National Letter of Intent Day Open Thread
by Paragon SC on Feb 4, 2009 7:04 AM PST
in USC Football
46 comments
Well it could be a banner day for USC but it has been a surprising morning already with Alshon Jeffery staying close to home and headed to South Carolina.
Lots of rumors out there we'll do our best to keep up...
Byron Moore is reported to be coming to USC. Now that was a long roller coaster with him glad to have him back in the fold! That is the smart move, he will do so much better at USC than at ND.
[02/04/09 11:10 AM EST ]
According to USCRipsIt, as of 11 Eastern, there are five signed letters in and cleared:
- Devon Kennard (DE)
- Kevin Greene (DE)
- De’Von Flournoy (WR)
- John Martinez (OL)
- Torin Harris (DB)
More updates as we spot them.
[02/04/09 11:28 AM EST ]
Marquis Simmons (LB) is on board. Depending on the source, it's noted that his brother Melvin played for SC in 2002 - 2003, and his brother Maurice signed with SC last year (before taking an involuntary commitment to the hoosegow, ahem.)
[02/04/09 11:44 AM EST ]
Frankie Telfort (LB) from Florida has announced he's coming to SC. As discussed previously on CC, Vontaze Burfict has announced that he's going to ASU, which is unfortunate from a quality of name standpoint. While LSU has a commanding lead with the resplendently named Barkevious Mingo, Burfict would have helped on the colorful name front. Oh well.
[02/04/09 11:52 AM EST ]
Byron Moore (DB) makes it official, as do T.J. McDonald (DB) and James Boyd (DE).
[02/04/09 12:01 AM EST]
There is a rumor on Rivals that Xavier Su’a Filo is leaning towards USC. Now that would be a nice pull.
[02/04/09 12:20 AM EST]
Manti Te'o pick Notre Dame! Unbelievable! Wow! Thinking about it more it makes sense. He starts right away at ND, at USC he has some people in front of him and with his intent on taking his mission more playing time up front is a big deal if you are going to be out of football for two years.
[02/04/09 12:23 AM EST]
Jawanza Starling announces that he will attend USC. That's a lot of Safeties!
[02/04/09 12:31 PM EST ]
Kevin Hall (OL) and Patrick Hall (DB) have signed with USC.
[02/04/09 1:30 PM EST]
Jarvis Jones will attend USC THAT is a big deal. He will fill the hole left by Burfict and Te'o That's a nice pull by Pete!
[02/04/09 3:01 PM EST ]
Su'a Filo to UCLA - that's a nice pickup for the Bruins, who are putting together a good class by all appearances.
[Note by DC Trojan, 02/04/09 9:35 PM EST ]
Well perhaps I should have been more polite int he comments: Randall Carroll announced that he's going to UCLA, which is another big pickup for the Bruins. According to the Honolulu Star Bulletin, Simione Vehikite made a last minute decision to stick with his verbal commitment to USC, which is a nice pickup, as he apparently is a good runner and pass blocker as fullback.
In all, not a bad class at all, with some national reach, and players that fit the mold for SC football as it stands today. A couple of losses to UCLA and Manti Te'o going to Notre Dame certainly make it easier for people to say that this wasn't a top class for SC, but I gather that it will still be top five. What's imarguable is how good UCLA's class was, and most of those guys will get right on the playing field. Most regular commentors on this site have been saying that UCLA is 2 - 3 years out from being a real threat, and the first part of that puzzle plainly fell into place today. Now we get to see what both coaching staffs do with all these hotshots.
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Woooh-Hooo!
“Christmas morning” for CFB-junkies! (what’d we get? what’d we get?)
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 8:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Kevin Greene squueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
D-Line coach Jethro Franklin says about Kevin Greene:
"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."
Woooooooooooo!
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 8:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
He's a NorCal baller, ain't he DC?
I’m at a “disadvantage” being at work right now, can’t exactly do any quick/impromptu researching for ANYTHING right now. Help a homey out, where’s Kevin Greene from again? what are his bio- and player- stats?
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 8:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
From USCRipsit.com -
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."
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 9:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Radical
Very radical, indeed. The NorCal has brought us some gems in: William Thomas, Brandon Carswell, Nick Garratt, Alex Morrow, Rey Maualuga, Christian Tupou, and Drew McAllister.
I’m diggin’ it!
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Te'o
Wow – that’s a good get for Notre Dame – and they need him, so he’ll see playing time ASAP I guess. Can’t win ’em all.
