USC Football National Signing Day 2015: 5 Takeaways from Trojans' Class

USC football had not experienced a national signing day quite like Wednesday's since 2007. That was the last time the Trojans landed a signing class rated as highly as this year's. 

With a full allotment of scholarships at his disposal, head coach Steve Sarkisian put together the nation’s No. 2-ranked class, per 247Sports. 

The culmination of USC’s first full signing class in three years—and strongest class in eight—came with the additions of two 5-stars and two 4-stars in the 24 hours leading up to and through national signing day.

The Trojans can chalk up the 2015 recruiting season as a win. It also marks a significant step on the road back to national prominence.

Each of the five following takeaways illustrates the potentially profound impact this star-studded signing class could have on the immediate future of USC football. And that immediate future could have some long-lasting implications beyond the 2015 class’ tenure in the program.   

USC Recruiting Didn't Miss a Beat Under Sanctions

USC recruited well even with NCAA-mandated limitations on the number of prospects it could sign. Just last year, the program's final under a three-year period of sanctions, the Trojans led the Pac-12 by landing top-tier prospects Damien Mama, John "JuJu" Smith and Adoree' Jackson all in the same week. 

But with the sanctions no longer a factor, USC could truly go to work. The commitment of 5-star cornerback Iman Mashall Wednesday capped a torrid few weeks in which the Trojans welcomed fellow 5-stars Rasheem Green and Osa Masina into the fold, as well as 4-star prospects John Houston and Porter Gustin.

That final flourish solidified USC near the top of 247Sports' national rankings.  

Expect this to be the norm, as it was in the 2000s. Every USC recruiting class from 2003 through 2007 ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation. 

Success there translated into success on the field, with those recruiting classes playing a part in the program's seven consecutive conference championships and two national titles. Should the 2015 class similarly thrive on the field, that success should attract more prospects.

It's a self-sustaining cycle.  

Sark Knows SoCal

USA TODAY Sports

Sarkisian talked up his Southern California roots extensively last July at Pac-12 media days. 

"To have the opportunity now, after growing up watching SC football, after coming to SC out of high school as a baseball player, after being here as an assistant coach for seven years...to now be back as a head coach, it's humbling," he said. 

The kid from Torrance parlayed his familiarity with the Los Angeles area into a recruiting boon for USC. Of the 26-player class, a remarkable 12 came from high schools in the California Interscholastic Federation's Los Angeles and Southern Sections—the two sections that encompass Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Ventura and San Bernardino Counties. 

Of that group, nine are either 4- or 5-star prospects.  

PLAYER	POSITION	STAR RATING	HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR COLLEGE (CITY)
Sam Darnold	QB	4	San Clemente (San Clemente)
Rasheem Green	DT	5	Junipero Serra (Gardena)
De'Quan Hampton	WR	4	Long Beach CC (Long Beach)
John Houston	LB	4	Junipero Serra (Gardena)
Clayton Johnston	OT	4	Servite (Anaheim)
Iman Marshall	CB	5	Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
Ykili Ross	CB/WR	4	Riverside Poly (Riverside)
Marvell Tell	S	4	Crespi (Encino)
Ricky Town	QB	4	St. Bonaventure (Ventura)

Meanwhile, the lucrative pipeline between USC and Junipero Serra continued to produce, with Houston and Green committing to the Trojans back-to-back. 

"

Trojans two for two here: Gardena Serra LB John Houston announces for #USC. pic.twitter.com/eyjDVeoVfs

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) February 4, 2015"

A third Serra prospect, 3-star wide receiver Deontay Burnett, also became a Trojan Wednesday. 

All received a welcome from another Serra who has done well for himself at USC.

"

Welcome My Brothers @Official_John10 @ras_green ✌️❤️💛 FIGHT ON

— SWEET PEA (@AdoreeKnows) February 4, 2015"

The local connections are indeed strong for the Trojans. 

A Potential All-Time Linebacker Corps

Some outstanding linebacker corps have called USC home. The 2015 class is already drawing comparisons to some of those groups before ever playing a snap. 

With 4-star recruits Gustin and Houston each committing in the past two days, they join fellow 4-star Cameron Smith and 5-star Masina to form a unit capable of matching the bar set by Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing in 2008. 

"

Gustin, Masina, Smith? pic.twitter.com/quAzDXivbp

— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSpr) February 3, 2015"

All USC did that season was hold opponents to an average of nine points and 87.38 rushing yards per game. No pressure, newcomers. 

However, if there is a collection of linebackers with the talent of matching that all-time group, it's this 2015 class.

Their combined skill sets run the full gamut of qualities a defensive coordinator needs from his linebackers. Houston (6'3", 211 lbs) is long and speedy, while Gustin (6'5", 245 lbs) is big and physical. Masina, at 6'4", 230 pounds, combines the two traits, with instincts and pursuit abilities that 247Sports rank nine of out 10.

Positional Versatility Is a Trait USC Covets

Credit: 247Sports

Ykili Ross (Credit: 247Sports)

When discussing the two-way playmaking of 2014 signee and first-year standout Jackson, Sarkisian said, "It does take a unique person, a unique player to really excel" (as a dual offensive and defensive performer). 

USC seemingly found a number of those unique players for its 2015 signing class. 

Sarkisian praised both Isaiah Langley and Ykili Ross as such talents, per USCTrojans.com.

“Langley is a really good cover corner,” Sarkisian said. “But also a fantastic receiver. Ross is another two-way standout player—a guy who plays [defensive back] and the wide receiver spot. We’re going to take a look at him at both.”

And that's to say nothing of Marshall, the nation's No. 1 cornerback who was also on the receiving end of eight touchdowns last season for Long Beach Poly, per MaxPreps.com. 

2015 Signing Class Will Not Have to Wait to Make an Impact

The NCAA sanctions USC endured for the last three years thinned USC’s ranks to such a point the Trojans took fewer than 50 scholarship players on road trips multiple times in 2014.

USC’s need to fill some of those gaps opens immediate opportunities for the 2015 recruiting class.

Some of the Trojans’ signees seem like no-brainers for prominent roles from the outset of their collegiate careers. Defensive tackle Jacob Daniel is one. At 6'4", 325 pounds, he already has the size to be a serious space-eater in the middle of the Trojans' defensive line.

"

#USC announces DL Jacob Daniel. And announces him at 325 pounds. Whoa. Sark also says Daniel can have "an immediate impact for us."

— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) February 4, 2015"

Daniel should have a freshman partner up front in Green, who Sarkisian called “the top defensive lineman on the West Coast,” per USCTrojans.com.

USC’s 2014 secondary was especially lacking in depth, and this signing class addresses that issue. The 5-star cornerback Marshall should have no trouble finding a spot in the rotation, while Sarkisian cited 4-star safety Marvell Tell as “a guy that fills the need on our team at that safety spot,” via USCTrojans.com.

Four-star running back Ronald Jones II is also stepping into a unit that was direly thin last year. Javorius “Buck” Allen and Justin Davis were the sole running backs on scholarship, and Allen is NFL-bound.

With USC offering so many chances for the 2015 signing class to make a splash, this group will not have to wait long to live up to its lofty billing.

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