USC Trojan Football Recruiting: Big D-Tackle Takes in Stanford Game

An interested observer at the Trojans heroic but disappointing loss to Stanford last Saturday evening was a huge defensive tackle USC coaches have had their eyes on all season.

According to an article by Scout.com, five-star Monrovia High School star Ellis McCarthy took in the game with future Trojan linebacker Scott Starr, and he liked what he saw.

Starr said, "I think he is going to heavily consider USC. I was just talking to him about what could be [if McCarthy chose to attend USC].

At 6' 5", 295 lbs., McCarthy is a beast in the middle, and the interior line will be an area the Trojans will have to address soon to bolster depth for the future.

It won't be easy to land him, though.

McCarthy is listed by Scout as a heavy Oregon lean after the big lineman took a visit up north and liked what he saw in Eugene.

Holding a multitude of offers from programs such as Oklahoma and Florida in addition to those mentioned here, McCarthy is likely to wait on making a final decision.

But after witnessing the Trojans' effort against the Cardinal, he will at least have something to think about other than those odd Duck uniforms in the Pacific Northwest.

In the meantime, the Trojans have made other offers and although not recent, here is a look at some of those players receiving a chance to play for the cardinal and gold:

Nick Dawson:

Ranked No. 131 in Rivals.com "Rivals 250," linebacker Nick Dawson brings size and athleticism to a position the Trojans are looking to bolster for the future.

At 6' 3", 228 lbs., Dawson, who hails from Charlotte, N.C., is a tremendously mobile athlete who can pursue from sideline to sideline.

Holding offers from multitudes of programs from across the country, Dawson lists them all as "medium" in terms of his interest.

Trae Elston:

Another position of need for the Trojans is defensive back, and in Trae Elston, Rival.com's No. 218 ranked player, USC hopes to land one of the best in the country.

Possessing excellent size (6' 0", 183 lbs.), Elston also has great speed (4.44 forty) and very good cover skills.

Though competing with programs such as Alabama, Florida State, Clemson and many others, the Trojans are listed as medium on Elston's interest list as is all others who have offered.

Ryan McDaniel:

With the Trojans having to nurse scholarships over the next three years, versatility will be an attractive trait in recruiting prospective Trojans, and in this department, Ryan McDaniel is loaded.

At 6" 1", 220 lbs., McDaniel can play on either side of the ball where he stars for his North High School (Torrance, Ca.) team at both running back as well as middle linebacker.

Rated a three-star prospect by Scout.com, McDaniel holds offers from most of the Pac-12 and calls them all "medium" interest-wise although he did just return from a trip to Washington, which he said he enjoyed very much.

With the Trojans right in the teeth of a brutal part of their schedule, most of the coaching staff's attention is turned to the upcoming opponents.

Also, it must be remembered that USC only has a very limited number of available scholarships to offer this year as they begin the NCAA sanctions regarding those precious "Schollies."

Look for the news on the recruiting front to be slow for the foreseeable future, with things picking up marginally when the season ends.