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 9:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Interesting choice
He obviously loves the school. Notre Dame has a beautiful campus, and the religious component to the school probably made Te’o feel more at ease with his possible missionary work in the future. I think his football carreer would have been better served with USC, but that doesn’t seem to be his priority in choosing Notre Dame over USC.
I wish him well. He seems like a nice kid. Good luck with the Irish, I hope they pick up some good defensive coaches.
by frak on Feb 4, 2009 12:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah i kind of thought Te'o would be coming here too
He’ll forever be known as the one that got away. I saw something like the next Rey or Lofa in him because of his Polynesian background and his godly athletic ability.
by sharpie20 on Feb 4, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, just checked the LAT. . . .
. . .the Chris Foster article mentioned, “There’s also hope that Stanley Hasiak, a lineman from Hawaii’s Kapolei High who changed his commitment in the opposite direction – from UCLA to California – might reverse course after a visit from Bruins offensive coordinator Norm Chow, a Hawaii native.”
(italics for emphasis, mine)
What the? Coach Chow hot out there on the RECRUITING TRAIL? Well now, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle by marriage? Is that a first? Anyone?
When was the last time anyone’s accused the venerable, stoic, very un-rah-rah- Coach Chow of gettin’ up off his bespectacled-ass and taking red-eyes 2000 miles into the night to go have breakfast with a recruit and his family/entourage/posse/“2nd-father figure” (ahem)? Isn’t he quite WELL KNOWN to NOT do stuff like that?
What say y’all? Are the Bruins getting and going after “theirs” this year, or no? Alls I’m saying is, the monopoly is still ours, albeit the zany staff of Coaching Ninjas across town seem giddy in their newly discovered zest for Pursuit of the Recruit!
Well, good on you- Champs! ‘Atta girls! Now remember, who OWNS the Rose Bowl? That’s right, that’s right- USC DOES. Now. . . . go get ‘em you gutty little Bruins. Y’all can be cute sometimes, just sayin?
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 9:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hasiak sent in his LOI
He’s going to be a Bruin.
I’m not delusional and know that the monopoly isn’t over. Our coaching staff, Chow included, are doing a great job on the recruiting trail and while recruiting is the life blood of the program, you can’t end a program’s dominance on signing day. You have to do it on the field so until we get it done there, the Pac 10 is yours. Seeing Neuheisel and staff get out on the recruiting trail and competing for the first time in years does give us hope though that one day we’ll be able to end your monopoly.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 9:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well from what I have heard Cal may have botched it it up too.
by Paragon SC on Feb 4, 2009 9:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This is just nuts?
I’m almost on the Slick Rick bandwagon. Not really. Never, actually- but goodness gracious, mercy me! That’s a get. And. . . .a “get-back” ! (“Get back, Loretta!. . .” a’la Beatles)
Hey now!
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 9:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I’m hearing Cal screwed it up, but I’ll take what we can get. Adding o-line talent was priority number 1, 2 and 3 for us.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Lord knows
you guys need the O-Line right now. A lot of these freshman will be competing for starting spots in the spring and fall. In 2010 you guys might have a great running attack.
by frak on Feb 4, 2009 12:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take an average running attack
which would be a huge upgrade from this year. I’d also be content with not needed a man of steel like Craft to make it through a season. Craft may not have played well, but standing behind that o-line for a full 12 games and living to tell about it is nothing to sneeze at.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Craft
The new “Pat Cowan Award Winner”! For 2009!
——- (NOT a Conquest Chronicle’s choice of the PAC-10’s most “bruisin’-est” QB, in the most unlikeness of Pat Cowan qb @ Ucla.)
Nope. Yes, him.
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 3:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I gotta admit
if Teo wasn’t going to come play for us then I’m happy he picked ND. I wasn’t excited to play him every year.
I have a friend who’s seen Telfort a few times and loves the guy. He should be a really nice guy for you guys.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 9:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah we'll be fine
The whole going on a mission thing makes me uncomfortable. Never any guarantee that they come back with the same fire and there is always a lot of catching up to do.
Weis won’t be his coach when he comes back from the mission. Hope the kid does well.
NEXT!
by Paragon SC on Feb 4, 2009 9:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't really get the concern
Yeah, both of those guys were great players, but we have some really good backers waiting in the wings outside of the projected starters. Behind Galippo, Morgan, and Smith we’ve got Kaveinga, Campbell, and Brown along with the incoming recruits outside of those two. Trust me, we’ll be just fine.
by Laughing Stock on Feb 4, 2009 6:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If t'eo does start as a true-freshman?
