USC recruiting battles

[ddigglerjr]

With their class already having 23 commitments, it seems unlikely they take too many more. 25 is the limit unless they overbook. Does anyone know how many commits they plan to sign?

Currently, there seems to be quite a few recruits looking at Oregon and USC. Heyward, Lyerla, Lee, Dawson (more Kentucky/Oregon), and Ka'ai all seem to be heavily considering both of these programs.

However, Westerman, Hobbi and others are also strongly considering USC. It seems like there is a chance that USC's class (finally) fills up and someone like Lee ends up at Oregon on signing day.

BTW I think Oregon's 2012 class ends up being even better. USC will feel the effect of NCAA probation, Oregon will be coming off its best season ever and Oregon has great chance of a 3-peat in the pac-10 with DT and James returning!

Go Ducks!

[skdragon1]

keep in mind they have a slew of guys enrolling in the spring that I think count towards last years class... might be wrong though

[ddigglerjr]

Yeah that makes it more confusing, but I believe thats why they can take 25 this year. I think their limit would otherwise be 15 (due to probation).

[woundedknees]

Since they filed an appeal (Part of the NCAA sanctions being put on hold until that appeal is resolved), USC gets to sign up to 25 guys this spring, plus an additional 9 "early enrollees".

So much for teeth in the penalties, eh?

[Lightning Strikes]

Oh well. The Ducks will whip their asses again at Autzen next year anyway.

[atlduck]

I believe USC will take 9 early and 20 on signing day this year.

[karlhungis]

DT 26 Antwaun Woods
DE 5 Greg Townsend
OT JC Jeremy Galten
MLB JC Dallas Kelley
DE 38 DeVante Wilson
OT JC David Garness
FB 5 J.R. Tavai
S JC Isiah Wiley
WR 5 George Farmer
DT 66 Cody Temple
DE 54 Steve Dillon
P 5 Kris Albarado
DE 46 Charles Burks
MLB 38 Kent Turene
LS NR Peter McBride
K 2 Andre Heidari
OG 21 Marcus Martin
QB 10 Cody Kessler
OLB 23 Tre Madden
CB 1 DeAnthony Thomas
WR 12 Victor Blackwell
DE 4 Jalen Grimble
QB 13 Max Wittek

24 people already on board.
4 JC guys.

Still in the mix for Lyerla, Lee, Westerman and more.

These sanctions have certainly taught them a lesson. Good luck coming back from a horrific recruiting class like this. They only have the 5th rated class and were only able to scrape together 6 top 100 players... so far.

[GrandpaDuck]

By them maxing out this year, they will run head on into their reduced max scholarship cap next year and the year after.

It is possible that they will be able to take less than 10 next year which will also be the year Oregon should receive its Championship bumps in recruiting from this year and last. With USC severely limited and UO coming off Rose Bowl-Natty Bowl seasons, 2012 should be the best recruiting class in Oregon history (in terms of average star ranking, total score might be lower due to it possibly being a smaller class taken.)

[Boom]

I never bought into the USC on sanctions will increase are recruiting rankings talk.....It might help with a couple North West kids each year, but the majority of the Californian kids want to stay close to home and play for a Californian school. It helps them significantly more than anyone else.

[GrandpaDuck]

I never bought into the USC on sanctions will increase are recruiting rankings talk.....It might help with a couple North West kids each year, but the majority of the Californian kids want to stay close to home and play for a Californian school. It helps them significantly more than anyone else.

I'll generally agree it should be a boom to the CA schools, but look at how many recruits just this year came down to UO vs USC. Also both USC and Oregon have gone after many of the same non-CA National recruits this year and in the recent past. If they only have a handful of scholies next year Oregon may be one of several schools to reap the benefit. It will be the total scholarship cap, not the yearly limit, that should get them next year if that part of the sanction is not amended.

[maxduck]

I never bought into the USC on sanctions will increase are recruiting rankings talk.....It might help with a couple North West kids each year, but the majority of the Californian kids want to stay close to home and play for a Californian school. It helps them significantly more than anyone else.

I'll generally agree it should be a boom to the CA schools, but look at how many recruits just this year came down to UO vs USC. Also both USC and Oregon have gone after many of the same non-CA National recruits this year and in the recent past. If they only have a handful of scholies next year Oregon may be one of several schools to reap the benefit. It will be the total scholarship cap, not the yearly limit, that should get them next year if that part of the sanction is not amended.

