USC Football Recruting: Checking in with Max Browne and the Class of 2013

After 5-star QB Max Browne (Sammamish, WA) announced that he would be attending USC for college Wednesday evening, it only seemed appropriate to check in on the rest of the potential members of USC’s Class of 2013. Though there are many 4- and 5-star recruits who haven’t leaned toward any school, much less the Trojans, Browne marks the third commit in the class so far.

There are also a few rumors afloat of some others. It is enough to keep the fans entertained until they either follow Browne’s lead or go elsewhere.

And then there are some who have already committed to other programs.

Let's take an inventory.

Committed

Max Browne, QB (Sammamish, WA)

At 6’5” and 210 lbs, he’s the consensus No. 1 quarterback in 2013’s class, and he’s waiting to take over for Matt Barkley. Last season he threw 45 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. If he enrollees early, he will give Max Wittek and Cody Kessler a run for their money for the starting job come September next year.

Chris Hawkins, CB (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)

The 6’0”, 170-lbs corner has offers from pretty much every major program in the nation but chose to stay with the hometown favorites. Hawkins said he loved the proximity to his mother’s house, the NFL pipeline and head coach Lane Kiffin.

Kenny Bigelow, DL (Elkton, MD)

As long as Ed Orgeron is at USC, the Trojans’ defensive line will boast some of the biggest, meanest guys west of the Mississippi. Full of quick pass-rushers who like to neutralize the quarterback talent in the Pac-12, they just added one more special solider to the trenches.

Bigelow is 6’3” and 285 pounds, and he is still in high school. After he hits the weights at the college level, he'll be add some serious size to his speed.

Twitter Rumors and Hearsay

Well over 40 recruits have offers from USC but have not decided yet. Though some, of course, will take their dear, sweet time, there are always a few morsels and rumors floating to keep the fans busy until National Signing Day. Here are the highlights:

Brown is supposedly talking to Su’a Cravens, Michael Hutchings, Ty Isaac and Priest Willis about joining him at USC.

Speaking of Cravens (Vista Murrieta, CA), he was seen visiting on the sidelines of last week’s spring scrimmage chatting it up with head coach Lane Kiffin. He currently has offers from basically every Pac-12 conference and top programs all over the nation, but what most people don’t notice is that his cousin is former USC and current Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (whose sister is former USC basketball standout Brynn Cameron). Maybe some family ties will give the Trojans the edge.

Linebacker Michael Hutchings (Concord, CA) apparently was on the verge of cancelling his visit to USC for junior day when linebackers coach Joe Barry left to take the same position with the San Diego Chargers. However USC is back on top for Hutchings after he spent time with new USC coach Scottie Hazelton. And Thursday he was urging everyone on Twitter to follow “his boy” as Browne announced his decision to attend USC.

Safety Max Redfield lists his interest as “high” for the Trojans even as other offers poor in from across the country. The worst-case scenario for the Trojans is that the Mission Viejo native decides he wants to stay on the West Coast but chooses another Pac-12 school, namely Oregon, over the Trojans.

Committed Elsewhere

Most of those who have already chosen another school reside in SEC or Big 10 territory. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be a shock that these young men didn’t choose USC. The good news is that there isn’t a single California recruit on this list.

Thomas Tyner, RB (Aloha, OR): Oregon

Logan Tuley-Tillman, OT (Peoria, IL): Michigan

Tramel Terry, ATH (Goose Creek, SC): Georgia

Deadrin Senat, DT (Immokalee, FL): Florida State

Dee Liner, DT (Muscle Shoals): Auburn

Carl Lawson, DE (Alpharetta, GA): Auburn

Trey Johnson, ILB (Lawrenceville, GA): Auburn

Austin Golson, DT (Prattville, AL): Florida State

Reuben Foster, ILB (LaGrange, GA): Alabama

David Dawson, OG (Detroit, MI): Michigan

Greg Bryant, RB (Delray Beach, FL): Oklahoma

Keith Bryant, DT (Delray Beach, FL): Miami

Caleb Brantley, DT (Crescent City, FL): Florida

Maquedius Bain, DT (Fort Lauderdale, FL): Florida State