USC Football Recruiting: Wins and Losses for Trojans on Signing Day

USC snagged some nice prospects for its 2012 class, but the days of dominating West Coast recruiting are done. The Trojans failed to secure the best players from the state of California, and one can only wonder if this is due to the sanctions the program is trying to leave behind.

It would seem to make sense that the issues impacted the recruiting season. ESPNU had the Trojans recruiting class listed no lower than seventh for six years prior to this class. This year, the Trojans fell to 13th. It's not a horrible year by most programs' standards, but USC certainly wants more. 

Here are the Trojans best gets and worse misses:

Best Signing

Jabari Ruffin

Ruffin is a 6'3", 230-pound beast of a specimen that figures to be an ultra athletic OLB in So Cal. His 4.6 40 speed is very good for the OLB spot and his ball skills should make him a natural in zone coverage.

His experience at wide receiver may also lend itself useful to the Trojans when Ruffin is asked to cover players like Oregon's DeAnthony Thomas out of the backfield. He'll need plenty of swivel for change of directions in space to keep up with the Pac-12's athletic backfields. The experience at receiver would lead you to believe that's a transition he could make fairly easily

Ruffin has a chance to be really good because of his size and athleticism combination. He is the clear star of the Trojans' recruiting class.

Biggest Loss

Shaq Thompson

The Trojans were in the running for players who are considered better prospects than Thompson, but not inking Thompson hurts more because he's from Cali.

He seems like a USC player when you look at him. He's a cross between Troy Polamalu and Taylor Mays, but Shaq will be taking his talents to Washington.

The dagger was slightly less sharp with him landing with the Huskies than it was with his previous college choice. Thompson was headed to Trojans' in-state rival, Cal. That commitment fell through when assistant coach Tosh Lupoi bolted Cal for Washington.

Still, Trojans faithful have to be looking at Thompson saying "what if"? His 6'2", 210-pound frame, 4.5 40 speed and great instincts all make him seem like an All-American Trojans safety.

Other Notables

Dorial Green-Beckham

The highest rated player that had USC listed in its top five, per ESPNU, was Dorial Green-Beckham. It doesn't appear the Trojans were seriously being considered for months, as DGB had apparently had his choices narrowed down to Arkansas and his hometown Missouri Tigers. The Tigers won out on the nation's top receiver's services.

Nelson Agholor

The Trojans were able to lock up a fine receiver in Nigerian-born Nelson Agholor. Agholor went to school in Florida and moved to the states from Lagos, Nigeria, when he was five.

Agholor has tremendous straight line speed and though he played running back in high school, he projects as a receiver for the Trojans.

USC beat out Auburn and two Florida schools (Florida State and Florida) for the Floridian. He probably won't see a ton of time, if any this season, but he is a playmaker that should have an impact as receiver and or kick returner.

ESPN notes his speed, versatility and advanced ball skills.