It's National Signing Day.....

[2GOLD 0]

Wow....his website is so well done.

 

The Vols coaching staff should have just went to his website, he totally wasn't going to sign with them.

 

 

You gotta admit, he's confindent.

[Sass 0]

Good article about USC's recruiting:

 

LA Times article on SC's recruiting class

 

USC Eyes More Top Recruits

 

 

By Gary Klein, Times Staff Writer

 

The stockpile grows every February.

 

It started in 2001, when new USC Coach Pete Carroll attracted defensive lineman Shaun Cody and persuaded quarterback Matt Leinart and other top high school players to keep commitments that were made before Paul Hackett was fired.

 

In 2002, the Trojans moved into the top 10 on the recruiting front. In 2003 and 2004, many recruiting experts ranked the Trojans' class No. 1 in the nation.

 

Not coincidentally, USC won consecutive national championships with major contributions from first- and second-year players.

 

But today, the first day that high school seniors can sign national letters of intent for fall sports, USC will find out whether the program has reached a saturation point.

 

According to the website Scout.com, one of several that track recruiting, USC has oral commitments from 14 players, most ranked at or near the top at their positions. But the Trojans are waiting for announcements from others that will determine whether USC achieves a recruiting three-peat.

 

"This staff must love to live dangerously," said Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor for Scout.com and publisher of SuperPrep magazine. "They are willing to gamble…. They seem to have no fear of late rejections.

 

"It's how they seem to play as a team under Carroll. They don't get shaken or nervous."

 

USC has reason for confidence.

 

Quarterback Mark Sanchez of Mission Viejo, linebacker Rey Maualuga of Eureka, Calif., and receiver Patrick Turner of Madison, Tenn., are among those who have committed to the Trojans.

 

Receiver DeSean Jackson of Long Beach Poly, linebacker Luthur Brown of Lakewood and defensive back Cary Harris of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame are among local players expected to announce their decisions today. Safety Reggie Smith of Edmond, Okla., and linebacker Brian Cushing of Oradell, N.J., are among the out-of-state prospects targeted by the Trojans.

 

"We think it's been going real well, but it's all about how we close," said Lane Kiffin, USC receivers coach. "There are a lot of big fish still out there."

 

Kiffin, 29, has been the point man in the recruitment of several high-profile out-of-state players during the last three years, including receivers Mike Williams (from Florida) and Dwayne Jarrett (from New Jersey). Kiffin has taken on added responsibilities since recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron left after the Orange Bowl to become coach at Mississippi.

 

Orgeron said USC should not be worried about players who might reject the talent-rich Trojans because of fear of competition or the promise of immediate playing time at another program.

 

"We raised the bar and went after kids that saw that they could play there and would want to compete — that was part of the evaluation," Orgeron said by phone last week.

 

"The guy that doesn't come is a gift, because he doesn't think he can play…. It makes you a better team because he's not there."

 

Because of its sustained excellence and talent surplus, Wallace said USC could be ripe for a slight drop-off in recruiting over the next two to three years, much as Miami and Florida State experienced after years of dominance.

 

On Tuesday, running back Jason Gwaltney of Long Island, N.Y., announced that he had chosen West Virginia over USC and Ohio State. Gwaltney was the only running back USC had targeted, meaning the Trojans' recruiting class probably will be devoid of a running back for the second year in a row. Last year, USC lost out on Adrian Peterson, who signed with Oklahoma out of Palestine, Texas, and wound up second in balloting for the Heisman Trophy.

 

Greg Biggins, director of recruiting for Student Sports, said the opportunity for playing time remains the focus of most recruits. Biggins, however, does not expect USC to be hurt by its stockpile of talent.

 

"If everything is equal between two schools, they'll choose the school where they can play the earliest, but USC has no equal right now," Biggins said. "They are at such a different level, the kids believe if they can't play right away they still are going to get better and get to be a part of all the winning."

 

Jackson, the receiver from Long Beach Poly, is deciding between USC and California. Last month, he was onstage with USC players during the school's national-championship celebration on campus, which drew an estimated 7,000.

 

Also regarded as a top baseball prospect, Jackson said he is aware of the football program's talent base.

 

"Right now, if I decide to come to SC, they have their big-name people there," he said. "I don't think I would be a big-time player to them right away, but I think I eventually would be."

 

The trade-off playing for the Trojans, Jackson said, would be "playing with them, and winning all them championships…. We'd always be a contender for the national championship."

 

Winning also appealed to Sanchez, who played for an undefeated Southern Section champion that was the top-ranked high school team in the state.

