USC Football Recruiting: Latest Updates on 2015 Commits, Visits and Targets
National signing day 2015 has the look of a potentially historic date in USC football recruiting history.
It marks the first time in more than three years that the program has a full allotment of scholarships with which to work, the result of a 10-scholarship reduction each year since 2012 as part of USC's sanctions from the Reggie Bush affair.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are using the Trojans' replenished allotment to the fullest. USC already has 16 verbal commitments for the 2015 class.
The most recent additions are Tristan Payton—a 4-star wide receiver from First Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida—and Cole Smith, a 3-star center from nearby Mission Viejo High School. Both pledged to USC in August.
The Trojans are ranked atop the Pac-12 currently and check in at No. 10 in 247Sports' national rankings. The rest of the conference may once again have to get used to looking up at USC when it comes to recruiting.
"Consider yourself an up-and-coming recruiting power in...the Pac-12? If so, you'd better buckle up, because the ride is about to get a lot bumpier, especially on the recruiting trail. ...[T]he big boys are back," is AL.com's Gary Laney's advice to the rest of the conference with USC returning to full scholarship strength.
LB John Houston
1 of 4
Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California, has been good to USC football. The high school has produced such notable names as Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and freshman sensation Adoree' Jackson.
Five-star linebacker prospect John Houston could be the Trojans' next great Serra product. Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times reported USC coaches watched Houston and his Serra teammates just hours after the Trojans' Week 2 defeat of Stanford.
Though his team lost to Bellevue High School from Bellevue, Washington, in the exhibition played in Oceanside, California, Houston delivered with 21 tackles, per MaxPreps.com.
"""POSTGAME INTERVIEW. 2015 ALL-AMERICAN LB JOHN HOUSTON. @Official_John10 was a tackling machine vs Bellevue. https://t.co/urwLw7j5v7
— #D1Bound Nation. (@SportsRecruits) September 11, 2014"
Houston is a sideline-to-sideline ball hawk, as B/R's Tyler Donohue notes:
"""5-star LB John Houston (@Official_John10) has 31 tackles in two games. USC, UCLA and Oregon among teams chasing him. 270 tackles since 2012.
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) September 10, 2014"
WR Christian Kirk
2 of 4
USC is one of several high-profile programs after 5-star wide receiver Christian Kirk's services, and with good reason.
The speedy Kirk, from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, has the potential to be the kind of difference-making player in the slot New Orleans Saints rookie Brandin Cooks was in his time at Oregon State.
Among Kirk's suitors is Texas A&M, which had the wide receiver on campus last weekend for an official visit.
"""Good win! Now to Aggieland👍👍
— Christian Kirk (@ChristianDavon2) September 13, 2014"
Kirk was in College Station, Texas, with an impressive group of Aggies' targets and commits, including quarterback Kyler Murray and tight end Jordan Davis. Kirk retweeted Davis, who wrote he "can't wait" to play alongside Kirk.
"""Had fun choppin it up w my bois @kris23db@TheKylerMurray@DaylonMack@ChristianDavon2 can't wait till we all together next year!
— Jordan Davis (@UKnowJD) September 14, 2014"
247Sports' crystal ball projections favor Texas A&M, but USC is second. Expect the Trojans to make a hard push to land Kirk.
CB Iman Marshall
3 of 4
The highest-rated of USC's 2015 targets is 5-star cornerback Iman Marshall, a product of nearby prep powerhouse Long Beach Poly. Poly is the same high school that produced current Trojans freshman standout John "JuJu" Smith.
Marshall had a big weekend. First, he led the Jackrabbits to a 34-24 defeat of Westlake High School, California's No. 21-ranked team according to MaxPreps.com.
"""A 10-star salute with elite LB Poly DB Iman Marshall, Westlake QB Malik Henry after Poly bounces back to win 34-24 pic.twitter.com/dcrZ3qaA4t
— Jeff Fellenzer (@jfellenzer) September 13, 2014"
Then on Sunday, Marshall tweeted a list of schools to which he will take official visits this fall.
"""It's Official ™ pic.twitter.com/f9e0tHlmeo
— Biggie (@iman_marshall8) September 14, 2014"
Omitted from the list at present is USC, but the Trojans remain a unanimous favorite to sign Marshall come February in 247Sports' crystal ball projections.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
RB/LB Osa Masina
4 of 4
Four-star linebacker/running back prospect Osa Masina is the first 2015 USC target to schedule his official visit. Per 247Sports, Masina is heading to USC on Nov. 29, the date of the Trojans' annual nonconference rivalry tilt with Notre Dame.
In the meantime, the product of Brighton High School in Salt Lake City is scheduled to visit Wisconsin and USC's Pac-12 South counterpart, Arizona State.
"""Salt Lake City (Utah) Brighton LB Osa Masina has set up official visit No 3 to #ArizonaState for (Oct 13) for the Stanford game
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) September 12, 2014"
Masina is most likely a target at outside linebacker. At 6'4", 230 pounds, he has prototypical size for the position. However, his performance at running back for Brighton is impressive. He's averaging seven yards per carry for 162 on the year, and has two touchdowns.
Perhaps he's the next Myles Jack, UCLA's two-way standout, or Shaq Thompson. The Sarkisian recruit has played both linebacker and running back for the Washington Huskies this season.
Recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.com composite scores.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