As of last July USC only had 72 players on scholarship. Since then several of those have left, including Tyron Smith and Michael Reardon who both announced within the last couple weeks. Jordan Campbell, Malik Jackson, Byron Moore, and DJ Shoemate are others who have left.

Doubtful USC runs up against the scholarship cap at this point.

[GrandpaDuck]

I never bought into the USC on sanctions will increase are recruiting rankings talk.....It might help with a couple North West kids each year, but the majority of the Californian kids want to stay close to home and play for a Californian school. It helps them significantly more than anyone else.

I'll generally agree it should be a boom to the CA schools, but look at how many recruits just this year came down to UO vs USC. Also both USC and Oregon have gone after many of the same non-CA National recruits this year and in the recent past. If they only have a handful of scholies next year Oregon may be one of several schools to reap the benefit. It will be the total scholarship cap, not the yearly limit, that should get them next year if that part of the sanction is not amended.

As of last July USC only had 72 players on scholarship. Since then several of those have left, including Tyron Smith and Michael Reardon who both announced within the last couple weeks. Jordan Campbell, Malik Jackson, Byron Moore, and DJ Shoemate are others who have left.

Doubtful USC runs up against the scholarship cap at this point.

If they use the early entries 9(?) plus as many of the 25 (the limit while under appeal number) needed to get back to 85, the majority of there roster will be underclass. Then if they lose their appeal they would drop from a ceiling of 85 to 75. Their 2012 class would be the lesser of 15 or Departures-10. With the small junior class it would be easily feasible for them to have less than the 15 annual limit due to the 75 cap. I've seen projections as low as 8 if they get back up to 85 this year.

[maxduck]

I never bought into the USC on sanctions will increase are recruiting rankings talk.....It might help with a couple North West kids each year, but the majority of the Californian kids want to stay close to home and play for a Californian school. It helps them significantly more than anyone else.

I'll generally agree it should be a boom to the CA schools, but look at how many recruits just this year came down to UO vs USC. Also both USC and Oregon have gone after many of the same non-CA National recruits this year and in the recent past. If they only have a handful of scholies next year Oregon may be one of several schools to reap the benefit. It will be the total scholarship cap, not the yearly limit, that should get them next year if that part of the sanction is not amended.

As of last July USC only had 72 players on scholarship. Since then several of those have left, including Tyron Smith and Michael Reardon who both announced within the last couple weeks. Jordan Campbell, Malik Jackson, Byron Moore, and DJ Shoemate are others who have left.

Doubtful USC runs up against the scholarship cap at this point.

If they use the early entries 9(?) plus as many of the 25 (the limit while under appeal number) needed to get back to 85, the majority of there roster will be underclass. Then if they lose their appeal they would drop from a ceiling of 85 to 75. Their 2012 class would be the lesser of 15 or Departures-10. With the small junior class it would be easily feasible for them to have less than the 15 annual limit due to the 75 cap. I've seen projections as low as 8 if they get back up to 85 this year.

I really question the projection of 9 EE's. The Spring Semester starts next Monday, and a look at the Scout commitment list only shows 1 JC in this recruiting cycle. I seriously doubt 8 high school recruits have already graduated and enrolled for classes this week.

Here is an Orange County Register recap from last summer...
As promised, here’s an updated look at the USC roster and scholarship numbers.

Assuming linebacker Glen Stanley joins defectors Seantrel Henderson, Malik Jackson and Byron Moore, it breaks down as follows:

**********

* Players on scholarship for 2011 season: 72
* Seniors/redshirt seniors with one year left (excluding injured Christian Tupou): 16
* Returning scholarship players for 2012: 56
* Allowable ’12 recruits per NCAA sanctions: 15
* Available spots for midyear enrollees: 4
* Projected players on scholarship for 2012: 75

Now, bear in mind that the scholarship limits won’t go into effect if USC’s appeal of the sanctions remains unresolved by signing day. If that’s the case, USC can sign 20 players, plus midyear enrollees, and can have 80 players on scholarship.

The number of midyear enrollees is not unlimited. There are four spots open now because four players aren’t expected to be here (Stanley, Henderson, Jackson, Moore). USC can replace additional transfers and players who leave early for the 2011 NFL draft, up to a total of 10.

Hopefully that clears things up. If not, drop me a note.