USC recruiting and everything else

NDinL.A.

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One comes in, one goes out.

And the beat goes on.

There have been 2 or 3 decommitments in the works for awhile now. This was one of them. USC has simply stopped recruiting a few of their lower-level recruits, knowing they'd decommit and open up precious slots for their 5 stars.

But their fans will quickly point to Mora running off players for new recruits LOL while being oblivious to what Sark is doing LOL...
 

NDPhilly

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USC has so many things going for them its unreal. They should never be bad.

-Great Tradition including college and pro weather
-In one of the most talent rich areas in the country
-Great Academics as much as we want to dismiss it
-Fantastic Location (One can argue about south central but its still So Cal) and Weather

Most important however is the fact that they are the only blue blood program ON THE ENTIRE WEST COAST. Unlike the talent rich southeast or Texas USC is the only team on west coast in the top 20 in all time win percentage so they basically have the pick of the litter. Like I said earlier, they should never be bad and i hate it
 

Classic Irish

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USC has so many things going for them its unreal. They should never be bad.

-Great Tradition including college and pro weather
-In one of the most talent rich areas in the country
-Great Academics as much as we want to dismiss it
-Fantastic Location (One can argue about south central but its still So Cal) and Weather

Most important however is the fact that they are the only blue blood program ON THE ENTIRE WEST COAST. Unlike the talent rich southeast or Texas USC is the only team on west coast in the top 20 in all time win percentage so they basically have the pick of the litter. Like I said earlier, they should never be bad and i hate it

And a long, long history of having a successful run and then subsequently winding up on probation. They're one of the most frequently sanctioned programs in CFB history. That's their tradition.
 

Classic Irish

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This list is a few years old but should still be accurate:


• Listed below are the current FBS schools that have been placed on probation, in which the school’s football team was somehow involved. It’s important to keep in mind that violations in other sports often bring attention to a school’s entire athletic program. Sometimes the football violations paled in comparison to violations in other sports, but if the football program was involved I still listed them (i.e. Baylor’s probation from 2005-09).
College Football (FBS) Programs That Have Been Sanctioned the Most
Note: The count includes seasons not yet completed (i.e. USC 2012-2013).
Rk School Seasons Sanctioned
1 Southern Methodist (TX) 17 7
2 Southern California 15 6
3 Auburn (AL) 11 4
4t Alabama 10 3
4t Michigan St. 10 3
4t Oklahoma 10 5
7t Colorado 9 5
7t Illinois 9 5
7t Texas A&M 9 4
7t Wisconsin 9 4
11t Arizona St. 8 4
11t California 8 3
11t Cincinnati (OH) 8 4
11t Kansas 8 4
11t Kansas St. 8 4
11t Miami (FL) 8 3
11t Oklahoma St. 8 2
11t South Carolina 8 3
19t Florida Intl 7 2
19t Houston (TX) 7 3
19t Memphis (TN) 7 3
19t Mississippi 7 3
19t Mississippi St. 7 3
19t Ohio St. 7 3
19t Texas Tech 7 3
Notes
Since 1953, the year the NCAA instituted penalties, Southern Methodist has spent 29% of their seasons on probation. By 2013, Southern California will have spent 25% of their seasons on probation.
 

Legacy

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Apologies if this has been posted previously.

During sanctions, USC has relied on walkons for depth. Not meeting their total sanctioned scholarship limits last year, they were able to award two juniors walkons scholarships for 2014 (George Katrib, WR and Ryan Dillard, CB). Both scholarships are expected to renewed this year. A senior walkon, Nathan Guertler, was also awarded a scholarship for 2014.

Matt Boermeester, K, who was a blueshirt last year has been awarded a scholarship this year, counting towards the class of twenty-five, which is why their 2015 class will be twenty-four total.

Football Recruiting: What is a Blueshirt?
 
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Ironman8

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Was committed to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USC?src=hash">#USC</a> for months till this week. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/COUGFANcom">@COUGFANcom</a> BREAKING: Four-star CB Taeon Mason commits to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wazzu?src=hash">#Wazzu</a>.</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/559497456908394496">January 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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BoredIrish

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Was committed to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USC?src=hash">#USC</a> for months till this week. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/COUGFANcom">@COUGFANcom</a> BREAKING: Four-star CB Taeon Mason commits to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wazzu?src=hash">#Wazzu</a>.</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/559497456908394496">January 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Wasnt gonna play with Adoree and Biggie there anyways. No loss.
 

Legacy

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Taking a full twenty-five with the Class of 2015, USC will still come up short of a full roster of eighty-five. USC is expected to reach seventy-nine scholarship players in 2015, though that includes three walk-ons awarded scholarships. With another full complement of twenty-five for the Class of sixteen and if they lose only two more players to attrition - medical, transfers, early entrants to the draft, other - USC will be able to fill all eighty-five scholarships next year. More attrition than two will leave them short of eighty-five.

Penn State should be able to get to eight-five or just short with the Class of 2015 commits.

Ohio State's scholarship sanctions limiting them to eighty-two for three years occurred one year after USC's sanctions. They should also have a full complement of eighty-five with this year's recruiting class.
 

PANDFAN

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Five-star DL Rasheem Green picks USC: <a href="http://t.co/5skjhRmeE4">http://t.co/5skjhRmeE4</a> <a href="http://t.co/vLx5oBhqla">pic.twitter.com/vLx5oBhqla</a></p>— SB✯Nation CFB (@SBNationCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB/status/563054619329585153">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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and so it begins
 

tko

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We should've removed USC from the schedule and kept Michigan, LOL.
 