 

Last month, after Leinart announced he was staying for his final season of eligibility, Sanchez said he was happy about Leinart's decision and looked forward to learning from the Heisman Trophy winner as the Trojans pursued a third consecutive title.

 

On the same day that Leinart said he was coming back, middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu announced he was leaving for the NFL draft. Up until that time, Maualuga was leaning toward Oregon because of the proximity to his family's home and the opportunity for playing time.

 

But when Tatupu announced he was leaving, Maualuga chose USC. "Now that Lofa is gone, it opens an opportunity for me to step in and contribute," he told The Times after an all-star game in Texas. "That's what I want as a freshman."

 

USC is hoping that players announcing today follow Sanchez's and Maualuga's lead.

 

If they do, Wallace and Biggins said the Trojans could again finish at or near the top — even without a running back.

 

Chauncey Washington, a top running back recruit two years ago, was a redshirt as a sophomore and is expected to play next season.

 

"If they get everybody they're in on, I would probably conservatively say [uSC has] a top-three class," Biggins said.

 

Sanchez got major pub in the area last season and him being the potential successor to Leinhart, and possibly Booty, makes the QB situation look real good for SC in the upcoming years.

 

Huzzah.

[Damaramu 0]

That's what fans of every team do every year when they lose a commit.

Yeah, but Periloouoiloououzouzouoiou9uxxxxioioxu detractors may be right, the feeling is that the kid is coming out of high school a prima donna, like, moreso than normal. I don't particularly buy into it, but whatever.

Rhett Bomar supposedly had a really prima donna attitude.

He felt he should walk into OU and start over Jason White, Paul Thompson, and Tommy Grady.

Yeah sure...Jason White had a terrible bowl game but his season was still good enough to get him 3rd in Heisman balloting.

And guess what Rhett? You get to sit another year and watch Paul Thompson lead the team. And then you can fight it out with Tommy Grady the next year.

Not to mention that my friend on the softball team heard him on the weights talking about how he was better than all of OU's QBs.

I really don't want this kid as QB b/c I already don't like his attitude. Yeah the Sooners(like any other top team) are supposed to have a swagger. They aren't supposed to be cocky.

USC has a swagger and confidence about them. But I don't feel any cockiness from them.

He needs to learn some humility.

*puts on black outfit and grabs a baseball bat*

I may not be posting for a while after I get done at his house.

[Damaramu 0]

Oh and that Sanchez kid is a perfect successor to Leinart.....they have the same hair. It's the source of Leinart's power.

[Damaramu 0]

The Top 3 changes again with USC moving to 1 then FSU then OU.

These of course will probably flop around some more.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Dude on ESPN.com says Nebraska was #1.

[Damaramu 0]

I guess nobody knows what is really going on or it just changes like every hour.

[Guest Flyboy]

Ranking/grading recruiting classes this early is highly retarded.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Yeah, sounds like my Panthers got a pretty raw deal with Wanny only having about a month to recruit. We got some hot RB prosect that was rated anywhere from #3 to not at all, so whatever.

[phoenixrising 0]

I'm happy that UCLA is #25 but I'm wondering if that's cause the USC leftovers are that good.

[yankovic fan 0]

I have a friend that works for LSU media.

 

 

A few weeks back Ryan Perriloux was on campus touring and such.

 

 

MY friend is the stereotypical diehard fan of "insert college" (LSU..duh) and he had this to say about the kid.

 

 

"Texas can have him. That boy is all caught up in being a high school superstar. His attitude sucks."

 

 

So the comments everyone is making about him suprises me none.

 

 

It's still pretty cool knowing my high school was in the same district as his the last 8 years and consequently I had a chance to see him play a lot in the last 3 or 4. (Can't recall if he played much as a freshman or if there is even a freshman level at his high school as some high schools start at 10th grade)

 

Point being, he played in a 8 or 9 team district depending on the year, and 4 or 5 of those teams were serious cream puffs in terms of toughness, and really it was his school and two others that were worth a damn.

 

I don't think he won a single state championship.

 

 

But the boy is good, you can't hinge on one player, and he's played both sides of the ball.

 

 

But all this rambling has led me to this conclusion... My opinion of him is still inconclusive

[2GOLD 0]

Rankings for these classes are about as inaccurate as can be cause no one has one key ratings system.

