USC Football: Notes, Rumors and Recruiting News

As the Sept. 3 opener against Minnesota looms larger on the horizon, the Trojans, for better or worse, are still making news.

Some of it, as any USC fan who has watched SportsCenter knows, is decidedly unwelcome, while some is just the typical machinations that all big time programs go through at this time of year.

With summer camp beginning in August, the coaching staff is busy organizing activities and re-scanning depth charts to finalize the team that will take the field against the Golden Gophers.

As they do, the benefits of the "players only" practices should avail themselves for those players who made the extra effort while those who were less enthusiastic may be kicking themselves for not buying in to the informal workouts.

One of those players will be featured in a slide later on.

So let's get busy and see what's happening to and for the Trojans these days.

Marc Tyler's Stupidity and How It Affects the Trojans

This slide will not be an indictment of Marc Tyler.

Lord knows that ESPN and their incessant re-playing of the TMZ piece has done far more on that front than anything I could muster.

At this point, all Trojan fans should hope for is that the young man is ready to grow up and prepared to commit to doing all of the right things.

This is especially true for the sake of Tyler himself but also for the benefit of the team.

Lane Kiffin will now be forced to alter his plans now that his big running back has drank himself out of a job.

Especially on short yardage situations, Tyler will be missed.

And while the subtraction of Tyler will absolutely open doors for D.J. Morgan, Dillon Baxter and Curtis McNeal, it may also mean that incoming freshman, Buck Allen, will get some playing time instead of having a redshirt year, which is what Lane Kiffin would prefer.

Allen, who next to Tyler is the biggest tailback on the roster, could be that bruiser the Trojans will need to carry the rock inside the 10-yard line.

Or he could be a wide-eyed 19-year-old kid who needs a year of acclimation in college.

Either way, Kiffin has a decision to make, and it's one that he would have preferred not entertaining.

Tuesday's Players Only Throwing Session Is Poorly Attended

For the last two months or so, players only sessions, usually organized by quarterback Matt Barkley, have been well attended and lively to say the least.

These practices, which are a bridge between the coaches' run spring and summer camps, are important to keep the players physical skills sharp of course, but perhaps as critical, they tend to develop team unity and spirit.

However, as Scout.com reports, Tuesday's session was scarce on players, especially veterans. 

Following the announcement that Marc Tyler would be suspended for the opener, only a few starters showed up for the workout which was led by Barkley.

Whether the poor attendance had to do with the Tyler suspension or players are just resting up in preparation for the the formal camp which will start soon is uncertain.

What is for sure is that the coaches are chomping at the bit to get going, and the players, especially those who stayed away on Tuesday, had better be ready.

Speaking of No-Shows, Where Is Dillon Baxter?

If there is one running back that has a lot to prove this year, especially in terms of his mental preparation, it is Dillon Baxter.

Baxter, the supremely gifted running back (and last year's "YouTube" sensation) had his 2010 season mitigated by maturity issues that deprived him of playing time and raised questions about his commitment.

You would think that given the competition at running back, especially now that Tyler has removed himself for the time being, Baxter would be front and center trying to show his teammates that he is fully invested.

Yet, Baxter's participation in these workouts has been sporadic at best.

While there have been no complaints by his fellow teammates, Baxter has a lot to prove and going the extra distance by attending workouts might be a good way to do it.

What's Going on With Armond Armstead?

One player who hasn't been practicing but has been attending the players only sessions is defensive tackle, Armond Armstead.

Armstead, who is still awaiting medical clearance to resume playing due to what is thought as a heart condition, has been helping out anyway he can, including giving advice to his fellow line mates.

Those receiving the sage instruction from Armstead include those players who may wind up taking his job from him.

That doesn't appear to phase the big tackle at all who only wants the team to get better.

Armstead's efforts to help out the team is a great example of what leadership is all about and illustrates the sacrifices a "team-first" guy is prepared to make for the good of all.

Are you paying attention Dillon Baxter?

Various Trojans Make "Watch Lists" for Postseason Honors

A variety of Trojans have been named to several watch lists.

