Lets lead with recruiting as it is the hot thing roght now with NSD next week.

USC missed out on DJ Foster...

The Saguaro High star was the last uncommitted running back known to be on USC’s radar. Unless they can unearth or flip another prospect, the Trojans will enter next season with only three scholarship tailbacks after the transfers of Dillon Baxter and Amir Carlisle.

From what I have read elsewhere, Fosters parents wanted him at USC, but Foster needs to pass a core class just to be eligible with the NCAA. So, if Foster is struggling just to make clearinghouse and if he does pass this core class it is easy to see that ASU academically is easier for Foster to navigate than USC. Damn shame, the kid is real talent.

We wish him luck...

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It is nice to see Bruce Feldman back.

He has a great read on the recruiting battles in Southern California...($)

Southern California always has been an inviting target for college football recruiters, but it might never have been as tempting as it is right now. The talent base is rich and deeper than it has been in a decade, especially with linemen, according to college coaches.

But that's not the only reason that recruiters are so fired up this year. The USC Trojans, the local heavyweight, are still coping with NCAA sanctions, which will limit the number of prospects they can sign in February. On top of that, the UCLA Bruins are in the delicate spot of having their coach, Rick Neuheisel, on the hot seat, after Neuheisel went 4-8 in 2010 in his third year with the Bruins.

USC does have its work cut out for them.

Other teams in the Pac-12 will try to pick our guys off know that we can only take so many recruits.

This essentially gives opposing staffs free reign in SoCal.

But it is early yet.

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As with all verbal commits, the caveat still stands...he is not ours until the LOI is signed.

But USC got a real nice running back in Jaheel Pinner.

USC hasn't had to worry about their normally loaded backfield in some time but with some depth chart concerns, the school has put out offers to several running backs in the class of 2012. The Trojans alleviated some cause for concern by grabbing their second tailback in the upcoming class when Mission Viejo (Calif.) back Jaheel Pinner committed on Friday.

"Yup, I committed to USC after I talked it over with my family," Pinner told USCFootball.com. "I like the SC campus, and it's close to home. I like that USC recruits the best and I can compete against the best."

The Trojans were the first one to offer Pinner but he was receiving interest from several other programs such as Arizona and Arizona State. At 6-foot-1, 230-pounds, he will likely play a little fullback for USC as well.

The more interesting thing in all of this is that USC is pretty much rolling full steam ahead with regards to recruiting as they wait for the NCAA to rule on their appeal.

It has been a while since 'SC went after a big back instead of the shifty type back of a Dillon Baxter or Curtis McNeal.

Here is some video...

This kid can block and is looks to be a bruiser...

This one is going to get interesting...

The intense recruiting battle for Servite All-County lineman Troy Niklas is down to USC and Notre Dame, with just days left to National Signing Day on Feb. 2.

Niklas also had Stanford in his final three choices of schools but there is a new development with the Cardinal.

The senior said Thursday that he wasn't accepted at Stanford.

This weekend, Niklas heads South Bend to visit Notre Dame. He will not be playing for Servite's basketball team Friday because of the trip.

Things are heating up!!

This one will be fun!

Update #1: USC also picked up a commitment today from junior college OL David Garness, who is presently ranked No. 4 junior college OT by Rivals. He will enroll in January. - JK

(Apologies for the heavy reliance on the OC Register but I'm short on time and this is decent news...)

It's no secret that Lane Kiffin is looking to use junior college transfers and midyear enrollments to plug some of the gaps on the lines/ defense, as well as address the pending scholarship reductions.

Over the last several days, there's been some success on the transfer and general recruiting front:

• Isiah Wiley, a cornerback JC transfer from Arizona Western Community College, gave a verbal commitment and looks likely to enroll in January
• J.R. Tavai from Mira Costa High committed to SC. He's primarily a defensive lineman but plays some offense as well, there's some thought that he could be penciled in to play at fullback as well
• George Farmer from Serra HS of Gardena has given a verbal; he's rated very highly overall in the nation, never mind at his position.

On top of the solid results in November and early December, this is encouraging. Obviously we have to see if these become solid written commitments, but it's exciting to see that good young players still want to play at SC.

Fight On!

I like the effort and it shows that 'SC is taking their new found compliance serious but I am not sure of how effective this will really be...

Using cutting-edge technology from FieldLevel, Inc., the USC Athletic Department has implemented a revolutionary web-based software system that gives coaches improved communications with recruits, instant warnings of potential recruiting violations, real-time compliance reports, and immediate oversight by school officials.

