College Football Recruiting 2012: The USC Trojans' Top 10 Recruiting Targets

Lane Kiffin is doing great things at USC and building a strong 2012 recruiting class, but that doesn't mean there isn't work to do.

Verbal commits don't mean a thing in college football anymore, and the Trojans know this all too well. These next few weeks are very important for college football recruiting, as it is the final chance to sway some athletes' opinions.

The Trojans' bowl ban is gone, which certainly helps in recruiting. National Signing Day is in February, which means Kiffin and his staff have to be extremely active in their pursuit of some of the best high school football players in the country.

With that said, here are 10 recruits the Trojans are interested in, and there is no doubt USC would continue to be a powerhouse if it could land the majority of these star athletes.

Tracy Howard, CB

The No. 1 cornerback in the nation is a late add to the list for USC, but Rivals.com reports he will take a visit on Jan. 13, which could be all the Trojans need to land such a talented player.

Talking with Sammy Knight and Monte Kiffin helped persuade Howard to make the trip out west.

Howard is from Miramar, Fla., and it may be difficult to pry him out of the South, especially since the Trojans are coming into his recruiting process late.

However, all USC has to do is make sure his visit is perfect, and you never know what could happen.

Arik Armstead, DE

Arik Armstead is a very unique recruit. He has exceptional skills to play on the offensive line, as well as the defensive line.

He's the No. 1 overall recruit by Scout.com, which lists him as a offensive tackle. ESPN also has him listed as an OT, but Rivals.com puts him as a defensive end.

The position he plays will depend on the school he ends up choosing. Armstead was once committed to USC but decided de-committing was his best move so he could have more freedom when visiting other schools.

The fact that USC hasn't handled the situation with his brother very well could hurt the Trojans' chances of landing him.

However, this doesn't mean USC should give up on him. Listed at 6'8" and 280 pounds, the California native is the type of player USC would love to have.

It may be difficult to get him now, but he still needs to be on the Trojans' radar. Having pushed back his announcement date, the Trojans still have time to try to sway Armstead back to USC.

Tyriq McCord, DE

Another Florida star, McCord is an explosive defensive end whom the Trojans desperately need to get. Currently, the Trojans don't have a rising freshman defensive end committed, which is why getting McCord would be clutch.

USC remains on his list, along with a number of other schools, and according to Rivals.com, McCord will visit the Trojans on Jan. 13. Listed at 6'3" and 223 pounds, McCord will need to bulk up, but that isn't too much of a pressing issue with a solid strength and conditioning program.

The official visits these recruits take are very vital to their decisions. Since McCord will be one of many seeing USC that weekend, the Trojans need to make sure they balance out the attention-giving so every recruit feels the love.

Shaq Thompson, S

Yes, I'm fully aware Thompson dropped the Trojans from his list over some Twitter backlash, but that doesn't mean USC should stop pursuing him.

In fact, it actually means the Trojans should try harder for Thompson. He let random people on Twitter influence his decision just a day after he said USC was the leading candidate. Since he is the No. 1 safety in the class of 2012, somebody from USC should have reacted quickly and talked to Thompson to attempt to work things out.

He's been changing his mind a lot, but with so much talent, the Trojans would be wise to keep after Thompson.

Stefon Diggs, ATH

A dynamic athlete, Diggs is going to make an immediate impact wherever he ends up. His blazing speed makes him extremely dangerous, and his skills are very versatile.

Diggs can be a wide receiver-running back hybrid like a De'Anthony Thomas, and he can be a force in the return game as well.

Landing Diggs won't be easy, though, as he is giving no hints as to where he plans to play next year. With his only visit being to Cal, it could be a sign he wants to play out west.

There are few better schools to play for in the Pac-12 than USC, so the Trojans still have a fighting chance.

Zach Banner, OT

The Trojans are taking a hit on the offensive line next year, which means adding top recruits is crucial for 2012.

Banner is listed at 6'9" and 310 pounds and would be a huge score for Lane Kiffin and USC. According to ESPN, Banner will be visiting the Trojans on Jan. 13.

USC is looking at a number of offensive linemen, and all have big upside. The Trojans can't let up on any of them, because bringing in more strength on the offensive line is always a good idea.

Kyle Murphy, OT

Offensive linemen are high on the Trojans' list this recruiting season since there are so many talented ones interested in the school.

Listed at 6'7" and 275 pounds, Murphy would be an excellent addition to the Trojans. According to Damon Sayles of ESPN, Murphy will choose from USC, Stanford, Oregon, Florida and California.

He won't make his decision until he concludes his visits; Sayles' report states that Murphy will visit Stanford on Jan. 13 and then USC on Jan. 20.

The California native is likely to stay out west, meaning the Trojans are strong candidates.

Nelson Agholor, ATH

Agholor is one of the top athletes in the class of 2012, and he has the skills to play wide receiver, running back or safety.

Agholor also has the ability to be a stellar return man, which is where he'd primarily make an impact in his freshman season.

Ranked as the No. 12 overall recruit by Rivals.com, Agholor's top teams are USC, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

In a Rivals.com report, Agholor once called the Trojans his dream school, and he plans to take an official visit in mid-January. He's taken unofficial visits the last two summers.

Ellis McCarthy, DT

McCarthy is the No. 2 defensive tackle in the country, and Rivals.com compares him to Ndamukong Suh, which is all the reason USC needs to keep pursuing him hard.

Listed at 6'5" and 310 pounds, McCarthy is also considering Oregon, Washington and Cal.

The California native is bound to be a star, and since he's likely to be in the Pac-12, the Trojans need to do all they can to make sure he's playing for them and not the competition.

Andrus Peat, OT

One of the top offensive linemen available right now, Peat is garnering a ton of attention from schools all over the country.

According to Garry Paskwietz of ESPN, Peat's top choices include USC, Nebraska, Stanford and Florida State.

Listed at 6'7" and 305 pounds, Peat is expected to take his official visit to USC on Jan. 13.

It's a big day for the Trojans, and a lot of these guys will be talking with one another about the possibility of playing together at USC. It's up to the Trojans to make sure that happens.

Peat's brother is a defensive lineman at Nebraska, which could mean the Cornhuskers are the favorite since family always weighs heavily on a recruit's decision.

Then again, Peat may want to do his own thing and play for another school.