USC Football: Ricky Town's Transfer Shows Importance of Recruiting QB Depth

Some were surprised last summer when 4-star Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold joined a 2015 USC recruiting class that already included prized passer Ricky Town. A year later, only the less-publicized prospect will spend a collegiate season in Los Angeles.

Town's intentions to transfer fewer than two weeks into his first Trojans training camp were confirmed by head coach Steve Sarkisian.

"We wish him the best of luck," he said, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "He's worked extremely hard, he's been a great member of our program and I'm sure wherever he decides to go, he'll be a good member of that program as well."

Town, a 2014 Elite 11 finalist, rated sixth nationally among pro-style quarterbacks in 247Sports' 2015 composite recruiting rankings. The former St. Bonaventure (Ventura, California) High School standout initially committed to Alabama before his junior season but flipped to USC shortly after Sarkisian arrived.

Instead of setting the tone for a supremely impressive and potentially program-altering 2015 Trojans class, Town will continue his college career on another campus. 

This development would devastate depth charts at plenty of other programs. Most coaching staffs can't afford to lose a blue-chip recruit before his freshman campaign and still move confidently forward into the future at quarterback.

USC can.

Senior Cody Kessler, a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, handles duties behind center now, but plenty of promise lies ahead. The Trojans roster still features four passers who were rated top-five talents at their position, including redshirt sophomore and top-overall Class of 2013 quarterback Max Browne.

Browne is likely to replace Kessler next year and holds eligibility through the 2017 season. Darnold, ranked fifth nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2015 class, is left as the lone newcomer at quarterback in Town's absence.

Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

Jalen Greene, signed in 2014, shifted from quarterback to wide receiver during the offseason. He could be asked to reverse course and return to his high school position, but that move probably isn't necessary.

Darnold was a relative mystery man at the 2014 national Elite 11 in Oregon. Though he held offers from Oregon, USC and others, the San Clemente High School product missed most of his junior season due to an injury and didn't carry the national notoriety of other quarterbacks in attendance.

Darnold dispelled doubts last fall when he collected 3,770 total yards and 52 touchdowns. He arrived at USC this summer, months after Town enrolled early.

Suddenly, he's the only scholarship quarterback in a two-year span.

"He has some really cool flashes where he's making plays and some other plays where we've got to coach him," Sarkisian said via Klein.

Credit: 247Sports

The Trojans are in no rush to use Darnold, and if things go according to plan, he is undoubtedly destined for redshirt status this year. If Browne transitions into the starting role after Kessler's departure, it could mean three seasons of preparation for Darnold, who is far from a polished passer at this point.

USC is also set to welcome 4-star quarterback Matt Fink to campus next year. The Los Angeles County prospect, rated 10th nationally among dual-threat talents entering their senior high school seasons, committed in May.

The Trojans may soon add another intriguing athlete to this equation. Tate Martell, a 5-star 2017 quarterback, will announce his decision in August. USC is one of five finalists, along with Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M and Washington.

"There's no doubt USC is going to be one of my top schools. If it's not the choice, it will probably be second or third on my list at the most," Martell told Bleacher Report. "The program had a ton of stars when it was winning championships, and now it feels like they're reloading."

This sentiment rings especially true at quarterback, where the Trojans featured eventual NFL talents Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, John David Booty, Matt Cassel, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley during Pete Carroll's overwhelmingly successful tenure.

Cassel, a 10-year NFL veteran and former Pro Bowl selection, never actually started a game at USC due to depth. As Sarkisian attempts to return the Trojans to prominence, it appears this new era could include a similar storyline behind center.

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.