USC Football Recruiting: How National Signing Day 2011 Affected the Trojans

On one of the most important days of the year for college football schools, the University of Southern California was extremely successful. National Signing Day has become an anticipated annual event all around the country, with high school players having their first opportunity to sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college sports.

USC was ineligible from bowl play last season and will be banned once again next season, being forced to wait until December 2012 at the earliest to play a bowl game. Despite losing at least 10 scholarships this year, USC still managed to pull out the fourth-best recruiting classes in the country. The Trojans signed an impressive eight of the top 150 prospects, according to ESPNU. 

Here are 10 reasons why National Signing Day 2011 mattered to USC.

USC Improved Its Offensive Line

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 14: The USC Trojans offense sets on the line of scrimmage against the Stanford Cardinal on November 14, 2009 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Stanford won 55-21. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

USC had to improve its offensive line and it did, signing Aundrey Walker and Torian White. Pete Carroll,  USC coach from 2001-2009, signed just four offensive linemen in his last three seasons with the team.

Aundrey Walker has all of the assets you would want out of an offensive lineman. At 6’5” and 355 pounds, Walker has the ability to run block and is surprisingly flexible. Walker told the media on Wednesday that USC is his dream school.  

Torian White is not particularly big for the position at 275 pounds, but has quick feet, long arms and is very athletic. 

Lamar Dawson Can Really Play

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Linebackers coach Joe Barry of the USC Trojans on the field during the game with the Virginia Cavaliers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Image

One of the biggest needs for USC was at the linebacker position, and USC seems to have found a special one with Lamar Dawson. Not only does Dawson have the size and physical ability to be play linebacker, but he is such a tremendous athlete that he can play a variety of positions.

In high school, Dawson was successful playing running back or lining up as a slot receiver and catching balls. USC may move him to one of the offensive skill positions if necessary.

USC Landed DT Christian Heyward

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Nelson Rosario #83 of the UCLA Bruins is surrounded by USC Trojans defenders after catching a pass during the second quarter of the NCAA college football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 28, 2009 in Los Ang

USC improved its defensive line, signing defensive tackle Christian Heyward. At 275 pounds, Heyward could raise his game by gaining at least 10 pounds. Still, Heyward is an outstanding pass rusher, and he possesses long arms and a thick frame.

Marquise Lee Is Now a Trojan

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Wide receiver Ronald Johnson #83 of the USC Trojans reaches for the ball over cornerback Chase Minnifield #13 of the Virginia Cavaliers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. USC

USC landed the speedy Marqise Lee, who can play safety, cornerback or wide receiver. Lee was one of the top athletes that had yet to commit before National Recruiting day, but now finds himself on the same roster as his close friends, wide receivers George Farmer and Antwaun Woods, both of whom are also top USC recruits.

Usc Has a Replacement For Barkley

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PASADENA, CA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans celebrates following a touchdown by running back Allen Bradford (not pictured) late in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on December 4, 2010 in Pasadena, Ca

As expected, USC signed No. 3 ranked quarterback Max Wittek. Just like he did at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Wittek will be replacing QB Matt Barkley. Wittek has good foot work and fundamentals and can be an effective system QB. 

USC Just Missed Out on Erique Florence

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver William Wright #19 of the Arizona Wildcats breaks a tackle by strong safety Will Harris #26 of the USC Trojans for a 26-yard gain during the second quarter of the NCAA college football game at the Los Angeles

USC lost out on No. 4 safety Erique Florence, who signed with Auburn University on Wednesday. Florence had been undecided before National Signing Day, but had previously expressed interest in playing at USC and learning from defensive coach Monte Kiffin. In the end, the hard-hitting Florence will be playing with the defending champion Tigers.

USC Has Many Options To Play With

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PALO ALTO, CA - JUNE 22: Allen Simms of the University of Southern California competes in the men's triple jump during the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 22, 2003 at Cobb Track and Angell Field at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Cali

Javonte Slater signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play with USC, not with its football team, but rather with track and field. The reason this is relevant is because Slater committed to USC in July, and was told that he can also continue playing football with the school if he signs with the track team.

UCLA Cannot Compete with USC

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PASADENA, CA - DECEMBER 04: Running back Allen Bradford #21 of the USC Trojans breaks a tackle by Aaron Hester #21 of the UCLA Bruins during the second half at the Rose Bowl on December 4, 2010 in Pasadena, California. USC defeated UCLA 28-14. (Photo by

UCLA, hoping to narrow the gap between itself and USC, failed to do so. Despite the probation that USC is going through, the hope that more top players would choose UCLA over USC was not in the cards. Newly-signed USC OT Torian White actually committed verbally to UCLA last summer, but he made the switch to the Bruins' crosstown rival.

Fortunately for Bruin fans, UCLA did at least improve its ineffective quarterback spot by signing No. 6 ranked QB Brett Hundley. 

Other Than USC, Only Cal Had a Big Day from the Pac-10

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BERKELEY, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Jeff Tedford of the California Golden Bears watches his team warm up before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at California Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/

Cal-Berkeley came out with the No. 15 rated recruiting class in the country. As the only school in the Pac-10 with a great recruiting class other than USC, Cal signed defensive tackles Todd Barr and Viliama Moala, both ranked in the top 100. Cal also notched two other top 150 recruits, safety Avery Walls and offensive lineman Jason Gibson. 

The Rich Got Richer

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (

The SEC came out on top once again. Alabama had the No. 2 recruiting class of any school in the country, next to Florida State. Meanwhile, Auburn, Georgia and LSU had top-10 classes as well. It is not as if the SEC needed any extra help, considering the conference has won the national championship five years in a row.