USC Recruiting: USC Commit To UCLA?

From the department of slow recruiting news doesn't mean no recruiting news...

Although the recruiting action at "Trojanville" has slowed to almost a trickle, there is still news coming out of USC, and not all of it is good for the Men of Troy.

Kent Turene, the 6'3" 230-pound linebacker from Lauderdale Lakes, FL., who surprised everyone by giving the Trojans a verbal commitment a couple of weeks ago, apparently is wavering on his pledge to USC.

For Trojan fans, it is not so much disconcerting that Turene is waffling, it is who Turene is now looking at to possibly replace the Trojans as his next destination to play ball.

Ummm...that would be crosstown rival UCLA.

“I have interest in UCLA,” Turene told Rivals.com last week. “I’m still solid to USC, I’m just looking around looking at other schools."

Turene went on, “UCLA looks like they are having a great program and will become one of the next powerhouses in the country. They are trying to become great. I don’t know much about UCLA, but I have been doing my research.”

Turene, regarded as one of the best prep linebackers in the country, fits a position of real need for the Trojans, so this news that Turene is considering the hated Bruins serves as a double crisis of sorts for USC.

Regardless of where Turene winds up, someone needs to counsel the young man that mixing the Trojans and Bruins in the same conversation is considered sacrilegious for both schools.

Meanwhile, another player at a position of real need for the Trojans (offensive line), whom USC offered, has now also come off the board.

According to Scout.com, Jordan Walsh, the big offensive guard from Illinois, has given his verbal commitment to Iowa.

Although Walsh was considered a long-shot for the Trojans, he would have fit well for USC and in a down year for prep offensive linemen, the pickings are getting slim in terms of prospective "big uglies."

Finally, Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the Trojans have made an offer to another linebacker out of Florida.

Keith Lewis, a 6'2" 216-pound monster out of Tampa, received an offer from the Trojans, and like all others, Lewis lists his interest in the Trojans as "medium."

Lewis holds some two dozen offers, and it is of note that Monte Kiffin is personally recruiting the young linebacker.

So there it is for this week.

Not much news, and what there is can't be of much comfort to the Trojan faithful.

One recruit off the board and another, thought to be a future Trojan, now looking at the Bruins.

Unsettling to say the least.

Of course, a Keith Lewis commitment would replace Trojan frowns with a smile to be sure.

The ball is in your court, Keith.