Laying the Foundation: USC Football Recruiting, 2011 (Tre Madden and More)

The dominoes are beginning to fall for the Trojans in the 2010 prep recruiting season.

Just three days after five-star (as rated by Scout.com) cornerback/running back DeAnthony Thomas gave USC his verbal pledge, Tre Madden, a 6’1,” 217 pound linebacker from prep power Mission Viejo high school has done the same.

Madden, rated a three-star by Scout, will wind up with a much higher rating by the end of the high school season as he matures and learns the intricacies of his position.

Last year as a junior, Madden accounted for 115 tackles and earned second team “all- underclassman” honors by GoldenStatePrep.com.

The Trojans need linebackers and Tre Madden is going to be a very good one.

With another year to hone his technique, Madden, who already shows an uncanny nose for the ball, will be counted on to contribute immediately—even if it is on special teams.

And the Trojans may not be done yet.

Despite rumors to the contrary, Greg Townsend, the very athletic four-star defensive end (as rated by Scout.com), may also pull the trigger soon for the Trojans.

Townsend has said recently that he will “take his time” in making a decision as to which team he will verbally commit. However, when a rash of players start giving commitments to a school, it often prompts other players to do the same.

Plus, Townsend lists the Trojans as “high” on his interest list.

If Townsend does indeed give the Trojans his pledge, look for USC to also give him a look at middle linebacker where Townsend's size (6’4,” 240 pounds) would seem to be ideal even if he is a bit tall.

Now from the “Department of Laughs.”

Five-star running back Aaron Green recently went on record as saying he is no longer interested in the Trojans and won’t sign with them.

That’s fine except that the Trojans haven’t made an offer to Green and by all indications weren’t planning to.

Of the entire five-star recruits (as rated by Scout.com) available, the only one that the Trojans didn’t offer was Aaron Green.

Now with the feeling apparently mutual, Mr. Green can go on to other things instead of pining for an offer that was destined never to come.

Meanwhile, the Trojans have offered two more players, both of which can help them at positions that are lacking depth.

Marcus Martin , a huge (6’4.5,” 340 lbs.) offensive lineman from Crenshaw high school in the Los Angeles area has caught the eye of the Trojans who recently offered him a scholarship.

Martin, who helped open up huge holes for recent Trojan commit, DeAnthony Thomas, says the connection with Thomas will have no bearing on his decision but was quick to say that “USC was always a dream school” of his, according to Scout.com.

The Trojans need O-linemen, and a pledge from big Marcus Martin would go a long way to shore up an area that that USC is lacking in.

Also offered recently by the Trojans is Jason Gibson, another highly regarded linebacker.

Gibson, who is rated a four-star player, is big (6’2,” 210 lbs.), athletic and strong enough to play defensive end for his high school team (powerhouse Serra high school in Gardena, Ca.) but will be shifted to outside linebacker by whichever team is lucky enough to land him.

Right now, it appears that Cal is USC’s main competition for Gibson’s services.

That is it for now as far as Trojan recruiting news goes.

I had intended to wait a bit to file another USC recruiting report after last week’s big news of Victor Blackwell and DeAnthony Thomas committing to the Trojans.

However, Tre Madden forced me to guide my weary fingers back to the keyboard where I will gladly force myself to spread the news of another major Trojan verbal commitment.

Ah, the sacrifices I make for the good of Trojan nation…