USC Trojan Recruiting Wish List: Five Players the Trojans Can Really Use
By Rick McMahan
Now that the cap has been put on this disappointing 2009 Trojan football season, it is time to look to the future.
And that future begins on Feb. 2 when high school football players sign on the dotted line to play for their new colleges in 2010.
For USC, if the verbal pledges they have already received mean anything, some critical questions have already been answered.
At wide receiver, the Trojans have already received verbal pledges from some truly fantastic talent including five-star recruits, Robert Woods and Kyle Prater. Dilllon Baxter, an incredible athlete who is listed as a running back but is expected to be moved to wide receiver, is also a five-star athlete.
Consider wide receiver a position well covered.
At tight end, Xavier Grimble has pledged to the Trojans and he is widely considered the No. 1 player at his position in the country. Add to that Randall Telfer, the No. 6 tight end in the nation and the Trojans are also well situated at that position.
Jesse Scroggins has also pledged to the Trojans giving them their understudy to Matt Barkley at the quarterback position.
USC has also received other verbals who will look very nice in the cardinal and gold in years to come.
However, there are real areas of need for the Trojans as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Some of these areas require depth and still others are looking for that breakout athlete who can contribute right away.
With this is mind, here are five recruits that are both considering the Trojans and who USC could really use as they move forward into the 2010 season:
Seantrel Henderson (Offensive Tackle, 6’8″, 338 lbs.)
This mammoth tackle is coveted by every program in the nation. As soon as he walks on some lucky university’s campus, he will be the best player on their offensive line. The Trojans are in the running for Henderson although so are many others.
Jackson Jeffcoat (Defensive End, 6’4″, 233 lbs., 4.5)
Listed as a defensive end but will be moved to linebacker, Jeffcoat, the son of the former Dallas Cowboy linebacker has all the tools. As anyone who watched the Trojans this year knows, USC could really use some depth at the position. Jeffcoat has the Trojans fairly high on his list.
Ronald Powell (Defensive End, 6’4″, 250 lbs., 4.6)
Powell, a local kid, is an monster on the defensive line. Quick and explosive, Powell can dominate both with speed and power. The Trojans are very high on his list with only Florida considered a serious contender for his services.
Lache Seastrunk (Running Back, 5’10”, 183 lbs., 4.4)
Seastrunk, a burner with shifty moves, is probably the best prep running back in the nation. Now that the “stable” of USC running backs has been thinned, the Trojans could really use someone of Seastrunk’s caliber. Although Lache Seastrunk is considering the Trojans, Pete Carroll’s propensity to use multiple backs may hurt their chances of landing this talented runner.
Josh Shirley (Outside Linebacker, 6’2, 220 lbs., 4.55)
Although only listed as a four-star recruit, Shirley has five-star talent. A local kid from Fontana, Shirley has been targeted by the Trojan staff as a “must get.” UCLA and Washington appear to be the Trojans competition for Shirley’s services.
There are many others that the Trojans have their eye on and who are considering USC.
Many of these recruits will wind up playing big roles in the Trojans’ future and there will be hidden jewels in this year’s class.
Having said that, the five recruits listed here represent those recruits who would be expected to have the most significant and immediate impact.
After a disappointing 2009 season for the Trojans, the signing of a few of these recruits would certainly ease the pain of this 2009 and start the 2010 off with a bang.