USC Football: 2015 Recruits Trojans Need to Land

USC is operating with a full allotment of scholarships in its 2015 recruiting—the first time the program has enjoyed that luxury in three years. 

Head coach Steve Sarkisian is making the most of his opportunity with the shroud of NCAA sanctions lifted, already putting together a signing class that 247Sports ranks No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 9 in the nation. 

But Sarkisian and his staff have a chance to take the 2015 recruiting class to an even higher level by adding a few of the top targets still remaining on the Trojans' board. 

USC is in the mix for some of the nation's premier offensive and defensive talent. These are players capable of making immediate impacts, much like 2014 signees Toa Lobendahn, John "JuJu" Smith and Adoree' Jackson.

LB John Houston

John Houston is a tackling machine from the same Southern California pipeline (Junipero Serra High School in Gardena) that produced Jackson, Marqise Lee and George Farmer, among other recent Trojans. 

Just how prolific is Houston? All the 5-star linebacker did in 2013 was record 137 tackles. Nine games into the 2014 campaign, he's racked up another 126, via MaxPreps.

Houston's sideline-to-sideline style would fit well among the long and illustrious linebacker lineage that USC boasts. 

More importantly for the future of Trojans football, Houston rates highest as a playmaker in space, per 247Sports. That's a quality of growing importance in the Pac-12, as more and more teams in the conference adopt wide-open offensive philosophies.  

WR Christian Kirk

With USC adopting and continuing to cultivate an uptempo offensive philosophy, it will need more explosive playmakers in space. Scottsdale, Arizona, prospect Christian Kirk is one such 5-star playmaker. 

Kirk is a dynamic jack-of-all-trades for Saguaro High School, rushing for 928 yards and catching for another 889 through 10 games, per MaxPreps. He also has scored a combined 27 touchdowns. 

The ways in which Kirk could benefit the USC offense are numerous. His speed makes him a threat in the slot, while his elusiveness in the open field is ideal for throws to the sidelines. 

No matter where Kirk is lined up, he's capable of making the explosive plays Sarkisian has touted throughout his first year with USC. 

CB Iman Marshall

Iman Marshall, a 5-star prospect, turned heads at The Opening in July and kept it going into the prep season, helping Southern California powerhouse Long Beach Poly to an 8-1 record. 

Like current USC freshman Jackson, Marshall has the skills to stand out on offense at wide receiver. He has 16 receptions for 225 yards and seven touchdowns, per MaxPreps. 

But Marshall's future is on defense. He's a shutdown cornerback with 16 pass deflections on the season and a physical makeup comparable to bigger, standout defensive backs like Richard Sherman. 

Marshall's 6'1", 190-pound frame resembles Sherman's so much that the recruit's Long Beach Poly coach, Antonio Pierce, asked him to study film of the Seattle Seahawks star, via Mike Guardabascio of the Long Beach Press-Telegram. 

With Marshall and Jackson in the secondary with Jackson, USC could establish itself as the Pac-12's no-fly zone. 

S Marvell Tell

On his Nov. 2 teleconference call, Sarkisian discussed the importance of having a playmaker like sophomore Su'a Cravens—a player who can defend the run, drop back into pass coverage and blitz, all with equal effectiveness. 

Sarkisian said that the spread, uptempo offenses so prevalent around the Pac-12 necessitated adding more players like Cravens in the coming years, and the head coach just might have the ideal prospect for 2015 in Marvell Tell. 

Tell, a 4-star product of Crespi High School in Encino, California, blends athleticism and size in such a way that he could be USC's next multifaceted standout. 

He stands 6'2" and will surely bulk up his 175-pound frame upon entering strength coach Ivan Lewis' program, should Tell opt to sign with USC. 

Combine that with his speed and instincts—both of which 247Sports rates highly—and Tell has a very high ceiling. 

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports' composite scores.