USC Football Recruiting: After Army Bowl Shutout, Where Do Trojans Turn?
The USC Trojans' 2011 recruiting class lost out on a handful of players Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
After being considered among the finalists for a handful of top recruits, the Trojans came away with zero verbal commitments at the bowl, which featured a full slate of official announcements. Three players in particular—Harvey Langi, Colt Lyerla and Viliami Moala—committed to Pac-10 rivals.
But the Trojans must move on. After missing out on their main targets, USC must now pick up the pieces and fill the few holes left in their 10th-ranked recruiting class.
Here is a breakdown of their top targets and where those recruits stand heading into the final stretch before National Signing Day on Feb. 2.
USC Lost Out On: Brent Calloway
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USC lost out on the services of Brent Calloway, who committed to Auburn in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game, and it was a big deal.
Calloway is the seventh-ranked outside linebacker in the country and a Top 150 player, according to ESPNU. The explosive athlete chose Auburn over a host of schools, including Alabama, Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State.
The loss for USC, though, comes at an even higher price. After a down year in which the Trojans were a mere afterthought in the Pac-10, they need as big a recruiting impact as possible to compete next year with Oregon, Stanford and newcomer Utah.
USC Lost Out On: Colt Lyerla
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Losing out on Lyerla comes at at high price for the Trojans. After all, he went to Oregon.
Not only will USC not have the 6'4'', 220-pounder suit up for the next three or four years, it will have to play against him.
Lyerla is the 27th-ranked athlete in the nation and pairs impressive size with extreme versatility. He served as a linebacker, kick returner and running back in high school. Currently, Lyerla projects as a standout linebacker but could have value elsewhere with added bulk.
USC Lost Out On: Harvey Langi
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Langi, the 31st-ranked running back, chose Utah over USC and is set on helping the Utes' transfer to the Pac-12.
In Langi, the Trojans would have received a bruising runner likely to be a standout fullback. At 6'1'', 215 pounds, Langi runs only one direction—downhill—and punishes anyone in the way.
Langi is yet another West Coast recruit who'll likely haunt the Trojans after spurning them for another school.
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USC Lost Out On: Viliami Moala
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The loss of Moala may hit USC the hardest as the Trojans had their collective heart set on landing the 6'2'', 325-pound brick wall on the defensive line.
Moala is rated 97th overall and can flat-out clog the middle. Despite his size, Moala is a nimble run stopper with the added ability of quickness off the snap.
Opting to commit to Cal over USC, Oregon State, Washington and Arizona State, Moala will make for a tough matchup for all Pac-12 opponents.
USC Still Targeting: Brennan Scarlett
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Scarlett is the 17th-ranked defensive end in a class full of talented players at that position. The 6'4'', 245-pound Portland, Ore. native is reportedly set to choose between Notre Dame, Stanford, Cal, USC and UCLA.
Scarlett will make his decision Thursday and recently told Scout.com that he likes the tradition at USC, saying, “I love that they're consistently good on the football field. It being a private school also stands out. I don't think that their troubles will affect them much.”
If Scarlett does choose USC, he would join recruits Antaun Woods and Jalen Grimble in what would be an extremely talented defensive line class.
USC Still Targeting: Marqise Lee
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Marqise Lee, the 13th-ranked athlete in the class of 2011, considers USC a finalist along with Cal, Oregon, Florida and Miami. Plainly put, the 6'1'', 190-pound, 4-star recruit is exactly what the Trojans need.
Lee provides a well-built frame with plenty of room to physically develop. An extra 10 pounds of bulk would only improve Lee's prospects as a superior safety in the Trojans secondary.
USC Still Targeting: Lamar Dawson
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The 18th-ranked outside linebacker, Dawson is a talented and powerful recruit. Scheduled to make his official visit to USC this weekend, the Trojans remain high on his list.
Dawson, who's also considering Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisville, would join Kent Turene and Tre Madden in a solid class of linebackers. The addition of Dawson would solidify the Trojans' unit in a spot where they lacked depth last season.
USC Still Targeting: Cyrus Kouandjio
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The second-ranked offensive tackle in the nation, Kouandjio could help swing the mood for USC after the Trojans struck out on Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Kouandjio is 6'7'', 325 pounds, and is a top-notch run blocker to match his size. With surprising speed for a player of his size and stature, Kouandjio offers quite a bit of athleticism and versatility in any given system.
The DeMatha Catholic star will make his official visit to USC this month.
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