D-Rock's Block

It was supposed the year of vulnerability. The year the rest of the PAC-10 and rest of the nation was supposed to catch up, and if not, surpass USC and their last decade of unparalleled success. It was supposed to be the year that Slick Rick Neuheisel’s famous words – “The LA Monopoly is over,” were to come true. In the words of ESPN GameDay analyst and consummate clown, Lee Corso – Not so fast, my friend!

Everyone and their mother underestimate the recruiting ability of Hurricane Lane and Ed O, who are now, with this year’s class, unquestionably the most dynamic and successful duo of recruiters in college football – and its not even close. Lane and Ed had three weeks – THREE WEEKS! – to: 1) keep the present star-studded recruiting class together despite Carroll’s departure extremely late in the recruiting season, 2) try and make a play for the top uncommitted recruits, at the same time try to woo some committed recruits out to Hollywood, and 3) fill positions of need that Pete had not yet addresses in this year’s class. Check, check, and check – Lane and Co. pulled off the most impressive recruiting turnarounds in recent memory – and in three weeks no less. Just call Lane Kiffin Mr. February.

Heading into NSD, USC had a total of 12 recruits. At the end of the day, the Trojans had assembled 8 more prospects in the 2010 class. Six of which are 4-star recruits, and the two other 5-stars, including the consensus top player in the country – LT Seantrel “Hendo” Henderson from St. Paul, MN. Getting Hendo to commit was the biggest recruiting coup since Pete Carroll plucked Joe McKnight from LSU’s grasp out of New Orleans in ’07. At the end of Nat’l Signing Day, the Trojans stood atop the college football world once again, bringing in the nation’s top class. Just when all the recruiting analysts had given the much coveted “yearly recruiting national title” to the Florida Gators, Lane swept in during the 11th hour and took it right away from Urban Meyer.

In addition to Hendo, Lane was able to address the position of need at LB. With four Trojan LBs from last year’s squad now starting in the NFL, and all three starters this year injured during several games this season, linebacker was the most glaring recruiting need on the defensive side of the ball. SC signed MLB Hayes Pullard, a top ten LB and athlete from Crenshaw “The Shaw” HS in LA. The Shaw has traditionally been a pipeline for UCLA, but Lane was able to break the traditional bond in only three short weeks. Simple remarkable. More importantly, one of the top prospects in the 2011 class, DeAnthony “The Black Mamba” Thomas, plays at Crenshaw and this signing opens the door to bring in Thomas next year. The Mamba has been a local legend since his days in Pop Warner football and he is Scout.com’s #1 overall ranked player for the 2011 Class. The Trojans were also able to bring in 4-star OLB Glen Stanley, one of the top JUCO recruits (#12 overall, #3 LB). Stanley is fast and quick to the ball and will be able to come in and contribute immediately. He is sure to fit extremely well within Monte Kiffin’s Cover 2 defense.

If Pullard is the most important defensive recruit in this year’s class, then Hendo has to be for the other side of the pigskin. SC loses three starters from the o-line this year to the NFL Draft, and will lose at least three more the year after. Therefore, the need on the o-line for depth will be great very soon. GDP and 5-star and no. 1 overall recruit in the nation LT Seantrel Henderson will fill in nicely blocking for QB Matt Barkley.

The amount of skill position players in this year’s class is unbelievable. 3 of the top 4 WRs (Kyle Prater, Robert Woods, and Markeith Ambles), 3 of the top 6 TEs (Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer, and Christian Thomas), and 2 of the top 8 RBs (Dillon Baxter and D.J. Morgan). These prospects off-the-charts athletic ability will be a defensive coordiantors nightmare when on the field together. Seriously, how are you going to cover Kyle Prater going deep, Robert Woods sprinting across the middle of the field, Xavier Grimble running a slant route, Randall Telfer blocking then going out for a swing pass or blocking for Dillon Baxter’s screen pass, RoJo going deep, Allen Bradford or Marc Tyler blowing up the center of the d-line, and Brice Butler running down the sidelines…seriously! I know all those guys most likely won’t be on the field all at the same time next season, but the problems they represent for opposing defenses is simple uncanny.

This now marks two straight years where Lane has signed the number one ranked player in the nation. Last year, he signed RB Bryce Brown from Kansas to Tennessee, and this year he got Hendo. And now SC has also brought in the number one ranked player 3 out of the last 4 years: Joe McKnight in 2007, Matt Barkley in 2009, and Seantrel Henderson in 2010.

The Trojans second most important commit on signing day may not suit up for another two years. And that’s because he’s part of the 2011 class. Antwaun Woods of Taft HS in LA, the top DT in California and perhaps entire nation for next year, committed to SC on signing day. Woods was seen as a key prospect in next year’s class and a must get. It was going to be between SC and UF, and the Trojans won out immediately. He looks like he won’t be the kind of kid who will visit other schools during the recruiting process, and then bolt elsewhere on signing day. Woods should stay solid and sign the LOI next February.

Overall, SC’s class of 20 recruits averaged an incredible 4.2 stars, .28 more than the next closest school, Texas. Most thought SC’s class would suffer and limp to the finish in the first year of the post-Carroll era. Not many thought that it would thrive like this, and nobody thought that they would have such a surge on signing day to finish with the number one class on the country. Lane and Ed O do it again. Can’t wait to see what they can do with a full year of recruiting next February.

Next, I will be breaking down and analyzing each of the Trojans twenty commits and how they will fit into the team picture and depth chart next season and the following.