USC Football Recruiting: How National Signing Day 2011 Affected the Trojans

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

On one of the most important days of the year for college football schools, the University of Southern California was extremely successful. National Signing Day has become an anticipated annual event all around the country, with high school players having their first opportunity to sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college sports.

USC was ineligible from bowl play last season and will be banned once again next season, being forced to wait until December 2012 at the earliest to play a bowl game. Despite losing at least 10 scholarships this year, USC still managed to pull out the fourth-best recruiting classes in the country. The Trojans signed an impressive eight of the top 150 prospects, according to ESPNU. 

Here are 10 reasons why National Signing Day 2011 mattered to USC.

USC Improved Its Offensive Line

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

USC had to improve its offensive line and it did, signing Aundrey Walker and Torian White. Pete Carroll,  USC coach from 2001-2009, signed just four offensive linemen in his last three seasons with the team.

Aundrey Walker has all of the assets you would want out of an offensive lineman. At 6’5” and 355 pounds, Walker has the ability to run block and is surprisingly flexible. Walker told the media on Wednesday that USC is his dream school.  

Torian White is not particularly big for the position at 275 pounds, but has quick feet, long arms and is very athletic. 

Lamar Dawson Can Really Play

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

One of the biggest needs for USC was at the linebacker position, and USC seems to have found a special one with Lamar Dawson. Not only does Dawson have the size and physical ability to be play linebacker, but he is such a tremendous athlete that he can play a variety of positions.

In high school, Dawson was successful playing running back or lining up as a slot receiver and catching balls. USC may move him to one of the offensive skill positions if necessary.

USC Landed DT Christian Heyward

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

USC improved its defensive line, signing defensive tackle Christian Heyward. At 275 pounds, Heyward could raise his game by gaining at least 10 pounds. Still, Heyward is an outstanding pass rusher, and he possesses long arms and a thick frame.

Marquise Lee Is Now a Trojan

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

USC landed the speedy Marqise Lee, who can play safety, cornerback or wide receiver. Lee was one of the top athletes that had yet to commit before National Recruiting day, but now finds himself on the same roster as his close friends, wide receivers George Farmer and Antwaun Woods, both of whom are also top USC recruits.

Usc Has a Replacement For Barkley

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

As expected, USC signed No. 3 ranked quarterback Max Wittek. Just like he did at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Wittek will be replacing QB Matt Barkley. Wittek has good foot work and fundamentals and can be an effective system QB. 

USC Just Missed Out on Erique Florence

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

USC lost out on No. 4 safety Erique Florence, who signed with Auburn University on Wednesday. Florence had been undecided before National Signing Day, but had previously expressed interest in playing at USC and learning from defensive coach Monte Kiffin. In the end, the hard-hitting Florence will be playing with the defending champion Tigers.

USC Has Many Options To Play With

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Javonte Slater signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play with USC, not with its football team, but rather with track and field. The reason this is relevant is because Slater committed to USC in July, and was told that he can also continue playing football with the school if he signs with the track team.

UCLA Cannot Compete with USC

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

UCLA, hoping to narrow the gap between itself and USC, failed to do so. Despite the probation that USC is going through, the hope that more top players would choose UCLA over USC was not in the cards. Newly-signed USC OT Torian White actually committed verbally to UCLA last summer, but he made the switch to the Bruins' crosstown rival.

Fortunately for Bruin fans, UCLA did at least improve its ineffective quarterback spot by signing No. 6 ranked QB Brett Hundley. 

Other Than USC, Only Cal Had a Big Day from the Pac-10

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Cal-Berkeley came out with the No. 15 rated recruiting class in the country. As the only school in the Pac-10 with a great recruiting class other than USC, Cal signed defensive tackles Todd Barr and Viliama Moala, both ranked in the top 100. Cal also notched two other top 150 recruits, safety Avery Walls and offensive lineman Jason Gibson. 

The Rich Got Richer

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The SEC came out on top once again. Alabama had the No. 2 recruiting class of any school in the country, next to Florida State. Meanwhile, Auburn, Georgia and LSU had top-10 classes as well. It is not as if the SEC needed any extra help, considering the conference has won the national championship five years in a row.