USC Closing on its #1 Class

[BigBalls]

Our first top ranked class since 2007. Ouch. Good article describing how Riley and Cohen went about identifying and interviewing a GM. The class is costing $9mill.

Good read, take a few minutes to scan thru it and you will feel better about the future at USC.

Chad Recruiting Bowman :

“He told Bowman and his family that USC would be a good, eight- to nine-win team in 2025, but that he didn’t expect the Trojans’ rebuild to reach its full potential until 2026 or 2027. Over the next few months, Bowden impressed upon the Bowmans how integral their son was to that vision.

Bowman committed to USC in May, swayed by the blend of optimism and realism. Before the Trojans’ Nov. 15 win over Iowa, his father found Bowden on the sideline and pulled him aside.

“I said, ‘Chad, everything that you’ve told us is coming true,'” Kirk Bowman recalled. “There’s a level of reassurance with that as a parent. Like, ‘This guy had a vision and it’s really happening here.'”

 

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recruiting/story/_/id/47167538/usc-trojans-football-recruiting-early-signing-period-signing-no-1-class

[Butkus51]

Thanxs Bruddah Ballss for sharing dat good article.

GM Chad Bowden and his R staff was a Godsend. Freaken C.LR and his R staff were bad recruiters. This #1 2026 recruiting class is due to GM Bowden. They did a very good job with Calif, but he missed out way too many of the top players. I rate his Calif. recruiting only a B.

Out of Calif top 25, Bowden got only 7/25 players = 28%. Out of the top 11, he got only One = 9% (not good). Next year he must get at least 50% to 60% of Calif top 25. and beat Oregon, Ohio St, UDub, Texas and leave them the scraps. Heck with C. Kiffin and most likely C.Orgeron at LSU, look out for LSU stealing our top CIF players.

Misses.

*1. Chris Henry, Wr, 5*, Mater Dei, Ohio St

*2. Richard Wesley, Edge, 5*, Sierra Canyon, Texas

*4. Kodi Green, OL, 4*, Mater Dei, UDub

*5. Brandon Aririgton, DB, 4*, San Diego, Tx AM

*6. Khary Wilder, DL, 4*, J.Serra-Gardena, Ohio St

*7. Ryder Lyons, QB, 4*, Folsom, BYU

*8. Davon Benjamin, DB, 4*, Oaks Christians, Oregon

*9. Tommy Tofi, OL, 4*, Sacramento, Oregon

*10. Brian Bonner, RB, 4*, Valencia-Santa Clarita, UDub

*11. Havon Finney, DB, 4*, Sierra Canyon, LSU.

Got. #3. Mark Bowman, TE, 5*, Mater Dei, USC

Dang, Ohio St, Oregon, UDub got 2 players each from Calif. top 11.

PS.  USC and GM Bowden did very good from #12 to ##50.  Got good, solid 4* and underrated 3* players.  I feel a couple of the 3* are 4* players.

• This reply was modified 1 week ago by Butkus51.
• This reply was modified 1 week ago by Butkus51.

[BigBalls]

Nice list Bruddah, we missed on some good ones. Wilder, Finney, Arrington, Tofi. USC has a long way to go in “building a fence” around California.

[Java]

Bowden took over January 21.  After the second signing day (ok, JUST before) so he could have no impact on the 2025 class.

But for 2026, between Feb 1 and May 30, he signed 21 players.  That is a massive haul.

You know recruiting.  These kids are being coddled since the 8th grade.  By the time they finish their Junior years, which is when this was, the top players all have relationships with coaches.  That’s really hard to break.

Bowden did a great job where he could.  Riley had done a horrible job with the Trinity league and CA in general.  I would not agree that Riley was a BAD recruiter, I think he was an old school recruiter who did well with transfers and despite his rep wasn’t adapting to the new era $$$$$$$.  Maybe that’s on USC, I don’t know.

Bowden did a great job with this class.  I am surprised he made the inroads he did.  He got all the kids who were truly available and flipped kids like Mosley and others.

I would love to have had Chris henry.  I think that was a case of to little too late.

Arrington was a case of a long relationship that USC couldn’t make up in a short time.

Wesley made it obvious it was an auction.

 

I think with a lot of top CA kids it’s a bidding war.  USC appears to have had $9 million and decided that 1-2 5 stars and 20 4 stars and then 10 3 stars was what they could get for $9 million.  I am guessing they might have been able to get 5 five stars and maybe 8-10 4 stars with the same money and just opted to go for numbers and sort it out.

 

2027 recruiting will be interesting.  I doubt the class is as big.  i think USC only had 13 Juniors on the roster this year, and will have even less if Lane, Lemon and Maiava leave.  So the class will be small.  Perhaps count on the usual 8-10 guys to transfer out.  So they may be looking at 15-20 guys.  That might allow them to go after the more premium players this time around.  Like you I noticed that with all the hype surrounding the CA kids, I felt that they still didn’t recruit them great and there were still a lot of national recruits they brought in.

 

If this stuff takes a few years, then maybe they were announcing their intentions.  Selling the concept and we will see more local kids coming up.

 

 

[PasadenaTrojan]

Really nice summary Butkus51. Insightful.

we missed a lot on local talent but fortunately we have replaced with elite out of state dudes too. Pepe and his teammate, Boobie, Hill, Utah OL and a few others. Cant get everyone and/or have a 45 person class.

in addition, I am worried that CA isn’t producing NFL all pros anymore. And I don’t like it at all. Hope this changes soon. Point being losing top CA guys hasn’t been as detrimental as we feared? Foreman. Malachi Nelson. Raleek. Flowe. CJ Carr. Way too many busts. McCoy was solid college player at least but not a program maker.  Then again CJ Stroud worked out well for osu.

we didn’t recruit Carson S from Westlake or he wasn’t as highly regarded. Best LBer From area in last 5-10 years. Without question. Then Anthony Barr. Then Cushing (sorry NJ) and Matthews. 4 studs in 20 years. Not sure where Kendricks played in HS. Thats 5.

makai lemon blowing up this year has been fun to see. I want locals to shine. We need it.

it comes down to evaluation (75%) and development (25%).  As we know it’s a numbers game. Being able to move past busts is part of it.

on paper this is a GREAT USC class. A great one. Lfg!

• This reply was modified 6 days, 17 hours ago by PasadenaTrojan.
• This reply was modified 6 days, 17 hours ago by PasadenaTrojan.
• This reply was modified 6 days, 17 hours ago by PasadenaTrojan.
• This reply was modified 6 days, 16 hours ago by PasadenaTrojan.

[Butkus51]

Bruddah Pasadena,  See this list below, reason I’m Pro Calif. FB players.  Calif. produces top talent every year.

Bryce Young, QB, Bama, 2020, AA, Heisman

Jayden Daniels, QB, ASU,, LSU, 2019, AA, Heisman

CJ Stoud, QB, Ohio St, 2020, AA, Heisman runner up

DJ Uiagallelei, QB, Clemson, 2020, All ACC

Jake Brown, QB, UDub, 2017, AA, All PAC 12

Najee Harris, RB, Bama, 2017, AA, All SEC, Heisman finalist

Kayvon Thibodeaux,De, Ducks, 2019, AA, All PAC 12

Brock Bowers, TE, UGA, 2021, AA, All SEC

Vontaze Burfict, LB, 2019, ASU, AA, All PAC 12

Wyatt Davis, OL, Ohio St., 2017, AA, All BIG 10

Jonah Williams, OL, Bama, 2017, AA, All SEC

Jaelan Phillips, DE, UCLA/Miami, 2017, AA, All PAC 12

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Mich/UCLA 2019, All BIG 10 & PAC 12

Drake Metcalf, OL, Stanford, 2019, AA, All PAC 12

Clark Phillips, DB, Utah, 2020, AA, All PAC 12

Boss Tagaloa, DL, UCLA, 2019, All PAC 12

Henry To’otoo, LB, Tenn/Bama, 2019, All SEC

Elias Ricks, DB, LSU, Bama, 2020, All SEC

Justin Flowe, LB, Ducks, 2020, All PAC 12

Desean Jackson, WR, Cal, 2015, AA, All PAC 12

Arik Armstead, DL, Ducks, 2012, AA, All PAC 12

Joe Mixon, RB, OU, 2014, All BIG 12

Royce Freeman, RB, Ducks, 2014, AA, All PAC 12

DeAntohny Thomas, RB, Ducks, 2011, AA, All PAC 12

Kyle Murphy, OL, Stanford, 2015, AA, All PAC 12

Eddie Vanderdos, DL, UCLA 2015, All PAC 12

Kahilil McKenzie, DL, Tenn, 2015, AA, All SEC

 

Most about 95% of these players listed below were AA or All League.

*2019.  Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA, Mykael Wright, DB, Ducks, Mase Funa, DE, Ducks, Jacob Bandes, OL, UDub, Trent McDuffie, DB, UDub, Jaiden Woodbey, DB, FSU, Danny Holmies, DB, UCLA

*2020.  CJ Stoud, QB, Ohio St, Kendall Milton, RB, UGA, Clark Phillips, DB, Utah, Jalen McMillian, WR, UDub, Jermaine Burton, WR, UGA/Bama, Kourt Williams, LB, Ohio St, Tobin Phillips, DL, Stanford, Drake Metcalf, OL, Stanford

*2021.  Troy Franklin, WR, Ducks, Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas, Jay Toia, DL, Ucla, Byron Cardwell, RB, Ducks, Keanu Williams, DL, Ohio St

*2022.  T.Mac-MacMillian, WR, Mason Graham, DL, Mich,  Zona, Earnest Green, OL, UGA, David Bailey, LB/DE Stanford, Grace Halton, DL, OU, Hero Kanu, DL, Ohio St, CJ Williams, WR, USC/Wisconsin,

*2013.  Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tenn, Matayo Uiagalelei, DL, Ducks, Rodrick Pleasant, DB, Cucks, Roderick Robinson, RB, UGA, Collins Acheampong, DL, Miami, Levictius Sua, LB, Zona, Cameron Brandt, DL, Mich., Jurrion Dickey, WR, Ducks.

