USC Football Recruiting: 5 Positions the Trojans Don't Need to Fill This Year

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Due to the reduction of scholarships available to the Trojans this year, USC will have to be very selective as to who gets one of these precious offers.

Because of this, recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron and head coach Lane Kiffin will need to scrutinize which positions need replenishing and which—if any—may be set aside for the 2012 recruiting class.

The interesting thing is that despite USC's youth and 10-2 record last year, there are a few units that could use a bit of bolstering depth-wise, some more than others.

And with a bevy of quality prep talent out there, the right young player can make a huge difference as the Trojans try to withstand the sanctions that reduced their scholarships in the first place.

So in determining which positions can be ignored in 2012, a bit of creativity was required in filling some of the spots identified.

With that in mind, let's see which spots the Trojans can de-emphasize for 2012.

No. 5: Punter

Kris Albarado

You think Lane Kiffin and his crew aren't "forward thinking" when it comes to planning for the future of the Trojans special teams?

Think again.

When Kiffin offered Kris Albarado—one of the top prep punters in the nation in 2011—many scratched their heads.

But Kiffin knew that he still had Kyle Negrete, and with Negrete winning the punting job in 2011, he could redshirt Albarado thus taking care of the position for the entirety of the sanction period.

Albarado will have a fine career as USC's punter, and for this reason, the punting position can be ignored for 2012.

No. 4: Long Snapper

photo from recruiting.scout.com

As stated in the previous slide, Lane Kiffin took care of the special teams' needs for the foreseeable future in 2011.

Among those crucial players for John Baxter's unit is Peter McBride, who took a redshirt last year at the long snapper position.

McBride was among the very best prep players at long snapper in 2010 and can be counted on to get the Trojans through the next few years at this critical position.

No. 3: Kicker

photo from usc.ocregister.com and scplaybook.com

Perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of 2011 was the steady kicking of true freshman, Andre Heidari.

Heidari was one of the most highly sought kickers in 2010 and his performance last year justified the faith that Lane Kiffin had in him when offering that valuable scholarship.

Barring academic issues or injury, Heidari will continue to grow as a kicker and when his Trojan career is over, he should be one of the most decorated at his position in USC history.

No. 2: Tight End

Xavier Grimble
Harry How/Getty Images

Yes, I know that the Trojans did indeed recruit a tight end this year...and best of all, they will sign him too.

Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick, deemed by ESPN.com as the best prep at his position in the nation, was simply too good to pass up.

But the point is that the Trojans didn't need to recruit a tight end this year.

With redshirt sophomores Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer good to go for at least the next two years, USC is set at this position for awhile.

Mix in versatile redshirt sophomore Christian Thomas, who also came to the Trojans as a tight end, and it is apparent that this position needed only a little bit of attention in 2012. Although in Cope-Fitzpatrick, they received a jewel.

No. 1: Quarterback

Max Wittek (photo from scplaybook.com)

This position was set even before Matt Barkley surprised everyone by announcing his return to USC for his senior season.

With redshirt sophomore Jesse Scroggins and redshirt freshmen Cody Kessler and Max Wittek already in the fold, the Trojans had an abundance of signal callers at the ready for years to come.

Even with the rumblings of Scroggins' transfer, Lane Kiffin will still be alright at the position even when Barkley takes his considerable skills to the NFL after the upcoming season.

Conclusion

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The road that Coach Kiffin and the Trojans take in the next couple of years in terms of recruiting will speak volumes for how they negotiate the next three years of reduced scholarships.

Kiffin is already preparing for reduced limits on available players by using less players as he did on several occasions last season.

Stocking and wisely using players at key positions will ease the burden of roster limits and the process will continue through 2014.

The positions listed here are just the beginning of isolating the units that need less help than others.

Fortunately for Trojan fans, the coaching staff has a plan and based on the success of 2011, it appears that these tenuous times are in the hands of a very capable group of leaders.

For this, fans of the men of Troy should be very grateful.