He’s gonna have to play outta his mind to have a good game against us. He’ll be going against guys with 3 – years experience on the offensive side in us. He’ll find the right holes and gaps to fill here and there, but not ALL THE time! Our backs, t-ends and “pullers” will clock him 8 times outta 10 in our next game. In year 3 is when we’ll NEED TO scheme against him and his weaknesses.
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
by BixBeiderbecke on Feb 4, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
year "3" for Te'o is 4 years from now
if he takes that 2 year mission. that’s a long time between games
by Paragon SC on Feb 4, 2009 9:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ESPN is saying that this is Weis’ biggest recruiting success since Clausen. If I were Te’o, I’d be upset at that comparison.
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 9:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
What's the baseline?
LA Times and ESPN are already calling this a mixed day for USC because of Te’o, Burfict, and Jeffery – apparently mixed day" on ESPN means:
[…] it seems likely that the Trojans will remain in the No. 2 spot in our class rankings.
Oh. Well I guess we’ll just have to pick ourselves up and try to soldier on then
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 9:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...go figure
I’ll take those odds any day of the week always finishing near the top
by Paragon SC on Feb 4, 2009 9:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You guys lose out on four top guys you were in on
and are still going to have a top 5, if not top 3 class. That’s damn impressive.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 10:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ucla picked up Xavier Su’a Filo and Stan Hisack
But looks like ND gets Toma because of Tie’o, but only problem with getting Morman players is that they go on mission and usually tranfer after that.
Paul D. Kelley
by so.cal.native1952 on Feb 4, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
editing while you were commenting
Yeah, the mission is a challenge for coaches, but it’s probably worth it to improve the o-line for UCLA.
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 12:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Is Randall Carroll the last recruit that USC is waiting on?
USC Sports Talk, contributor http://uscsportstalk.blogspot.com
by mel kiper fan on Feb 4, 2009 12:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
No there is Orson Charles TE 5 star also
Paul D. Kelley
by so.cal.native1952 on Feb 4, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That's right...
I heard Charles and RB Bryce Brown are still considering USC
USC Sports Talk, contributor http://uscsportstalk.blogspot.com
by mel kiper fan on Feb 4, 2009 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Brown committed to Miami
Charles is still yet to announce though
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Just read that Charles will wait a couple days to decide
So Carroll is the last guy you’re waiting on today.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 4, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't look now, but here come the Bruins
From what I’ve been seeing in the late afternoon, UCLA’s made a huge jump up the class rankings, especially with Hasiak and Su’a-Filo signing letters. If I’m to believe the reports that Carroll is still mulling his options, there’s a chance that he could make the switch to UCLA today.
That would probably turn the city rankings on their ears, and then some.
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 1:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
It all depends on witch service you look at they are not even in top 25 ESPNU, but are 15 rivals and 7 scout.
Paul D. Kelley
by so.cal.native1952 on Feb 4, 2009 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
which goes to show what a bizarre process this is – unless USC’s in the top 5, in which case it’s completely authoritative.
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
But we all know that it doesn't matter if they are 5,4,3,2,1, or 1 billion star.
If they don’t want to compete then they are just another practice team player, but it is nice to have the best practice players that can start for most teams.
Paul D. Kelley
by so.cal.native1952 on Feb 4, 2009 2:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
argh
Just commit already, Randall! (Please.)
by DC Trojan on Feb 4, 2009 3:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I hate signing period
Is it me, or does anyone else find it kind of creepy that grown men obsess not only over the whims of teenagers, but deconstruct them like they were in the market for race horses.
I always hate this time of year.
Anyway, so much of these ratings are doo doo. We missed out on a five-star and only got a four-star instead? So? Wasn’t Spicer a five-star recruit. He lost his starting job to a three-star recruit. Yes, Cush and Rey and Mays were five stars, but Sartz was a three star converted safety and Ellison was a three-star converted linebacker, Mathews a walk-on.
Anyway, congrats to the recruits who will become Trojans, and good lick to those who decided to go elsewhere.
by Zoulou on Feb 4, 2009 10:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Sure its nice to see us get players that experts agree are talented, but who knows what you have until they hit the practice field. Maybe 1 or 2 freshman will actually play a major role in next years squad.
Some people might think I’m crazy for saying this, but I’m glad the bruins had a good class. The rivalry always meant more when it wasn’t lopsided, and that goes for both teams. The bruins made up some ground today. Maybe when we play them next season a victory will be sweet instead of expected.
by frak on Feb 4, 2009 11:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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