National Signing Day 2010: Which USC Recruits Might Play Early (Part 2)

Continuing with our look at which 2010 USC recruits might contribute early for the Trojans, we start with a massive defensive tackle who reminds many of a quicker Mike Patterson.

If the Trojans get the same kind of production from George Uko that they received from Patterson, Lane Kiffin will be a very happy coach indeed.

However, Uko is only one of many 2010 recruits that Coach Kiffin and company expect to be productive in the years to come for USC.

For the most part, the questions regarding playing time for this year's crop of sterling recruits will be answered first in spring practice and later solidified in the fall.

Nonetheless, there are some indications upon which we can draw to get a fairly clear picture of which recruits will redshirt and those who may see the gridiron in 2010.

Here then, is a thumbnail sketch of the remaining 2010 USC recruiting class and their prospects for playing this coming year:

George Uko 

This 6'4", 297-pound bruiser will push for playing time from the moment he steps on the field. The knock on Uko in the past is that he loses focus, but that wasn't the case this year, when the defensive lineman really blossomed. However, if Jurell Casey or his backups—Hebron Fangupo, Christian Tupou, and DaJohn Harris—continue their maturation, look for Uko to take a redshirt this year.

Kyle Prater 

At 6'5" and 205 pounds of grace and agility, Prater has quarterback Matt Barkley fairly salivating at the prospect of throwing to him. Think of a faster Mike Williams or Dwayne Jarrett and you get an idea of Prater, who just toyed with the best cornerbacks on the West Coast in the Army All-Star prep game. Prater enrolled early and is attending classes, making him eligible to participate in spring practice. Look for Prater to see the field often in 2010.

Robert Woods 

The third part of the spectacular wide receiver triumvirate, Woods may be the best of them all. At 6'2" and 205 pounds of 4.45 40 wide receiver, Woods has the ability to go all the way every time he touches the ball. Woods has the talent to play this year, and if his prep career is any indication, he may just pry a starting spot from Brice Butler.

Jesse Scroggins 

Although the Trojans have depth issues at the quarterback position with the transfer of Aaron Corp, the Trojans would love to have Scroggins, the talented QB from Lakewood, redshirt this year. Scroggins is an exceptional talent, but Coach Kiffin and company would like to keep a critical year of eligibility for when Barkley leaves after 2011.

Dion Bailey 

Bailey, a teammate of Scroggins at Lakewood High School, is a very talented safety who will probably redshirt because of the logjam at the position. Bailey, at 6'1" and 205 pounds, is very quick and athletic, so he will have ample opportunity to change the coaches' minds, however.

Anthony Brown

Another blazing fast cornerback (4.46 40), Brown will probably redshirt in 2010. With Shareece Wright returning (assuming he has cleared up his academic woes) and Brian Bauchman now healthy, the assumption is that Brown will stay eligible but will only play if there are significant injuries in the defensive backfield.

Xavier Grimble 

This five-star recruit has had college football coaches after him since he was a freshman at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. At 6'5" and 245 pounds and an exceptional blocker as well as a receiver, look for Grimble to push Blake Ayles and Rhett Ellison for playing time right away. Of the three tight end recruits (Christian Green and Randall Telfer are the others), Grimble is the most likely to see playing time early.

Randall Telfer 

Probably the fastest of the three tight end recruits, Telfer is the most likely to redshirt. At 6'4" but only 223 pounds, Telfer will benefit from a college strength and conditioning program. Despite this, Telfer is an exceptional talent who runs very good routes and owns a soft pair of hands. Look for big things down the road from Telfer.

D.J. Morgan 

At 5'11" and 170 pounds with exceptional speed (4.4 40), Morgan will fill Joe McKnight's shoes once he recovers from knee surgery. Look for Morgan to redshirt in 2010.

Dillon Baxter 

At 6'0" and 205 pounds and incredibly athletic, Baxter, who has set many California state records at Mission Bay High School in San Diego, will be looked upon to produce right away for the Trojans. In fact, Baxter is so talented that Kiffin is looking to install a version of the Wildcat Offense just to get Baxter more touches. I would be very surprised if Baxter redshirts in 2010.

So there you have it.

This class of recruits is rated as high as No. 1 by some recruiting services and as low as No. 8 in others.

However, almost all of the recruiting services have the Trojans possessing the highest rating per recruit of any program in the nation.

To be sure, Kiffin and his staff have done a marvelous job of keeping a quality recruiting class intact—and he has even embellished it with a couple of recruits that he scouted while at Tennessee.

Which of these recruits see early playing time will be answered in the spring and fall practices, and there are sure to be surprises.

What won't be a surprise are the lofty expectations for this talented class.

That's a given.