So far, here are those Trojans who have been named as players to keep an eye on for these prestigious postseason honors:

Outland Trophy List:

Matt Kalil

Khaled Holmes

Bronco Nagurski List:

T.J. McDonald

Lombardi Award List:

Nick Perry

Matt Kalil

Thorpe Award List:

T.J. McDonald

Rimington Award List:

None

Butkus Award List:

Chris Galippo

Davey O'Brien Award List:

Matt Barkley

Doak Walker Award List:

None

Recruiting News

The Trojans' recruiting brain trust has not slowed down particularly since USC's NCAA punishment appeal was denied, but this is a time of year when scholarship offers are not extended in abundance.

For the most part, college coaches will now wait for the high school football season to start in order to identify those players who merit those precious scholarships.

One player that the Trojans have offered, athlete D.J. Foster from Arizona, has narrowed his list down to four, and the Trojans are one of that quartet.

Foster can play several positions, among them, running back, cornerback and special teams, and he plays well, regardless of the position.

Although the offering of schollies has slowed down, it hasn't stopped for USC, and the following slides represent those players who have been extended an offer to play for the Trojans.

Latest Scholarship Offers (3- & 4-Stars)

As stated in the prior slide, while the offers have slowed down, they have not stopped.

The Trojans continue to selectively extend scholarship offers to those recruits they believe will fill needs and help down the road.

Here are two of those recruits:

Leonard Williams:

Williams is a 4-star (as rated by Scout.com) defensive end from Mainland High School in Florida.

Big (6'5", 265 lbs.) and athletic, Williams uses raw power and size to dominate his opponents. He is also versatile enough to play either inside or outside and can switch literally from play to play. This kid will only get better as he goes.

Though Williams holds over a dozen scholarship offers from most of the premium programs throughout the country, Trojan fans will be heartened to know that he recently listed USC among his top four choices.

Ryan McDaniel

The veracity of this offer may be questioned in that Ryan McDaniel is a big, 3-star fullback which is a position of need but not as much now that Jahleel Pinner has accepted a Trojan offer with a verbal a couple of months ago.

Having said that, McDaniel is a talented and big (6'1", 220 lbs.) bruising fullback who is a great blocker and a sure handed ball-carrier.

Most of the Pac-12 has offered McDaniel, and he lists them all as "medium" in terms of his interest.

More Scholarship Offers...

You would think that with only a limited amount of scholarships available, the Trojans would be only targeting the big names in high school football.

But you would be wrong if that is your notion.

The next two prep players are not your run of the mill 5-star recruits that the Trojans typically go after.

Instead, one of these players is only rated a 2-star by Scout.com, and the other is not rated at all.

But if you think this writer is going to question Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron about the nuances of recruiting, you are sadly mistaken.

Here are those two "diamonds in the rough."

Tyler Knox

For a 2-star prospect, Tyler Knox sure is a wanted player.

At 6'4", 228 lbs., Knox has the frame to add weight, and at defensive end, he is very mobile.

Knox, who hails from Myrtle Beach, SC., has over a dozen offers in his pocket including those from Miami, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh and others.

He lists them all as medium interest wise.

Anthony Russell

Though Anthony Russell isn't rated, it doesn't mean he isn't wanted.

The 6'5", 245 lb. tight end doesn't have a lot of offers but the ones he does have are from some pretty big programs.

Florida State and Miami are two of the four offers Russell has, so he must have something to offer beyond the good size he possesses.

With the Trojans receiving a verbal from Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick, the tight end position seems pretty well covered, so I wouldn't look for Russell to be donning the cardinal and gold anytime soon.

Conclusion

With the summer/fall camp drawing near, there are sure to be new things to report on as coach Kiffin and his staff put the final touches on the roster.

Speaking of the roster, what will the final depth chart look like?

Who will emerge as Matt Barkley's backup and which one of the two stud freshmen quarterbacks, Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, will wind up redshirting?

Who will take Marc Tyler's place as the starting tailback against Minnesota?

These are just two of many questions that the Trojans will need to answer prior to kicking off the 2011 season.

And of course, recruiting will continue to take place despite the dearth of scholarships available.

How all this shakes out will be the subject of much conjecture, but ultimately, the only thing that matters for Trojan fans is that finally, football season is almost here.

Let the games begin!