USC Football: 5 Things Max Browne's Verbal Means for the Trojans

Christmas came early for the Trojans Wednesday evening as Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline H.S.) quarterback Max Browne pulled the trigger with an verbal commitment for USC.

In Browne, the Trojans get most everyone's consensus top quarterback in the nation, a guy who has the size (6'5", 205 lbs) and all of the intangibles to be a truly great signal-caller.

Browne adds to an already impressive, albeit small, class which includes 5-star defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow and recent 4-star cornerback commit, Chris Hawkins.

To be certain, Browne's verbal is a huge "get" for the Trojans, who now can move on to other concerns for the 2013 recruiting class.

But what else does it mean for USC? What kind of ripple effect will it have on the team moving forward?

This slideshow will look at some of the obvious ramifications for the Trojans—as well as some perhaps not so clear—that are a result of this huge verbal.

Let's get started.

No. 5: It Was Nice Knowing You, Jesse Scroggins

Even if the Trojans didn't receive a verbal from the top class of 2013 prep quarterback in the nation, the road was still going to be tough to hoe for Jesse Scroggins.

Scroggins, the Scout.com class of 2010 4-star quarterback who was rated the sixth best in the nation at his position, has had a rough go of it in his abbreviated Trojan career.

After redshirting due to injury in his first year, the sophomore-to-be has alternated between being hurt and in poor academic standing since his arrival at USC.

The latest episode has Scroggins being excused for spring practice and the associated workouts in order to focus on his shaky school work.

After falling far behind both Cody Kessler and Max Wittek, the speculation ran rampant that Scroggins would transfer, something that young QB denied vehemently.

But that was before the spring football suspension and way before Max Browne's verbal commitment.

Can USC afford to carry four scholarship quarterbacks on an reduced roster? Not likely.

Good luck at your next destination, Jesse.

No. 4: Is Lane Kiffin Sending a Message to Cody Kessler and Max Wittek?

If Jesse Scroggins is removed from the Trojan quarterback equation, there still remains two very viable contenders to succeed Matt Barkley whose name is not Max Browne.

Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, two very impressive redshirt freshmen, have been waging a neck-and-neck battle to back up Barkley in 2012 and thrust themselves into leading candidacy for the starting position.

Neither Wittek nor Kessler have done anything that would indicate that they couldn't handle the position. In fact, both have shown the talent and acumen to be very successful as the leader of the Trojan offense.

So what gives with the scholarship offer to Browne?

The fact of the matter is that the offer has everything to do with the talent of Max Browne and not any perceived shortcomings with either Wittek or Kessler.

Evidence of that comes in the fact that Browne is the only quarterback the Trojans have offered this year.

If Browne had decided to go elsewhere, chances are that Kiffin would have been fine moving forward with Kessler or Wittek.

Still, that does lead to other questions, such as...

No. 3: Will the Loser of the Wittek/Kessler Fight to Back Up Barkley Leave, Too?

One of the things that defines great quarterbacks is their competitive spirit.

Compromise that spirit and soon motivation wanes. This is true for any sport—especially for football.

So it is only natural to question whether or not a hard-working young signal-caller such as Cody Kessler or Max Wittek would feel as if the grass might be more green elsewhere should they lose their battle to back up Matt Barkley in 2012.

After all, after this year, assuming Browne honors his commitment (more on that later), the loser of the war between Kessler and Wittek likely will have to contend with Browne for the backup spot in 2013.

Not an enviable position for a guy who has put his heart and soul into his craft for a team he would dearly love to lead after Barkley departs.

Then again, perhaps that competitive spirit would drive them to stay and prove that they should be the starter.

Perhaps.

Only time will tell.

No. 2: If Browne Is an Early Entrant, He Becomes Even More Valuable

USC surprised most experts by only signing 12 players in their 2012 class, leaving three scholarships on the table for early entrants in 2013.

One of those early guys could very well be Max Browne, who will make a concerted effort to be in the Trojans' spring camp next year.

If so, an already huge commitment becomes even more so by freeing up a precious 2013 scholarship.

Getting Browne under any circumstance is incredible for USC. Getting him as an early entrant is just icing on the cake.

Of course, it still remains to be seen if Browne qualifies as an "EE," but if so, Kiffin and the Trojans coaches' smiles just got even wider.

No. 1: Hold Your Horses, Trojan Fans, Browne's Commitment Is Only a Verbal...

Far be it from me to dash anyone's hopes and dreams, but remember, Max Browne's commitment is only a verbal and a lot of things can happen between now and the February signing day.

Don't believe me? Let me take you back to one De'Anthony Thomas.

Thomas was thought to be a solid Trojan commit after giving them an early verbal in 2010.

Fans of the program know how that turned out.

On the plus side, Browne doesn't appear to be faint-hearted like Thomas.

Again, only time will tell...

Conclusion

No matter how you slice it, getting a verbal from a stud like Max Browne is huge for the Trojans recruiting aspirations in 2012.

Both Browne and prior commit Chris Hawkins will be actively recruiting for USC and with the cache that both players possess, other high-profile recruits are bound to be enticed to play for the cardinal and gold.

Of course, the simple fact that it is USC will the determining factor for prep players, but certainly, knowing that a guy like Browne will be leading the offense in the future can't hurt.

For a class that is shaping up to be one of the very best in the nation, starting out with impact players will lead to momentum that can carry a program through until national signing day.

And if the 2013 class winds up as strong as it is starting, there is only one thing fans of the program should say to young Max Browne:

"Welcome aboard...and thank you."