USC Football Recruiting: Players off the Board and New Offers

Though the Trojans are in the midst of their all-important fall camp, the recruiting department still has their minds on business as usual.

While Ed Orgeron drills his defensive line in fundamentals, he and his staff still have their eyes squarely set on the future and not only for high school talent ready in 2012, but beyond as well.

In fact, the bulk of new offers made are to players who will graduate in 2013.

However, a couple of offers were made to 2012 studs, and one of them is a big-time running back who absolutely loves the Trojans.

Still, not all of USC's recruiting news is of the positive nature.

At least six 5-star (as rated by Scout.com) recruits that the Trojans have offered have either given their verbal to other programs or have removed them from their list of potential programs to sign with.

Tommy Schutt, the big defensive tackle from Illinois, has given Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions his verbal pledge and he seems pretty solid with his commitment.

Meanwhile, outside linebacker Kwon Alexander, defensive tackle Quay Evans and defensive ends, Adolphus Washington, Darius Hamilton and Jordan Jenkins have all removed the Trojans from their list of possible schools to sign with.

Typically, that kind of news would be negative for the Trojans but this year, USC has already received at least nine verbal pledges and with the reduced schollies available, the sting is not quite so severe.

Now let's take a look at those recent Trojan scholarship offers:

Keivarae Russell

Scout.com's No. 4 overall player in the Northwest Top 100 is a super athletic, albeit undersized, running back from Everett, WA.

Keivarae Russell, a 5'11", 170-lb speedster, will need to put on some weight at the next level but it should be no problem as he has both the frame and the desire to support it.

Russell also plays defensive back, and that versatility makes him even more valuable to a program like USC who will looking to "mix and match" players to positions as they attempt to get through the next three years of scholarship reductions.

The best news of all for USC fans is that Russell has gone on record as saying the Trojan offer was the one he has been waiting for.

Joining USC on Russell's "most interested list," is Boise State, Cal, Washington and Notre Dame. 

Jeremy Liggins

This offer is kind of a head-scratcher because Jeremy Liggins is a quarterback and the Trojans, with three fine young prospects already in the fold, seem pretty well set at the position.

However, there are not many 6'4", 260-lb gunslingers out there on the prep scene so perhaps Orgeron and crew are offering on potential alone.

Rated a 3-star prospect by Scout.com, Liggins, who hails from Oxford, MS, is still raw and will need much attention if he is to succeed major college ball but as stated before, his size can't be coached.

Still, Liggins won't be a Trojan anyway when all is said and done.

He lists Alabama, LSU, Mississippi and Mississippi State as his favorites.

Kelvin Taylor

Taylor, the son of former NFL great Fred Taylor, is the first of the 2013 prospects to be featured here and this running back is going to be special.

At 5'9", 200 lbs, Taylor is strong enough to run inside and fast enough to break one on the outside.

He is a winner as well, leading his high school team in Glades, FL, to a state championship as a freshman where he rushed for over 200 yards in the title game.

Expect to hear Taylor's name a lot next year as he will be one of the hottest prep players in the nation.

As of now, Taylor already holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami and Florida State in addition to the USC offer and he calls them all "medium" in terms of his interest.

Richard Benjamin

Trojan fans probably wonder what USC needs with yet another wide receiver but this kid is special.

At 6'1", 180 lbs, fast and athletic, Benjamin, who hails from Tampa, FL, is going to be dominant at the next level.

Though the Trojans are well stocked at the position right now, by the time 2014 rolls around (after a redshirt year), USC will probably be in need for a receiver.

Benjamin holds offers already from over 16 programs including most of the major national powers and lists them all even interest-wise.

Michael Hutchings

One of the fastest-rising 2013 players is outside linebacker Michael Hutchings from powerhouse high school, De La Salle in Northern California.

Hutchings, who is 6'1", 210 lbs and still growing, combines great athleticism and excellent desire in a complete package that has coaches coming far and wide to solicit his services.

As for his college choice at this early stage, Hutchings holds double-digit offers from major programs such as Miami and Michigan and calls them all "even" but it is interesting to note that he has recently said that USC was a "dream offer."

Trey Johnson

Another 2013 outside linebacker that is intriguing for both his size (6'1", 208 lbs) and athleticism.

Johnson, who lives in Lawrenceville, GA, has more than a dozen offers already and so far, is high on the Auburn Tigers.

As the Trojans prepare to start their 2011 season, look for the offers to slow down a bit at least until the high school football season starts.

After the prep season begins to unwind and players begin to assert themselves, more offers will be extended, especially for 2013 where the Trojans will be looking to get a head start on crafting the second year of their reduced scholarship class.

Meanwhile, USC has their hands full with 2011 and their fans won't mind a bit if that takes all of their immediate attention.

Especially if that attention results in wins on the field of play.