PANDFAN

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Two blue chips in four minutes for USC. LB John Houston: <a href="http://t.co/mQTkLW8oKv">http://t.co/mQTkLW8oKv</a> <a href="http://t.co/5rQ2I1UREZ">pic.twitter.com/5rQ2I1UREZ</a></p>— SB✯Nation CFB (@SBNationCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB/status/563055851922292737">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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ND4LIFE

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The rubbers are cleaning up! I think I just saw Happy hand Houston's Mom some Escalade keys!
 
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PANDFAN

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Snoop said he's throwing away all of his USC drawers. Only in recruiting.</p>— Jeremy Crabtree (@jeremycrabtree) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremycrabtree/status/563059250151575552">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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PANDFAN

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>2016 Top WR Tyler Vaughns has excellent visit to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USC?src=hash">#USC</a>
Could the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trojans?src=hash">#Trojans</a> be a top pick?
<a href="http://t.co/r39TUEXev9">http://t.co/r39TUEXev9</a> <a href="http://t.co/5XdAihYbrX">pic.twitter.com/5XdAihYbrX</a></p>— Rivals.com (@Rivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rivals/status/564853843934973952">February 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
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PANDFAN

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Trouble in paradise? Two <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rivals250?src=hash">#Rivals250</a> Cal. WRs have already cut USC from their list. <a href="http://t.co/esvUBfCpgM">http://t.co/esvUBfCpgM</a> <a href="http://t.co/JOOjsts0Sl">pic.twitter.com/JOOjsts0Sl</a></p>— Rivals.com (@Rivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rivals/status/572441446969581568">March 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
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NDinL.A.

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Hearing a key player dismissed from team..that's all the info

Bryce Dixon...they are beyond thin at TE if it's permanent. At this point, no one knows, but he was definitely dismissed from the team. He was at the final winter workout, but was a no-go today at their first spring practice. Possible student conduct issue...
 

MNIrishman

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Bryce Dixon...they are beyond thin at TE if it's permanent. At this point, no one knows, but he was definitely dismissed from the team. He was at the final winter workout, but was a no-go today at their first spring practice. Possible student conduct issue...

Assumiing it IS permanent, how strong do you think SC will be this year?
 

NDinL.A.

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Assumiing it IS permanent, how strong do you think SC will be this year?

Very strong, and still very talented. Two things have me massively skeptical about their lofty preseason rankings:

1. Tim Drevno did wonders with that O-line (4 freshmen starting at one point), and he left to take the Michigan job. That's going to hurt them IMHO.

2. Sark is still their coach, and I'm just not sold on him. Yes, they wiped the floor with ND. A depleted, gutted ND team. He gets credit for that. But just the week before, they got absolutely waxed by UCLA. And then the next game, a bowl game against a mediocre Nebraska team without a head coach, they squeaked out a 3 point victory in which their defense got torched once again. And Sark will continue to stick by his (IMO) mediocre/bad defensive coordinator.

They could still be great (like I said, tons of talent returning, and a QB that should be at his peak), but I think there is major bust potential next year. They won't sneak up on anyone, as their high ranking and name-brand (everyone gets up for schools like USC and Notre Dame) will have everyone's attention, and they will be the hunted, even more than normal.
 

Legacy

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USC was fucked - by the NCAA - with their sanctions which far exceeded anything given to Ohio State, Penn State, Miami, or any of the SEC schools.

Sure, part of it was due the arrogance of their athletic department and coaching. lack of monitoring, and self-interest of a couple of players. Lack of institutional control did apply. But the same infraction occurred at Ohio State - or many of the SEC schools in the past. Right, Auburn is a model of institutional compliance and control.

They are one of the few schools that can recover from such excess. In the end, they deserve to flip the finger at the NCAA. They'll still be significantly under the eighty-five scholarship limit, have some depth issues, burned more redshirts than they wanted, yet will field a very competitive and talented team.

The NCAA favors high-profile teams when they dole out sanctions? Not in USC's case - and not in the Pac 12.
 
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BobbyMac

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SC is going to get after it this year. Kessler may be the most underrated player in the country. I'm glad they go to South Bend this year with him. 2016 hopefully will be a down year as they turn it over to a new QB and lose both of their safeties - McQuay and Cravens to the draft. I'm not sold on Max Browne and everyone else is young at QB. Watch out for Sam Darnold down the road. He's got... it.

.
 

ResLife Hero

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Starting USC LB Anthony Sarao out for rest of spring <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/collegefootball?src=hash">#collegefootball</a> <a href="http://t.co/3sDc4Oo1bV">http://t.co/3sDc4Oo1bV</a></p>— CollegeFootballTalk (@CFTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFTalk/status/573901405930434562">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
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NDinL.A.

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SC is going to get after it this year. Kessler may be the most underrated player in the country. I'm glad they go to South Bend this year with him. 2016 hopefully will be a down year as they turn it over to a new QB and lose both of their safeties - McQuay and Cravens to the draft. I'm not sold on Max Browne and everyone else is young at QB. Watch out for Sam Darnold down the road. He's got... it.

.

McQuay has been a massive disappointment so far for them. If he were to go pro he would have to make a serious leap, or he'd be getting some incredibly bad advice.

Cravens didn't play safety at all last year (when told he would be a LB, he went in the locker room and quit the team, before changing his mind) and is slated for OLB again this year.

So I'd expect both their starting safeties this year to be back in 2016, but I agree that Cravens will go pro...
 

ResLife Hero

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oklahoma TE Taylor McNamara transferring toMichiganUSC <a href="http://t.co/QAfBs3Nz0g">http://t.co/QAfBs3Nz0g</a></p>— CollegeFootballTalk (@CFTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFTalk/status/580188446133653504">March 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
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