USC Football Recruiting: Predictions for Top Rumored 2015 Prospects

This year's national signing day is a decisive moment in USC history. 

The program will either cash in and announce to the collegiate landscape that it is back to its prominent ways and free of past scholarship shackles—or it will take the silent approach as top prospects elect to not participate in somewhat of a rebuild.

Be honest, though—USC will emerge a winner by day's end.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian is in the midst of building something special. Over at 247Sports, the Trojans rank No. 3 overall despite just a pair of 5-star recruits.

The best, though, may be yet to come.

Rasheem Green, DL

Credit: 247Sports

The Trojans appear to be in a two-team race with the Arizona State Sun Devils for the services of Junipero Serra High School product Rasheem Green.

Green, a 5-star defensive tackle, hails from Gardena, California, a locale that has become quite the pipeline for the Trojans in recent years. That figures to continue, at least according to Greg Biggins of Scout.com, who spoke to Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman on the matter:

"USC has been a longtime leader and it will be a pretty big shock if he ends up anywhere else," said Biggins. "ASU is probably running No. 2 right now and he'll announce on Signing Day as well."

At 6'5" and 275 pounds, Green offers a quick burst off the snap that would help the Trojans be even more athletic up front.

Arizona State figures to be out of the running. USC is local for Green, and the chance to be a part of something special is hard to ignore. 

Prediction: USC

Iman Marshall, CB

Iman Marshall is the crown jewel of many 2015 recruiting classes, although USC appears to have an advantage on LSU, Michigan, Florida State, Notre Dame and others when it comes to the 5-star cornerback.

After all, Marshall hails from Long Beach Poly High School, and the Trojans recently paid him a visit, as the high school's football team captures on Twitter:

That said, Trojans fans might not want to write anything in stone just yet.

Biggins notes that other contenders for Marshall's services continue to make a strong case:

"

He'll visit Oregon this coming weekend and may try and fit in a USC unofficial visit sometime before the dead period. USC is the childhood favorite and where everyone has predicted Marshall would end up, but there has been some recent buzz that they may not be the lock everyone (myself included) assumed. Jim Harbaugh came in for a home visit Monday night and the Wolverines have made a very positive impression. Marshall's father Tony went on the visit to LSU (only one so far) and will likely visit Oregon as well.

"

At 6'1" and 190 pounds with 4.5 40-yard dash speed, according to 247Sports, it is easy to see why so many of the nation's top programs are doing everything they can to make a last-minute push.

While efforts from Oregon and other locales are nice, USC is the home team and can offer everything Marshall desires as the Trojans gear up for a run at the Pac-12.

Prediction: USC

Porter Gustin, OLB

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Talk about impossible to figure out.

Porter Gustin, a 4-star outside linebacker from Salem Hills High School, seems to have a three-way tie between USC, Ohio State and Arizona State.

Gustin, who comes in at 6'5" and 245 pounds, has now visited all three, but the last figures to be at a major advantage. The last being the reigning champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

According to Jeremy Birmingham of Eleven Warriors, Urban Meyer and Co. are serious about a commitment from Gustin:

"

"(The visit) seems to be going well," a source close to Ohio State shared. "It seems like the family has been 'won over' but I'm less sure on (Gustin) himself."

Gustin is at Ohio State with his father and grandfather, and the source shared things were going very well with them. The most important and interesting portion of his information? Urban Meyer — usually the "closer" during a recruitment and a visit — seems to have taken this one on himself.  

"

That said, Gustin's profile page at 247Sports touts Justin Hopkins' crystal ball projection as his picking the Trojans.

Right now, it seems the Buckeyes are at a major advantage. They got to Gustin last and it sure does not hurt they just won a title.

Prediction: Ohio State

John Houston, LB

Credit: 247Sports

No worries about a potential whiff on Gustin, though—the Trojans figure to land John Houston.

Houston is a 4-star linebacker also out of Junipero Serra High School and figures to be a lock for the Trojans, per Ryan Bartow of 247Sports:

"

Huge #USC leans Rasheem Green & John Houston eliminate #Miami. http://t.co/UEGnCxvrqK @FightOn247 @DavidLake3 @InsideTheU @jcshurburtt

— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) January 30, 2015"

For his part, the process is in no way easy, as Houston told Rahshaun Haylock of Fox Sports West:

"It's hard to me just trying (to narrow it down) because it's good factors in each and every school," Houston said. "Right now I'm just trying to figure out which factors are good for me."

Houston is the sort of athlete the Trojans need in their linebacking corps as a 4.6 40-yard-dash time (via 247Sports) for a 6'3" and 211-pound linebacker pops off the page.

Unless Oklahoma or Arizona State pulls off a miracle, it appears Houston will head to the Trojans.

Prediction: USC

Player rankings based on 247Sports' composite ranking system. All recruit measurements and stats courtesy of 247Sports.