All 19 NCAA varsity teams at USC are now using the software from FieldLevel, an emerging technology company based in Santa Monica. The private firm—which rolled out its coach-friendly recruiting software earlier this year—already has more than 50 college teams using its program, establishing FieldLevel as a leader in its field.

"FieldLevel is at the forefront of athletic management software," said USC Athletic Director Pat Haden, "The feedback from our coaches, compliance officers, and administrators has been very positive. Moving forward, we have great infrastructure for cohesiveness and efficiency."

The software program, called FieldLevel Team, can be accessed on any computer or cell phone. It provides coaches with a centralized database that tracks all communications with recruits and is programmed to warn coaches of potential recruiting violations—such as excessive phone calls—before they happen. The software generates detailed compliance reports for the school and the NCAA from the collected information.

This is the classic situation of garbage in and garbage out.

Just like anything else, the system is reliant on completeness and honesty.

As we have seen in the past, there are plenty of coaches who will skirt the rules. It doesn't take much for someone to leave out pertinent information that could be red flagged by this platform.

Anyway, I am not going to get too crazy with this..the school is making a concerted effort to keep things on the up and up and that is a plus, but technology is not the final answer, it is merely another tool to use...people following the rules or thinking before they actually act is what will keep programs out of trouble.

Even the critics of USC head basketball coach Kevin O'Neill have at least acknowledged one thing: the guy sure knows how to recruit. And considering recent events, he doesn't appear to be slowing down in the slightest. Just this past weekend, O'Neill was instrumental in helping Lane Kiffin and the football staff reel in prized two-sport athlete Arik Armstead by promising him a spot on the hoops team. Now, just days later O'Neill was able to solicit a commitment from another highly regarded prospect for the class of 2011 - Long Beach State point guard Alexis Moore. From the Daily News:

Alexis Moore, who helped the Long Beach Poly High boys' basketball team to a 28-5 record this past season as a junior, said Monday he committed to sign a letter of intent with the USC program in November.

The 6-foot-2 Moore, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 assists while sharing co-Moore League Player of the Year honors with teammate Ryan Anderson, accepted the scholarship offer USC coach Kevin O'Neill made to him during a telephone call earlier in the afternoon.

"I decided there was no sense in dragging it (his recruitment) out," Moore said of his decision. "USC was the first major program to show interest in me. I'm happy to get this over so I can focus on getting better and help us accomplish our goals of winning the big two - CIF and state championships - next season at Poly."

Moore, who has a 3.78 grade point average, impressed O'Neill while playing in the Trojans Elite Camp on Friday in the Galen Center and with his Poly teammates during the Trojans' Saturday-Sunday team camp.

Moore's commitment gives O'Neil two point guards for next season along with Gelaun Wheelwright of Corona Centennial High School, who committed to USC last July. Both are celebrated high school players, although each is a bit raw and needs to work on his point guard skills despite his athleticism. Here's what an ESPN scouting report published in May says about Moore, who was given a scouts grade of an 84 by the WWL for whatever that's worth. 

Moore has all the physical intangibles (length, bounce, and quickness) to be a legitimate Division I combo-guard at the next level. However, his feel for the game can be questionable. His shot selection is erratic (takes tough shots early on in the shot clock) and his passing skills need work.

The one thing the hoops program desperately needs right now is an infusion of talent. 'SC currently has just two juniors and sophomores (Nikola Vucevic and Evan Smith) after the Tim Floyd fiasco essentially chased away two recruiting classes. Last season, the rotation was incredibly tight, and many positions did not feature a backup at all. Starters were asked to play anywhere from 32-40 minutes a game, and toward the end of the season, the wear and tear became quite apparent. If anything, O'Neill could just use some more bodies out there. Fortunately, it appears as if he's getting that.

With four players from the class of 2010 (SF Garrett Jackson, SG Bryce Jones, PG Maurice Jones, C Curtis Washingon), transfers Jio Fontan from Fordham and Aaron Fuller from Iowa, and what looks to be a strong class of 2011 (C DeWayne Dedmon, SF Byron Wesley, Moore, Wheelwright) all coming to USC within the next year, it certainly appears as if O'Neill is at least going to have some pieces to work with.

Whether he can build a cohesive unit out of this talent is one thing, but with the way things seem to be going for O'Neill, it at last seems as if he's going to have the personnel to build a viable contender in the Pac-10. 

Lots of chatter out there on the recruiting trail...

Take it for what its worth...

It would not surprise me if some of these kids looked around...Ambles has been rumored to be solid and coming in this week for summer school so who really knows.

This tweet is a little ambiguous though. If a recruit has signed an LOI they have to sit out a year...not the end of the world for them but no guarantees either.

Let the chess moves begin...