USC Football Recruiting 2012: Latest News on the Trojans Biggest Targets

The Trojans finished the season as one the hottest teams in the country. Matt Barkley is a Heisman candidate, Robert Woods and Marqise Lee had All-American caliber seasons, Dion Bailey emerged as a prime time defender and the defense improved.

Now, USC must capitalize on this momentum and haul in a solid recruiting class. They're slowed by the scholarship reductions, but the Trojans have assembled a quality 10-man class thus far.

Here's the latest news on their biggest remaining targets.

Stanley Could Drop in from Vegas

The top prospect in Nevada this year is 6'6", 285-pound OL Ronnie Stanley from Las Vegas. Stanley has already tripped to Nebraska and Arkansas and a trip to Notre Dame is desired as well.

Stanley is contemplating visiting USC, Florida State, Auburn, Oklahoma and Miami. Even if he doesn't take an official trip to USC, Stanley could still make the straight forward 3.5-hour drive to Los Angeles from Vegas and see the Trojans on his own.

Simmons Recruiting LB for Troy

Noor Davis recently took a trip to USC and the Stanford commit liked what he saw. Davis seems firm with the Cardinal but he is also taking visits and seeing other programs to be sure.

One player that is in Davis' ear for USC is 4-star OL commit Jordan Simmons. Davis told Scout.com recently that Simmons has been trying to get him to head to USC, as has Scott Starr and Jabari Ruffin.

Dante Fowler Knows Some Inside Info on 2 Trojan Prospects

Dante Fowler, the elite DE prospect from Florida that is committed to Florida State but wears Florida clothes, has some inside knowledge on a couple USC prospects.

The Trojans really want Nelson Agholor, a athletic freak that can play DB and WR and stands 6'2", 180 pounds. Also, USC really likes DE Tyriq McCord a lot, too.

Fowler says Agholor is likely going to Florida or Notre Dame, and McCord could end up at USC or South Carolina or Florida.

USC Leads for 5-Star DT Ellis McCarthy

Earlier in the spring, I thought Ellis McCarthy was a USC lean. But he kind of dispelled that by constantly listing an array of schools of interest.

Now, in the fall, McCarthy indeed claims USC is his leader. Oregon is right on the heels of the Trojans, but staying at home, playing the the three-technique DT spot for Ed Orgeron and fine academics are all appealing to the 6'5", 295-pound McCarthy.

Cal and Washington will get visits, but this looks like a standoff between the Ducks and Trojans.

Murphy To Announce Ecision at U.S. Army Game

Some close to the USC program feel Kyle Murphy, a 6'7", 270-pound OT from nearby San Clemente is the Trojans biggest need. Murphy has a top five of Notre Dame, Florida, USC, Oregon and Stanford.

He tells Scout.com that he likely will decide and announce at the U.S. Army game in early January. Murphy grew up watching USC and had a great time at the Stanford game a few weeks ago.

USC will have to fend off some top schools for the 5-star OT.

Peat Wants To Visit Los Angeles Again

Andrus Peat, the 6'7", 300-pound top OT prospect nationally, has family ties to Nebraska. He took a trip recently to Lincoln and loved it there, as his brother Todd was his host.

Yet Peat, who also has visited Stanford, tells Scout.com that he wants to Visit Florida State and USC. Peat took an unofficial trip to Los Angeles earlier this year and seems to have a good amount of interest in the Trojan program.

A date for the visit is still being determined.

Armstead's Home Being Raided by Coaches

Arik Armstead, the 6'8", 280-pound DE/DT/OT prospect from NorCal, was once a USC commit. His brother Armond is a DE/DT on the USC roster and appears set to return next year.

The latest with Arik is he had Brian Kelly come to his house on Monday, Cal was there on Tuesday and Ed Oregeron and Clay Helton of USC were there on Wednesday.

Rich Rodriguez is trying to set up a visit to Casa de la Armstead, and Washington will be in next week. Armstead also is slated to trip to Texas in the coming weeks.