 

For example:

Scout.com

 

1. Tennessee

2. Michigan

3. USC

4. Florida St

5. Georiga

6. Oklahoma

7. Ohio St

8. Iowa

9. Cal

10. Nebraska

11. Florida

12. Miami

13. Texas

14. Arizona

15. VA

16. Alabama

17. Texas AM

18. Va Tech

19. South Carolina

20. LSU

21. Clemson

22. Auburn

23. NC St

24. UCLA

25. Maryland

 

 

The end story is, who do you trust to rate these kids?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Wow I checked Ryan Perrilloux's stats from his senior season (yes I actually went to his site). His stats aren't good enough for me to be impressed by him. He's mainly a running QB, not a passing one. I despite running QBs.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

The end story is, who do you trust to rate these kids?

You can trust Jesus, and here they are

 

CHRISTS TOP NATIONAL RECRUITING CLASSES

1 - TCU

2- Notre Dame

3- Boston College

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Last - BYU

[Art Sandusky 0]

Ugh, all this talk about the fake UT.

 

If people doubted that this was Fulmer's best season of coaching ever, the tremendous recruiting class we got shuts down that argument. Tennessee is a perennially strong recruiting program, but this year's is especially strong. A near shutout of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl helped a LOT too. I give Tennessee two years to be a national contender again, but at this point they're good enough to win the SEC at least, but there are several teams that fit this profile right now. The conference is wide open this year, with the East being especially so.

 

Note how South Carolina actually has some recruiting buzz about it now thanks to Spurrier. If he can put together a steady rebuilding program and maybe an 8 or 9 win season each year following this year, then it's not too far-fetched to see them winning 10 or 11 a year and becoming a new SEC powerhouse, as if the conference needed any more right now. I'm almost tempted to say they'll be in the national picture by 2010 just so they'll be jinxed.

 

Bring it on, I say. We own South Carolina (the other USC is called USC-Los Angeles in joking around here) and now they've got our most hated opponent as a coach. Some serious shit's about to go down, and it'll probably result in a new heated rivalry in a few years' time. At that point I'll be skinned around these parts for wearing Tennessee stuff, but whatever.

[nogoodnick 0]

Well Oregon signed #1 running back Jonathan Stewart. It appears he is their only major signing in what amounted to a pretty dissapointing class for them.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Well as an A&M fan, I'm pleased with what Fran did this year. He used his recruiting points well and really sold the kids on early playing time, location, and team prestige. I'm sure he'll win the national championship and get that 6th star added, which means more recruiting points. Then he can travel up to Alaska whenever he wants and get those 5* players.

 

/NCAA Football 2005 mode off

[Guest Flyboy]

If people doubted that this was Fulmer's best season of coaching ever, the tremendous recruiting class we got shuts down that argument.

 

And I'm HIGHLY sure that all of Fulmer's recruiting was "legit".

[Art Sandusky 0]

Unsubstantiated accusations. 'sides, no one will ever be as bad as SMU was during the 80s or Alabama was in the late 90s.

[2GOLD 0]

Unsubstantiated accusations. 'sides, no one will ever be as bad as SMU was during the 80s or Alabama was in the late 90s.

 

So what you're saying is, Tenn may or may not have done it but they aren't like the Al Capone and John Gotti of College Football?

 

Personally, I don't know if Fullmer is legit or not but I'll never call Tennessee fake. They get the recruits and at the end of the day, I don't really care how they are getting them.

[Vern Gagne 0]

In wrestling related news. James Laurinaitis the son of Road Warrior Animal Joe Laurinaitis signed with Ohio St.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Unsubstantiated accusations. 'sides, no one will ever be as bad as SMU was during the 80s or Alabama was in the late 90s.

So what you're saying is, Tenn may or may not have done it but they aren't like the Al Capone and John Gotti of College Football?

It just sounded like he was saying that illegal goings-on were more responsible for Tennessee's recruiting class than the team's actual performance this year and mandated professionalism.

[2GOLD 0]

I think the problem is Fulmer has that dark cloud of allegiation over his head and no matter what Tennessee does in the regular season, that cloud will always be what is pointed to as the reason for a solid recruiting class.

 

Me, I wouldn't care if they did give the kids cars or cash. Whatever.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I care a good bit, even though it's my team and all. I mean, it's bad enough they've already got the top flight facilities and stuff and a program that's a contender year in and out, but don't disadvantage smaller schools by giving the kids even BIGGER incentives.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

Well Oregon signed #1 running back Jonathan Stewart. It appears he is their only major signing in what amounted to a pretty dissapointing class for them.

I think Belotti was trying to fill immediate needs by going after JUCOers rather than building ahead. Last year's class was exceptional, so in a couple years the team'll be thriving off of that class, as well as a few from this one. After going 5-6, I think the idea was "What're we gonna do next season?" as opposed to "What're we gonna do in a few years?"