In 2010, LSU signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. That was the last time a program other than Alabama finished No. 1. And while the USC Trojans weren’t able to end the Tide’s streak, they finished just a point or two shy on the 247Sports Composite, which combines rankings from the four major recruiting services.
USC’s recruiting like USC again. Now it has to contend for championships.
The Trojans almost tied Alabama for the No. 1 recruiting class this time around, finishing with their best class in years.
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A massive National Signing Day brought Steve Sarkisian’s class to Bama’s level, with No. 1 CB Iman Marshall, five-star DL Rasheem Green, and four-star LB John Houston among the players adding their names to the Trojans’ list during the final day. Add those studs to five-star OLB Osa Masina, four-star early enrollee QB Ricky Town, and others, and you’ve got a truly elite class.
The Trojans used to be a fixture at or near the very top of the rankings. They finished No. 1 in 2005 and ‘06 and were in the top four every year from 2003 to 2011, ranking second in ‘03, ‘04 and ‘07.
Then, fallout from the Reggie Bush scandal hit; USC was docked 30 scholarships over the ‘12, ‘13 and ‘14 classes and tumbled down the rankings. (It should be noted that USC’s average class ranking was still 10.3; most schools can only dream of that.)
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The athletes who chose the Trojans during the school’s probation were still elite athletes, but the lack of quantity hurt. A look at each class:
- 2012 (No. 9): 16 signees, one five-star, 10 four-stars, five three-stars.
- 2013 (No. 12): 12 signees, four five-stars, eight four-stars.
- 2014 (No. 10): 20 signees, two five-stars, eight four-stars, eight three-stars, two two-stars.
Seven five-stars and 26 four-stars over three years is excellent. But the lack of depth contributed to struggles on the field, especially late in games.
NCAA sanctions caused USC’s recruiting dynasty to falter, and it did the same to the on-field version. From 2002 to ‘08, the Trojans had compiled an 82-9 record, never winning fewer than 11 games in a season. They had plenty of talent, but a big part of the success was Pete Carroll’s coaching ability. In 2009, his final season before leaving for the NFL while USC was under investigation, the Trojans went 9-4.
Then came the Lane Kiffin debacle, largely hampered by sanctions. Kiffin finished 8-5 in 2010 before a surprising 10-2 campaign in 2011. That would prove to be the high point. A preseason No. 1 in 2012, USC plummeted to a disappointing 7-6 record. The Trojans opened 2013 3-2, and Kiffin was promptly fired after a 62-41 loss at Arizona State.
Sarkisian has to prove himself as the right fit at USC, going 9-4 with a bowl win over Nebraska in his first year back, but bringing in tons of talent will only help his cause.
The 2015 class might be the Trojans’ first step back toward football glory.
