USC Football Recruiting: Clearing out the Offer List and Other Idle Musings

Although the headlines are made in early February when prep football stars sit down smiling to sign their letters of intent, the foundations for those signatures are laid in the quiet months before when college recruiting departments pound the pavement searching for talent to put their programs over the top.

Relationships are built in this time before the bright lights and cameras are turned on and though many high school football players are swayed by last minute efforts by coaches, the vast majority sign with those coaches who have nurtured these players and showed they cared long before the signature was requested.

And so it is with USC's recruiting department headed by Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron.

Though operating with the shackles of a looming scholarship reduction courtesy of the sanctions handed down by the NCAA in the Reggie Bush case, Kiffin, Orgeron and company are attempting to build those relationships today that will turn to recruiting gold in February.

It is also important to note that the majority of these offers are being extended to players who will be seniors this year, and with this last year of high school maturity comes a dramatic increase in ability as they assume leadership roles for their prep teams.

Because of this, the "star" ratings that recruiting services assign to high school players often lags behind until the season starts and these erstwhile players have a chance to show what they can do on the gridiron.

Which makes the early efforts in recruiting all the more critical.

With this mind, lets take a look at the latest round of scholarship offers to prospective USC Trojans:

Jordan Jenkins:

Though still somewhat raw, Jordan Jenkins has all the tools needed to be a dominant player at the next level.

Exceptionally athletic, Jenkins has the body and talent to excel in college ball although it may not be at the defensive end position he plays at the prep level. Instead, he may wind up at the linebacker position, perhaps in the middle.

At this point he is rated a 4-star prospect by Scout.com but look for that to change if Jenkins builds on his successful junior campaign.

Already in possession of more than a dozen scholarship offers from most of the national powers, the Hamilton, GA. native lists them all as "medium" in terms of his interest.

James Ross

Speaking of raw but talented players, James Ross fits the bill.

With the athleticism to roam sideline to sideline, Ross fills the inside linebacker position with a ferocity that belies his relative inexperience at the position.

Hailing from Orchard Lake, MI., Ross has been assigned a 4-star rating rating by Scout.com and holds more than a dozen scholarship offers from a variety of national powers including Notre Dame and Ohio State and lists his interest in them all as medium.

Travis Blanks

Possessing prototypical size (6'1", 198 lbs.) and talent, Travis Blanks is one of the most coveted safeties in the nation.

As a junior, the Tallahassee, FL., native used his 4.5 forty speed to snare four interceptions and make 86 tackles as he generally made life miserable for whoever had the temerity to enter his area of the field.

Blanks is also a student of the game and dedicated to all facets of learning as evidenced by his 3.4 core gpa.

At this point, Blanks holds more than 15 scholarships offers from around the nation and lists no favorites at this time.

Dalvin Tomlinson

The Trojans have been recruiting Georgia hard this year and the trend continues with Dalvin Tomlinson who calls McDonough, GA. home.

Tomlinson, a 6'3", 270 lb. defensive end, has the body to accommodate more weight and stands a chance of being moved to the interior at the next level.

If he does move, he has the athleticism to be a real force on the inside.

Tomlinson currently holds several offers from national powers including Auburn and Alabama and lists them all as medium in terms of his interest.

And so it goes.

Seeds that are planted in March and April bear fruit in February.

For Kiffin and Orgeron, master gardeners of prep football recruiting, the work begins early and doesn't end until the signature is on the letter of intent.

And if years past is any indicator, Trojan fans expect another bountiful harvest.