Lamar Dawson Announcement: LB Recruit Picks USC Football on National Signing Day

With National Signing Day already well under way, USC coach Lane Kiffin has received a verbal commitment from 4-star linebacker Lamar Dawson of Danville, KY.

The 6'2", 240-pound Boyle County High School star is Kentucky's number one high school prospect and has entertained offers from no less than 10 major programs including Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Rated by Rivals as the nation's number three player at the inside linebacker position and the number 45 overall prospect on the Rivals100 rankings, Dawson becomes the 24th player to commit to Kiffin's recruiting class of 2011 and should compete for immediate playing time among the linebacking corps.

Dawson had been tight-lipped about his recruitment and many observers felt he would either stay in-state at Kentucky or head to Tennessee, where former Boyle County head coach Chuck Smith is the linebackers coach.  Smith had led Boyle County to five straight state championships between 1999 and 2003. 

In the end, Dawson decided to head to the left coast.

Rivals football recruiting analyst Barry Every said this about Dawson: "He is a huge linebacker who can run and is not afraid of contact.  Dawson also has excellent ball skills and could be a difference-maker by intercepting passes and scoring rather than just falling to the ground.  His overall athleticism will allow him to play more than one of the linebacker positions at the next level." 

Every added, "He could see early playing time because of his affinity for contact and his overall size.  Dawson will no doubt be a terror on special teams."

Dawson adds to USC's class that is currently ranked fifth by Rivals.

Track all of the top recruits as they make their college choices with Bleacher Report's National Signing Day coverage.