, Olney, Md.), Florida

No. 33: LB Sam Montgomery (Greenwood, S.C.), LSU

No. 53: TE-DE Orson Charles (Plant, Tampa, Fla.), unsigned

No. 61: LB Frankie Telfort (Gulliver Prep, Coral Gable, Fla.), USC

No. 70: LB Anthony Patrick (North Jackson, Stevenson, Ala.), Alabama

No. 84: WR Rolando Jefferson (Edison, Fresno, Calif.), unsigned

No. 96: WR Kendall Kelly (Gadsden, Ala ), Alabama

MaxPreps National Football Editor Steve Spiewak contributed to this report. E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.

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