USC Football Recruiting: News, Views and More 2012 Offers

As the Trojans prepare to meet the Virginia Cavaliers this Saturday evening in the Colosseum, Ed Orgeron and the recruiting department continue to make small moves to shore up future needs in a variety areas.

Four scholarship offers, one to a recruit for this years class and three for the next, have been extended to premier prep players from across the land.

Interestingly, these offers don't all fill positions of need, but they do recognize talent that the Trojans covet, regardless of necessity.

In addition, there is recruiting news on previously offered recruits, including a surprise player who was thought to be Trojan long shot but who now has USC high on his list.

First, let's look at an offer to a Bay Area running back from this year's class:

Amir Carlisle, a 5'11", 190-lb. back from Sunnyvale, CA, has received an offer to come south and play for the Trojans.

Carlisle, who has already given a verbal commitment to Stanford, is four-star, as rated by Scout.com, running back who combines elusiveness with a good pair of hands to form an explosive package coming out of the backfield.

Despite his verbal pledge to the Cardinal, Carlisle has said, according to Scout.com, that he will make an official visit to USC sometime later this year.

Meanwhile, the Trojans continue to look to 2012 to get an early jump on prospective players.

From Ramsey, NJ., comes an intriguing safety prospect who combines excellent size with good speed and instincts.

Elijah Shumate has received a Trojan offer to go along with several others, including Miami (FL), Michigan and Virginia Tech.

Unfortunately for USC, Shumate has the Trojans as listed "low" in terms of his interest.

Central California is home for Freddie Tagaloa, a massive (6'8", 300 lb.) offensive lineman, who, despite his size, is nimble enough to play basketball for his prep team.

Tagaloa has visited Stanford twice already and the Cardinal will be tough to beat for Tagaloa's services.

Finally, in terms of USC scholarships offers, how can a week go by without the Trojans offering yet another wide receiver?

Despite a plethora of a great, young wide outs already in the fold and a couple more (Victor Blackwell and likely George Farmer) on the way, the Trojans have set their sights on a big receiver in the Dwayne Jarret mold.

Going 6'5" 210 lbs., Dorial Green-Beckham, who hails form Missouri, combines all that size with excellent speed (22.1 time in the 200 yard dash).

Holding a half a dozen offers, Green-Beckham lists them all as medium interest-wise.

There is other news from prior players that the Trojans have offered, some good, some not so much.

Anthony Chickillo, a four-star offensive lineman, has given his verbal pledge to Miami (Fl.)

Although Chickillo would have served an area of definite need for the Trojans, he was considered a long shot at best to come west.

However, there is good news to report regarding a five-star, as rated by Scout.com, cornerback from Ohio.

Doran Grant, long thought to be an Ohio State lock, has recently said that he has no favorites and that the Trojans have made his finalist list for his services.

Although he wouldn't commit to an official visit date, USC is thought to be one of those who he will visit.

With this, we close out a marginally busy week for USC.

An impressive win at home this week against Virginia will be the focus for the Trojan brain trust from this point forward with the game only a couple of days away.

Of course, 12 or so more of those will do wonders for the Trojans recruiting efforts.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone...