to surviving the scholarship limitations from sanctions. Here's why.
With our current roster, and the success and talent gained from the past two recruiting classes, USC will have plenty of talent to compete at the highest level in 2012, 2013 and 2014...
2015 is the season where the impact of limited scholarships will be felt the most IF there are injuries, transfers, academic casualties and average recruiting classes with the next two classes. If there is a lot of attrition between now and the 2015 season coupled with average reccruits, SC will have to rely on true freshmen from the 2015 recruiting class to fill key spots. The 2015 recruiting class with be the first class post sanctions where we can bring in 25 players.
If SC is able to fill the 18 spots available from the 2013 recruiting class with 4 and 5 star talent across the board at the positions of greatest need, which are DL, QB, RB and DB, and most of those players are contributing as starters by 2015, then we will not skip a beat and will continue to compete at the highest level. Conversely, if we have a lot of attrition, and the 2013 class ends up being overrated and does not contribute heavily within 3 years, then the 2015 season will be difficult, because SC will be depending on a lot of underclassmen that are either true sophomores, true freshmen or redshirt freshmen. Not a great recipe for success
So I will be paying close attention to this next class - the 2013 class. It has to start by bringing in 4 star talent with the spring early entrants. We must have at least one top QB, and two if Scroggins leaves the program between now and next LOI day. we must have two top shelf running backs. The most critical position group is the DL. We MUST bring in two top DT's and two top DE's. These are absolute musts. We also need to bring in two safeties and two CB's. Everything else is gravy. We should target the top three OL, probably two OT's and an OG. three will be fine. we probably only need one linebacker, but we will probably take two if Hutchings and Cravens commit. I think we should pass on FB and TE for 2013. We can always get the best at those positions the following year. In 2014 go after the top TE's on the west coast.
If we can get mostly 4 star talent across the board from the 2013 class filling are most critical positions of need, then we should be fine moving forward and not miss a beat in competing for NC's. But even if we get a top 5 class, the class has to produce and we have to avoid any major attrition from injuries, academics casualties and transfers. That will be the key.