USC Football: Recruiting Success Ups Ante for Sarkisian to Win Soon

Bringing in his second Pac-12-best recruiting class in as many years and USC football's highest-rated signing class in eight years puts pressure on Trojans head coach Steve Sarkisian to win big in 2015.

Sarkisian's debut season as USC head coach was marked with near-misses—namely Arizona and Cal rallying from double-digit-point deficits to force close finishes—and devastating heartbreak. 

Had a single play against either Arizona State or Utah gone differently, USC would have had its second consecutive 10-win season and first Pac-12 Championship Game appearance.

Still, given the limitations USC faced—the Trojans’ roster was at its thinnest after three years of NCAA sanctions—Sarkisian was justified in his assessment that 2014 was “a total success." 

"We're excited to have won nine games, and our future is bright," Sarkisian said the day following USC's Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.

National signing day was a major milestone in that future, as Sarkisian and his staff put together a class reminiscent of those Pete Carroll landed amid USC's run of seven straight conference titles last decade.

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While not quite enough to bring USC to full strength, the 26 new additions give the Trojans depth that was sorely lacking in recent campaigns. Given the accolades many in this class bring to Heritage Hall, USC has the sheer talent to match any team in the Pac-12—even with roughly 10 fewer players on scholarship.

Success in 2015 can only be defined by winning championships—not just being a few plays away from them.

Among the veterans set to team with USC's incoming recruiting class, there was no shying away from talk of championships in the final days and weeks of the 2014 season.

"We're looking forward to next year, just going back to work and we're going to go for that championship," offensive lineman Toa Lobendahn said.

That means a Pac-12 South title and appearance in the conference championship game represent the absolute basement for a successful season.

The incoming class of highly rated freshmen and junior college transfers must be prepared to shoulder a considerable portion of the burden in chasing championships.

Last year's signing class proved good things are not exclusively for those who wait. First-year players like Lobendahn were central to the successes of 2014, and this year's class features even more blue-chip prospects capable of making an immediate splash.

Several signees are not just capable, but could be asked to make an immediate impact. Ronald Jones II, for example, joins a running back corps returning only one scholarship player who played last season.

Defensive tackle Rasheem Green steps into a defensive line looking to replace All-American Leonard Williams, a former first-year phenom in his own right.

Don't expect the newcomers to shirk the responsibility inherent in taking on prominent roles, either.

Offensive lineman Damien Mama, who was in that position last season, summarized it best. "Championship, just like every other," he said when I asked about the goal the 2014 class set.

The 2015 class comes in with the same goal, but it won't just be a dream. Competing for titles in 2015 will be the expectation.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.com composite scores.