USC Trojans Football Recruiting: Latest Offers and Kiffin's Quandary

While the NCAA whiles away the days deciding what, if anything, they plan on doing about USC's appeal, head coach Lane Kiffin and his recruiting staff continue to make the best of a very uncertain situation.

As my colleague Bill N. so eloquently described in his recent article concerning how Kiffin must manage USC's scholarships, it is a challenge for a head coach to know how to proceed with offers when you really don't know for sure how many you are starting with.

Complicating matters further is that the Trojans, unlike certain SEC schools which will remain nameless (Alabama, LSU), does not typically engage in the over-signing prep players to scholarships.

So when Kiffin is confronted with the possibility that the NCAA will deny their appeal (and that is a very likely scenario), he knows that 15 scholarships will be all he has to play with in 2011.

But what if they do win their appeal?

Those five extra schollies and the players they may represent could be the difference between a national championship and being an also-ran.

For Kiffin and his head recruiter Ed Orgeron, it is a tough road to hoe.

So what can he do?

Chances are that he will proceed very carefully and do his best not to mislead his potential recruits.

But what he shouldn't do is engage in the practice of over-signing players like those unnamed schools that were referred to earlier.

In the meantime, the Trojans are staying active with offers.

In addition to the previously-featured offers in articles past, USC has extended many more since this writer has focused on other projects.

Since it will take multiple articles to reflect them all, lets get started shall we?

Adolphus Washington

This 5-star (as rated by Scout.com) defensive end is intriguing on many levels.

Big (6'6", 240 lbs.) and with a frame that can easily add more weight, Washington uses his abundant athletic ability to complement his "nose for the ball" instincts.

However, there are a couple of other dynamics at play in the recruitment of Washington.

One, he may want to play basketball at the next level (either in addition to or in place of football). And two, he would like to attend school with his fellow Taft High School (Cincinnati, Ohio) teammate, Dwayne Stanford.

That part is OK since the Trojans have already offered Stanford.

At this time in his recruitment, Washington holds many offers, including those from Alabama, Oregon and Notre Dame, and lists them all as medium in terms of his interest.

Darius Hamilton

Another big out-of-state defensive end, Darius Hamilton is a powerful-and-quick player on the edge who is a constant disruption in his opponents backfield.

A 5-star recruit, Hamilton can also rely on his bloodlines (his father played in the NFL) for his natural football instincts.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, while Hamilton lists all of his potential suitors as "medium" on his dance card, he doesn't appear to have the Trojans in the upper echelon of those he is interested in. 

Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick

As mentioned earlier, Lane Kiffin is in a quandary when it comes to extending offers.

In a normal year, Kiffin would have long ago offered this big (6'5", 250 lbs.) tight end from Rocklin, Calif.

However, the Trojans are well stocked with quality players at his position so that offer has yet to materialize.

Which is a shame because Cope-Fitzpatrick has recently gone on record as saying the Trojans and Cal are the two teams he favors most.

Still, that can change and USC continues to be in serious contact with him.

And let's not forget that a position change could be in the offing as well (offensive line?).

In addition to the Trojans, Cope-Fitzpatrick holds offers from Nebraska and most of the Pac-12 with a bevy of more on the way. 

Yuri Wright

This 4-star (as rated by Scout.com) cornerback has just about everything you could look for in terms of size (6'2", 180 lbs.) and talent.

However, it may be that size that eventually forces him to safety at the next level.

Wherever he winds up, Wright will be a difference maker.

But probably not for the Trojans.

In addition to the offer he holds from USC, Wright has offers from programs such as Alabama, Michigan and Georgia.

But they all will have to beat out Notre Dame for his services and this is where Wright is expected to wind up. 

Justin Shanks

The Trojans will need to start looking to replenish the defensive line and to that end, they are targeting big Justin Shanks from Prattville, Ala. 

At 6'4", 294 lbs., Shanks uses all that size and very quick reflexes to create havoc for opposing offenses.

Rated a 4-star prospect, USC will have to beat out the Crimson Tide which are thought to be a lock for the young man's services.

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OK, that is it for this look at Trojans recruiting.

But by no means does this list represent all of the offers USC has out there.

Not yet profiled are a gaggle of 4-star recruits that the Trojans obviously are very high on.

So high, in fact, that they are offering scholarships that simply won't be there if players they have already offered accept in large numbers.

But offering scholarships that may or may not be there is a reality of recruiting.

What is also a reality is that Kiffin and the Trojans continue to twist in the wind while their fate is determined by a sanctioning body that often only cares about its own image.

And a constant reminder that the NCAA is an institution whose misguided efforts are not only hampering USC, but are also costing prospective Trojans a chance to play for the cardinal and gold.