USC Football Recruiting: Meet Jordan Simmons, the Trojans' Flagship Recruit

Though the national letter of intent signing day is still a couple of weeks away, it is never too early for Trojan fans to meet their teams stars of tomorrow.

While there may be a recruit out there that might sign with USC, rendering my choice of Jordan Simmons as their premier prep player signed obsolete, it is still worthwhile to get to know the big offensive guard from Crespi High School in Encino, CA.

Still, the choice of Simmons wasn't easy and there is a strong argument to be made for several other candidates such as linebackers Scott Starr or Jabari Ruffin, fellow offensive guard Max Tuerk, safety Gerald Bowman or others in what is shaping up as a fine, albeit reduced, 2012 recruiting class.

With the Trojans still needing offensive line help, Simmons might wind up being one of the best they have had in a long time.

This slide show, while short in length, will explain why.

The Trojans Still Need Depth on the Offensive Line

Although the Trojans made huge strides along the offensive line in 2011, they still need depth and high-quality bodies for rotations.

That is what makes a guy like Jordan Simmons so crucial for USC moving forward.

Also to be considered is the fact that while the problems the scholarship reductions the Trojans will be facing won't make itself evident for the 2012 season, USC must think about two or three years down the line.

With guys like Simmons and Max Tuerk coming in, they should be well stocked for the lean years later on.

You Want Size? Simmons Has It in Spades

To put it quite simply, Jordan Simmons is a mammoth young man.

At 6'5", 340 lbs, Simmons won't get pushed around by whoever lines up across from him, that's for sure.

Now, it should be noted that the ample girth that he brings to the college level won't be the same kind of weight he will bear after Aaron Ausmus, the Trojans strength and conditioning coach, gets a hold of him but even then he will be a load.

Even with all that weight, Simmons is mobile as we shall see next.

Despite His Size, Simmons Is Also Nimble

For an offensive guard to be the complete package, he must be mobile enough to get out in front of his running back on a play where he has to pull.

Simmons can do that.

One of his main attributes is that he is surprisingly quick for such a big man and that will come in handy for those infrequent "student body rights and lefts" that the Trojan still occasionally call.

With Simmons leading the way, pray for the linebacker who has to take him on.

Simmons Loves the Idea of Being a Trojan

With the recent flurry of transfers that have plagued the Trojans in the last couple of weeks, USC needs players that want to be there.

Count Simmons among them.

After committing to the Trojans, this was what Simmons had to say as reported by Scout.com, “I actually had my mind made up a month ago and knew where I was going. I just kept it on the down low,” Jordan Simmons explained. “I just feel comfortable at USC and I have a feeling that good things are to happen in the years to come.”

With a player of Simmons' caliber, Trojan fans are feeling the same big fella.

Conclusion

With USC hosting more than 20 elite prospects over this weekend and the next, the selection of Jordan Simmons as the Trojans' "Flagship" recruit is subject to change.

But even if USC doesn't sign a single additional recruit, Lane Kiffin and his staff have already put together a fine class for 2012.

As mentioned before, a good case could be made for any one of a number of future Trojans already in the fold.

Time will tell how this all shakes out and that time is drawing very near.

Regardless of whether it is Simmons or someone else who is listed as the top recruit, they will all be expected to contribute sooner rather than later for the program.

If guys like Marqise Lee and Lamar Dawson, both recruits from last year's class and both immediate contributors (among others), are any indication, that is exactly how it will play out.