USC Football Recruiting: Grades and Analysis for Class of 2012

The USC Trojans are officially back on the map and ready to contend for a national championship in 2012.

Their most recent recruiting class certainly solidified those beliefs, as the Trojans came in with the No. 7 class overall, according to Rivals.com.

With Matt Barkley coming back for his senior season, USC has the talent with this incoming class to get over the hump and play for the BCS National Championship in January.

While the class is small due to scholarship reductions, it has the highest average ranking at 4.07 stars according to Rivals.com. No one else is even close.

Here is a breakdown of one of the best recruiting classes for 2012.

Offense

The three most talented recruits for USC are all on the offensive side of the ball.

That group is led by two 5-star offensive lineman. Zach Banner is rated the No. 16 player overall and No. 2 offensive tackle prospect.

He will be joined on the offensive line by the No. 1 guard in the entire class in Jordan Simmons. Simmons ranks No. 29 overall.

The other 5-star recruit on offense is receiver Nelson Agholor, who is the No. 3 receiver and No. 18 player overall.

Max Tuerk ranks as the No. 46 player overall and No. 7 offensive tackle in the class. He will join a talented offensive line that has a chance to be special in the coming years.

Joining Agholor out wide is 4-star recruit Darreus Rogers, who ranks No. 198 overall and is the No. 29 receiver.

Tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick is the No. 4 tight end and No. 156 overall.

The Trojans also have a signature from Jahleel Pinner, who is the No. 1 fullback in the country.

Defense

While the big-name recruits are on offense, there is still some serious talent on the defensive side of the ball for USC.

Leading the way is junior college safety and 4-star recruit Gerald Bowman. Bowman has a chance to earn immediate playing time due to his age and experience.

Among the other highly-touted recruits is Jabari Ruffin.

Ruffin is close to being a 5-star recruit. He is the No. 1-rated outside linebacker in the class and No. 40 overall.

Scott Starr is another highly-touted linebacker. He is No. 128 overall and the No. 10 outside linebacker.

He will be joined by Leonard Williams, who is the No. 5 strong-side defensive end and No. 53 player overall.

Also along the defensive line is junior college 4-star Morgan Breslin.

The defensive backfield will also be a strength for the Trojans, as they have signed Kevon Seymour, who ranks as the No. 6 corner and No. 82 player in the country.

He will team up with Devian Shelton who is rated the No. 16 corner and No. 211 overall.

Grade, Prediction and Analysis

Simply put, USC could not have done better than they did with this recruiting class and that gives them an A+ grade.

Both junior college recruits could see some immediate playing time, as could receiver Nelson Agholor.

USC is already talented at the skill positions, but Agholor has the potential to contribute immediately.

Tight end Cope-Fitzpatrick could also see some action, as well as a few of the offensive linemen.