The early signing period is in full swing and winding down towards the close of the period this Friday. USC Football under Clay Helton has enjoyed amazing last minute finishes. Up until this year they have been very fortunate as the signing cycle winds up and then winds down. With the new early signing program things are a bit more manageable but then again USC has not found itself in a position like this year going in to the new football season. Sitting now at a rank of 21st from Rivals we are goose eggs on 5 Star commits but we are only in Day 2 of a 3 day process so lets talk again on Saturday morning. A couple of 5 star signings and that 21 first position can move fast but so will other programs as the days roll forward.
All the 5 stars and 4 stars in the world won’t provide a program any guarantees. USC is proof of this under Clay Helton. Clay and staff have struggled to develop their amazing recruiting success. So what’s the problem at Heritage Hall? Too many ego’s or great kids seeking that next level of development? The program has had it’s share of distractions on and off campus which gets to the staff management and ability to focus on the kids both in uniform and out of pads functioning in the campus culture. These are all areas that impact a young athlete who has been privileged to have had early success in their football careers. But something at USC isn’t happening as planned.
When a program with the prestige and legacy of USC Trojan Football goes through a top ranked recruitment cycle the expectation is that this team is on its way. So let’s look at the 2019 class so far.
DAY ONE
Briton Allen DB 6-0 185 Orlando, FL (IMG Academy) Dejon Benton DL 6-3 285 Oakland, CA (Pittsburg) Kenan Christon RB 5-10 185 San Diego, CA (Madison) Trey Davis DB 6-0 185 Federal Way, WA (Federal Way) Nick Figueroa DL 6-5 275 San Bernardino, CA (Cajon/Cal Poly/Riverside CC)Ralen Goforth LB 6-2 225 Long Beach, CA (St. John Bosco) Drake Jackson DL/OLB 6-4 260 Corona, CA (Centennial) Tilini Livai OL 6-3 300 Torrance, CA (Narbonne) Drake London WR 6-5 205 Moorpark, CA (Moorpark) Munir McClain WR 6-4 210 San Juan Capistrano, CA (JSerra Catholic) Gino Quinones OL/DL 6-3 280 Ewa Beach, HI (Saint Louis) Ethan Rae TE 6-5 240 Anaheim Hills, CA (Orange Lutheran) Jason Rodriguez OL 6-6 325 Oak Hills, CA (Oak Hills)Kedon Slovis QB 6-2 185 Scottsdale, AZ (Desert Mountain) Stanley Ta’ufo’ou LB 6-3 255 Simi Valley, CA (Grace Brethren) Maninoa Tufono LB 6-3 235 Halawa, HI (Punahou)Max Williams DB 5-9 175 Carson, CA (Serra) Jude Wolfe TE 6-5 250 Laguna Hills, CA (St. John Bosco)
Compared To Last Year (Below)
Looking at the bunching of teams that with a few 5 Star additions will move up the ladder is easy to see how volatile the current rankings are. But how likely is it that USC will pull of the miracle of Helton as they have the previous 3 years is anyones guess given the turmoil of the past season on the staff. One thing is clear. This staff has to get committed to recruiting at all levels of the staff. The offense is looking good for the next two years in every area but the O Line. This is still a big question mark and an area where if we think about the program and its aspirational goals we find it hard to believe that 2019 will be the season that turned it all around. Fool me once ok and then again in season two of Helton well ok. But year three may be the real tale of the tape when it comes to the underpinning problems with USC Football. No Development skills from the weight room to the practice field. Games are not won on Saturday. They are won in the weight room, film room and most importantly on the Practice Field.
Development Matters.
Fight On Trojans
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