USC Football Recruiting: Trojans Look to the Future To Fill Holes

While most Trojan fans are preoccupied with the recruiting of this year's current crop of prep stars, Lane Kiffin and company are already thinking about 2011 and beyond.

With 2012 verbal commitments, wide receiver Jordan Payton and offensive lineman Arik Armestead already in the fold, USC has extended offers to other prospective future stars for the Trojans.

Payton, already considered one of the finest prospects in the nation, also has been lending a helping hand in the recruitment of these young players and has even been calling 2010 prospects extolling the virtues of all things cardinal and gold.

With USC operating under the restrictions of reduced scholarships, identifying key recruits for 2011 and beyond is crucial to the Trojans as they attempt to ride the NCAA sanction storm out.

The following list of these future players represents this effort on behalf of the recruiting brain trust:

Offered prospects for the class of 2012:

Matt Jones

This 6'3", 210-pound running back from Seffner, Florida has been on college football's radar since his freshman year. Big, fast, and elusive, Jones is a prototypical back in the mold of a poor man's Adrian Peterson.

Already holding many scholarship offers from major programs, Jones has identified Georgia as his early top choice.

Avery Johnson

Thought the Trojans already have enough wide receivers? Not so fast my friend. Avery Johnson, a 6'2", 185-pound wide out from Pompano Beach, Florida has been catching both the eyes and scholarship offers from many of the nation's top programs. Silky smooth, Johnson had 50 catches as a sophomore and big things are expected from him in 2010.

Johnson lists the Trojans, as he does with all others, as "medium" in terms of his interest.

Jordan Simmons

With the Trojans in dire need of offensive line help, it comes as no surprise they would focus on local talent, especially when they go 6'4", 280 pounds as a junior. Such is the case with Jordan Simmons from Crespi High School in Encino, Ca. Athletic enough to play basketball for his high school team, look for Simmons to switch from guard to tackle in college.

Simmons lists all of the six offers he holds as "medium" interest-wise.

Nelson Agholor

This 6'1", 175-pound multi-talented player from Tampa, Florida has excelled at many positions for his high school team, including running back, wide receiver, and safety. Although most of his stats come from his exploits at running back, expect this talented player to wind up at safety in college.

USC joins major programs such as Florida and Notre Dame, among others, for Agholor's services and he lists them all as medium.

Shaquille Thompson

Although Thompson plays cornerback and wide receiver for his high school team in Sacramento, Ca., he is expected to move to safety in college. With the frame (6'1", 180 pounds) to pack on more weight, Thompson has the ball hawking skills to become a premier player at the next level.

While Thompson lists all of his potential suitors as "medium" interest-wise, the Trojans will have to contend with Cal who has already offered and because Thompson's big brother Syd'Quan is a former Bear, they are thought to have the inside track with him.

2013 Prospect

Laremy Tunsil

As suggested before, the Trojans need offensive linemen and in Laremy Tunsil, they have found a prospect that, by the time he is ready to graduate high school, should be a dominant force in the interior. With his 6'6", 282-pound frame just itching to develop, Tunsil combines size with athleticism to devastating effect already as a sophomore to be.

Tunsil holds three offers including USC, and lists them all as medium.

So there you have it.

Peering into the crystal ball, Lane Kiffin and company are projecting these young players into cardinal and gold early on.

Whether or not these players will take their respective talents to the southland remains to be seen, but they have shown enough already to get a precious scholarship offer from the Trojans.

And given the dire circumstances regarding the lack of those scholarships, thanks to the NCAA sanctions against the Trojans, these players should feel honored to have received those offers.

Now Trojan fans hope these recruits will accept those valuable offers.

Sooner rather than later.