Laying the Foundation: USC Football Recruiting, 2011 (4/15/2010)

There are two "givens" regarding recruiting and Lane Kiffin in terms of USC football.

One, at this time of year, offers made to prep football players are abundant, with the recruiting "net" being cast far and wide to prospective Trojans.

The other is that Kiffin, along with his personal recruiting guru, Ed Orgeron, will make persuasive pitches to these young players, enticing them to consider football on the west coast.

In the last week, the Trojan staff has been busy evaluating these would be men of Troy and their efforts have resulted in several offers to the erstwhile prep football players.

Included among these offers is one that has been extended to a player who has already given his verbal pledge to Oklahoma.

However, we all know how dramatically things can change in a young man's life so with a USC offer in Chris Barnett's pocket, the Trojans hope that if he does have a change of heart, he will consider playing football on the left coast.

Starting with that offer to Barnett, lets take a look at this latest round of Trojan offers to some interesting players, some of whom carry high rankings as evaluated by Scout.com:

Chris Barnett

Although this 6'5," 230 lb. tight end/ defensive end from Dallas, TX has already given his verbal pledge to the Sooners, the Trojans have thought enough of his film to enter into the recruiting fray for his services.

Though Barnett's future at the next level looks to be at tight end, a position that the Trojans are currently experiencing a wealth of talent at, Kiffin and company know that the recent Trojan tradition of graduating tight ends to the NFL (Dominique Byrd, Freddy Davis and now Anthony McCoy) will play well with Barnett should he have second thoughts about his recent verbal to Oklahoma.

Michael Bennett

This 6'3," 275 lb. defensive tackle from Centerville, Ohio has offers from most, if not all of the major college power programs. Athletic and cerebral (3.3 gpa), Bennett has all the tools to succeed at the next level.

Although Bennett also holds an offer from Ohio State, who seldom let these local prep stars get away, Bennett lists all of his suitors as "medium" on his interest list.

Cedric Reed

Reaching deep into the heart of Texas for this 6'5," 243 lb, defensive end, the Trojans are hoping that a Trojan offer will persuade Cedric Reed to come out west. Although Reed does play tight end for his high school team as well, his future at the next level will be at defensive end where his 11 sacks as a junior has all of the major programs vying for his services. Scout.com lists Reed as a "four star" recruit.

Cedric Reed lists the Trojans, as he has with all others who have offered him, as medium in terms of his interest.

Jamar Lewter

Jamar Lewter, a 6'7," 265 lb. converted tight end who is now playing on the offensive line, is intriguing on many levels. Extremely athletic, Lewter has a body that is built to carry more weight, and at a major college program, he will be afforded every opportunity to pack on that bulk. However, it is Lewter's athleticism that has attracted many college offers and this raw talent is sure to improve technique-wise now that he has settled on a position.

Lewter lists the Trojans, as he does with all those who have offered him, including programs such as Auburn, as medium for the four star recruits services.

Mike Blakely

This 5'9," 192 lb running back has all the tools to succeed at the next level. Fast (4.45 forty) and shifty, Mike Blakely, who hails from Bradenton, FL, holds offers from most of the major college football programs including hometown favorites, Florida and Miami. Blakely, who gained 1400 yards as a junior, also possesses great hands and vision.

Blakely lists the Trojans, like all of his suitors, as medium on his interest list.

Kyler Kerbyson

Lane Kiffin is returning to his old haunts for this 6'5," 290 lb. offensive lineman from Knoxville, TN. Rated a "3 star" recruit by Scout.com, Kerbyson has the size and football acumen to succeed at the next level.

Holding offers from most of the major programs, Kerbyson lists them all as medium on his interest list but watch the locals howl if Kyler chooses the Trojans.

Jabrian Niles

A fast rising defensive end, Jabrian Niles has great size (6'2.5," 265 lbs.) and speed (4.7 forty) to go along with his raw talent on the edge. Rated a "3 star" by Scout.com, Niles doesn't hold a ton of offers but expect this to change during his senior year where he will be counted on by his high school team to be a game changer.

Niles lists all of his suitors as medium.

Quinta Funderburk

Quinta Funderburk is another of those fast rising "3 star" players who will be rated much higher by the end of their senior year. A 6'3," 200 lb wide receiver who has very good speed (4.5 forty), Funderburk has all the tools to be a dominant receiver at the next level.

Funderburk currently holds offers from most of the major programs and lists them all as "medium."

DJ Pettway

Speaking of a fast rising recruit (Pettway doesn't hold a Scout.com rating yet), DJ Pettway, who hails from Pensacola, FL, has the size (6'2.5," 255 lbs.) and the production (12.5 sacks as a junior) to make the major programs sit up and take notice. And those programs, such as Alabama, are taking notice of Pettway who now holds offers from a handful of colleges, including the Trojans.

Pettway lists all of his potential suitors as medium.

So there they are. Nine new prep players, all of whom hail from somewhere other than California, that the Trojans have offered.

Kiffin and Orgeron have stated that they will be active on the national scene when it comes to recruiting and this last batch of recruits certainly backs that assertion up.

As the high school football season draws near, expect the Trojans to focus on the local southland scene a bit more but until then, Kiffin and company will continue to extend the Trojan recruiting reach nationally.

When they do, I will profile all of those prep stars that the Trojans hope will wear cardinal and gold in the future.