Max Browne to USC: Which Elite QB Prospects Are Most Affected?

With USC landing 5-star QB Max Browne, the nation's No. 1 QB prospect is officially off the board now. Usually in recruiting, and more specifically in QB recruiting, many dominoes fall and shift after the top guy makes his decision.

Since Browne has made his choice, naturally, this has rippling effects around the country. Programs will shift their focus to other prospects, while other prospects will look at the schools Browne spurned and so forth.

For this read, I'm going to give you the top QB prospects that are most affected by Browne's announcement for USC last night.

4. Kelly Hilinski

Hilinksi doesn't have an offer from Oklahoma, but with Browne off to USC, the Sooners have to shift their focus elsewhere. 

Standing 6'6" and 220 pounds, Hilinksi really likes Oklahoma and will likely visit Norman before the month is over.

Arkansas has offered Hilinksi, and Colorado and Northwestern have expressed strong interest. He wouldn't be a bad alternative for the Sooners.

3. Cooper Bateman

Now, with Browne being from Washington, the Huskies were surely an option for him. But after they signed both Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles last year, Browne naturally looked elsewhere.

However, with Steve Sarkisian being a QB coach at heart, his stocked QB depth chart is not going to stop him from going after 2013 passers to lure to Montlake.

Cooper Bateman, the 6'3", 205-pound QB from Utah who probably has the strongest arm in the country, plans to visit Washington now, as he has already seen LSU, Auburn and Alabama.

2. Brayden Scott

Scott is a 6'1", 195-pounder from Oklahoma that has been patient with the Sooners, as they went hard after Browne, thus putting Scott on the back burner, if you will.

However, with Browne out of the picture, surely their efforts and attention to Scott will dramatically increase. Scott was in Norman late last week for a visit, and an offer could be on the way.

1. Cody Thomas

Thomas is a big Texan at 6'5", 220 pounds. He's also a good baseball prospect, and colleges will also have to compete with the diamond for his services.

Yet like Scott, Oklahoma will turn its focus on to him after losing out on Browne. The Sooners brought Thomas in for a visit early last week, so look for an offer to be on the not too distant horizon.

Thomas is accurate from the pocket, has good touch and excels in the intermediate passing game.

Alabama

Don't think the Crimson Tide are not affected by Browne's announcement either, as offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was recruiting Browne and has a good relationship with the young signal-caller stemming from Nussmeier's days at Washington.

Look for the Tide to turn their QB focus onto names like Cooper Bateman, as previously mentioned, along with Kevin Olsen and Mitch Trubisky.