Laying the Foundation: USC Football Recruiting, 2011 (Part 3)

One of the drawbacks to taking a few days off from the recruiting trail early in the season is that so many changes occur when you aren't looking.

Part one of this 2010-2011 look at the early USC recruiting process featured the Scout.com five-star prep high school athletes who the Trojans had already offered.

Since I filed that report, three more five-star prep players have received scholarship offers and there are sure to be more on the way.

Part three of this yet to be determined ongoing series will feature those three five star players and continue on with more of the four-star athletes originally covered in part two of this "Laying the Foundation" series.

So before the Trojans add anymore offers to their growing list of high school athletes, lets get started:

Five-Star Athletes:

Kasen Williams:

This 6'2", 195 lb, wide receiver doesn't possess eye-popping speed (4.6 40), but he simply inhales every pass that comes his way. Honored as the Washington state co-athlete of the year (along with teammate Jake Heaps), Williams holds offers from every major program in the country and lists USC, as he does all of his others, as of "medium" interest.

Herschel Sims:

A 5'9", 190 lb running back who reminds many of LaDainian Tomlinson and not just because they both hail from Texas, Sims has been described as "a home run back who makes big plays in big games." An explosive runner who is also a very good receiver, Sims is being courted by most of the major programs although not all have offered yet. Expect that to change as his senior season begins. Sims lists his interest in USC as "medium."

Isaiah Crowell:

The Trojans need to re-stock the running back position and they would love to start that process with Isaiah Crowell. Possessing good size (6'0", 210 lbs.) and great speed (4.43 40), Crowell also has all the moves of a great running back. The one question about Crowell is his durability since he came from a high school program that rotated their running backs. However, Lane Kiffin and company will have to do some sweet talking to get this talented runner as he lists Alabama, who has already offered him, as high on his list.

Four-Star Athletes:

Kiaro Holts:

This teammate of Kris Harley, who also holds a USC offer in his pocket, possesses good size (6'4", 266 lbs.) and a frame that can add more weight easily in a major college football weight training program. Holts, who lists his interest in USC as "medium," also holds more than a dozen offers from other programs.

DeAnthony Arnett:

DeAnthony Arnett, who hails from Saginaw Michigan, is one of the rising prep athletes in the country. Originally recruited by Lane Kiffin when he was still at Tennessee, Arnett carried Kiffin's interest in him when he travelled to USC. Although he doesn't possess great size (6'0", 170 lbs.) or incredible speed (4.5 40), Arnett, nonetheless, is a game changing wide receiver. Describing his interest in USC as "high," the Trojans will probably fight it out with Notre Dame and Michigan State for Arnett's services.

Damien Swann:

OK Trojan fans, you tell me, how good would another "Swann" look in cardinal and gold? Though this Swann is a corner back and not a wide receiver, Damien Swann is one of the very best in the country at his position. Though he needs to work on his technique, Swann has the athleticism to be a premier player at the next level. Although Swann would seem to be a natural fit as a Trojan, he will probably choose between Alabama and Georgia.

Nickolas Brassell:

Is it just me or does there seem to be a propensity of good wide receivers at the high school level? This 6'2", 175 lb all state wide receiver from Missouri, has all the instincts necessary to be a star at the next level. Brassell holds offers from almost all the SEC programs and lists his interest in the Trojans, as he does with all his offers, as "medium."

Brey Cook:

The Trojans need offensive linemen and Brey Cook, with his 6'7", 297 lb size, would be a prefect fit. Cook, who hails from Arkansas, needs a bit of work on his technique but with his size and football acumen, Cook could easily be one of the best in the country when his collegiate career is over and done with. Cook holds more than a dozen offers and lists them all as of "medium" interest.

Todd Barr:

Although he has not yet been offered by the Trojans yet, expect that to change soon. This 6'3", 265 lb. defensive lineman is picking up offers by the week and the Trojans are expected to be one of them soon. In his junior year at Lakewood high school, where he was a teammate of 2009 Trojan recruits Jesse Scroggins and Dion Bailey, Barr had 12 sacks and five forced fumbles to merit his being named to the "all state" California defensive team. It should also be noted that Barr lists his interest in the Trojans, along with that of UCLA, as "high."

Ray Drew:

This 6'4", 243 lb. defensive end from Georgia has tremendous upside and because of that, Drew holds offers from almost every major program in the country. Though he wasn't being recruited by the Trojans with Pete Carroll at the helm, he was being recruited by Lane Kiffin when he was at Tennessee and that interest went with Kiffin across the country to Los Angeles. Drew lists his interest in USC, like all others, as "medium."

This list represents most of the four-star recruits that USC, along with those profiled in part two of the series, but not all.

As recruiting is most definitely a "fluid" process this early in the season, the next article in this series will finish up the balance of the four-star prep athletes the Trojans have offered, along with any they add to the list.