*2024.  Julian Sayin, QB, Bama/Ohio St, Elijah Brown, QB, Stanford, Brandon Baker, OL, Texas, Aydin Breland, DL, Ducks, Jericho Johnson, DL, Ducks, DeAndre Carter, OL, Auburn,  Manesse Itele, OL, Florida St, Kingston V.Asa, LB, ND, Nate Frazier, RB, UGA, Mark Schroller, OL, UCLA,

*2025.  Still in progress.

Nasir Wyatt, LB, Ducks, Jordon Davison, RB, Texas/Ohio St, Jackson Lloyd, OL, Bama, Matt Johnson, DE, Ducks, Alhasson Iddrissu, DE, Minnesota, Abduall Sanders, LB, Bama, John Mills, OL, Texas

 

 

 

 

[Butkus51]

The 1st list dat I posted were top Calif. players dat went to other schools.  This 2nd list are top Calif players dat USC got.  Went back to around 2015.  When you combine the 1st and 2nd list, it really shows how much FB talent Calif. produces each year.  C.LR  ignored Calif., dat was baffling and just stupid.  Glad GM Bowden and his R staff placed Calif players as a priority again.  Smart man…  Cheers

Adoree Jackson, DB/WR, AA, PAC 12

Ju Ju S.Smith, WR, AA, PAC 12

Sam Darnold, QB, AA, PAC 12

Armon St. Brown, WR, AA, PAC 12

Drake London, WR, AA, PAC 12

Alijah Vera Tucker, OL, AA, PAC 12

Michael Pittman, WR, AA, PAC 12

Damian Mama, OL, AA, PAC 12

Raheen Green, DL, AA, PAC 12

Calen Bullock, DB, AA, PAC 12

Tuli Tuapulotu, DL, AA, PAC 12

Steven Mitchell, WR, PAC 12

Tyler Vaughs, WR, PAC 12

Cam Smith, LB, PAC 12

Uchema Nwosu, LB, PAC 12

Viane Talmoaivoao, OL, PAC 12

Andrews Vorhees, OL, PAC 12

Darreus Rogers, WR, PAC 12

Iman Marshall, DB, PAC 12

Chris Hawkins, DB, PAC 12

Steven Carr, RB, PAC 12

Marvin Tell, DB, PAC 12

Brett Neilon, OL, PAC 12

Chad Wheeler, OL, PAC 12

Deontay Burnett, WR, PAC 12

Christian Rector, DE, PAC 12

Nico Fala, OL, PAC 12

Olaijah Griffin, DB, PAC 12

Drake Jackson, DL, PAC 12

Justin Dedich, OL, PAC 12

Jalen McKenzie, OL, PAC 12

Greg Johnson, DB, PAC 12

Jonah Monaheim, OL, PAC 12**

 

Top Calif. players: 5* to 4*, somehow were productive but did not make PAC 12..

JT Daniels, QB, National Player of Year, 5*

Bru McCoy, WR, 5*

Kyle Ford, WR, 5*

Korey Foreman,DE,  #1 national rank, 5*

Jack Jones, DB, 5*

Soloman Tuliaupuou, LB, 4*

Isaac Taylor Stewart, DB, 4*

Ceyair Wright, DB, 4*

Domani Jackson, DB, 5*

Miller Moss, QB, 4*

Raesjon Davis, LB, 4*

Prophet Brown, DB, 4*

Raymond Scott, LB, 4*

Jaylin Smith, DB, 4*

Mason Murphy, OL, 4*

Anthony Beaver, DB, 4*

Max Williams, DB, 4*

Chase Williams, DB, 4*

 

[PasadenaTrojan]

Good amount of good football players 👍

lacking in difference makers at LOS no?

[PasadenaTrojan]

I may have to reconsider my position. 😂

That is a lot of talent that USC didn’t get.

All league is very respectable and I will happily take it but not a ton of nfl stars or even highly productive nfl players. That is a very high standard on my part. I admit it.

JD Daniels or  CJ Stroud would have been nice. We took JT Daniels in 2018. Missed those guys and young in 2019 and 2020. We did get Caleb.

thibodeaux is bordering on bust territory

Brock Bowers is clearly a stud. NorCal kid

Jaelyn Phillips is a very good NFL player. Sucked at ucla? then Starred at miami

Najee or Charbonnet or Mixon or Freeman would have been nice

Damn USC has missed a lot on LBers RBs and DL.
crushed it with WRers

 

 

[PasadenaTrojan]

LFG!!!! ✌️

and Merry Fing Christmas Chad Bowman!!!

• This reply was modified 1 week ago by PasadenaTrojan.

[PasadenaTrojan]

[Butkus51]

Nice graphics Bruddah Pasadena.  Sorry the R services got Trent Mosley rankings wrong #33, freaken joke.  Mosley is Top 10 Wr, maybe higher.

Elbert Hill, CB, he plays Wr too.  Seen his HL tape, he’s an awesome  Wr/slot.  Very fast & athletic.   I say play him both ways just like Adoree Jackson.

I think 9-10 of these players will play next year as true Fr.

[Author]

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