USC football recruiting: Trojans expecting 5 early enrollees

Enrolling early is a major advantage for recruits who are mentally ready to skip their final semester of high school and begin a college curriculum and weight training program. Additionally, enrolling early allows the recruit to become acclimated with the program and participate in spring practice -- a major leg up on the other incoming players who must wait until the summer to start school.

USC is expected to welcome five early enrollees for the 2014 recruiting class, which consists of 17 players at the moment, including seven four-star prospects.

Pelon will be joined early in Los Angeles by Toa Lobendahn. Lobendahn is an impressive guard recruit out of La Habra (Calif) High School. Lobendahn is rated four stars by the 247sports composite -- a combination of the four major recruit rating services -- and is rated the No. 9 guard recruit nationally. He also held offers from Cal, Texas A&M and Wisconsin, among others.

Claudeson Pelon, a four-star defensive end recruit out of Mesa Community College in Arizona, has a short time to play at USC because of the time he spent at junior college, so enrolling early will be a big help in his quest to earn a starting position. Pelon, who checks in at 6’4, 275 pounds, chose USC over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Miami, Washington and others. He should provide immediate help along the defensive line. Pelon was rated as the No. 2 defensive end and the No. 15 junior college player nationally.

USC also holds non-binding verbal commitments from several star recruits it hopes to sign on February 5, National Signing Day.

The best of the unsigned commitments for USC is Viane Talamaivao, another four-star guard recruit out of Centennial (Calif.). The 6’3, 310-pound guard initially committed to Alabama, but he flipped his pledge to the Trojans in November. He is the No. 93 prospect overall and the No. 4 guard.

Bryce Dixon, a four-star tight end out of Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure High School, gave his pledge to USC on Jan. 4. At 6’4, 220 pounds, Dixon is ranked as the No. 2 tight end nationally and the 117th best prospect overall. Dixon chose the Trojans over Florida, Oregon, Texas A&M and UCLA.

USC is considered the favorite to land two elite California players, in five-star guard Damien Mama, and five-star safety John “JuJu” Smith. Mama is an incredible athlete for someone his size (370) pounds, and Smith is a natural playmaker.