USC currently has just five commits from a 2019 class that will ultimately include between 20-25 members. It's still a bit early -- although, with the new signing period in effect, it's no longer that early.
Three of the five commits are three-star prospects while a fourth is an unrated punter. For the sake of comparison, not one of USC's 18 commits from the 2018 class was less than a four-star, though a few of the early commits that later de-committed were.
As most of you know, USC's average star rating for signees was a national-best 4.28 in 2018, and the Trojans have ranked in the top five in six of the past seven years (with Sark's initial, 11th hour class being the lone exception). This staff, like the ones before it, have proven to be great recruiting finishers, if not always good starters.
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Most players who sign with USC are obviously four-stars. But I was surprised to see that USC had more than three times as many three-stars (26) as five-stars (8) from 2014-17. In 2018, USC brought in five five-stars and no three-stars. While each of the five-stars has been productive (albeit, to differing degrees), only about a fourth of the three-stars has made a notable contribution on the field.
Here’s the list of three- and five-stars from the previous four signing classes who have spent the majority of their careers playing for Clay Helton.
Five-stars:
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Adoree’ Jackson
Rasheem Green
John Houston
Biggie Marshall
Porter Gustin
Jack Jones
Tyler Vaughns
Three-stars:
Jordan Austin
Malik Dorton
Uchenna Nwosu
Ajene Harris
John Plattenburg
Don Hill
Jalen Greene
Deontay Burnett
Kevin Scott
Christian Rector
Cole Smith
Isaac Whitney
Daniel Imatorbhebhe
Matt Fink
Jordan Iosefa
Liam Jimmons
Cary Angeline
Jamel Cook
Keyshawn Young
Josh Fatu
Jalen McKenzie
Erik Krommenhoek
Jacob Lichtenstein
Tayler Katoa
Je’Quari Godfrey
Brandon Pili
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Out of the 53 4-stars that USC signed between 2014-17, only 17 of them (32 percent) have been productive to this point. Granted, a lot of the ones that haven't are from the 2016-17 classes, so it's still very early in their careers. Several of these players, in fact, are projected to have a bigger role this upcoming season. But the large amount of four-stars that either fell out of the program or haven't produced from the 2015 class was probably a big reason why the Trojans were better two years ago than they were last year. It's been a feast-or-famine group that includes the likes of Darnold, RoJo and Cam.
The data suggests USC has a) done well with its five-stars -- there hasn't been a bust in several years, b) hit big with a handful of three-stars, though it's signed three times as many that haven't made an impact, and c) needs to get more out of its four-stars. I suspect most people will point to player development, which I understand, but evaluation, usage and a player's work ethic are also important factors in the equation.
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So my question is, do the Trojans currently have too many three-star commits for your liking? Which commit is your favorite at this point?
Three of the five commits are three-star prospects while a fourth is an unrated punter. For the sake of comparison, not one of USC's 18 commits from the 2018 class was less than a four-star, though a few of the early commits that later de-committed were.
As most of you know, USC's average star rating for signees was a national-best 4.28 in 2018, and the Trojans have ranked in the top five in six of the past seven years (with Sark's initial, 11th hour class being the lone exception). This staff, like the ones before it, have proven to be great recruiting finishers, if not always good starters.
***
Most players who sign with USC are obviously four-stars. But I was surprised to see that USC had more than three times as many three-stars (26) as five-stars (8) from 2014-17. In 2018, USC brought in five five-stars and no three-stars. While each of the five-stars has been productive (albeit, to differing degrees), only about a fourth of the three-stars has made a notable contribution on the field.
Here’s the list of three- and five-stars from the previous four signing classes who have spent the majority of their careers playing for Clay Helton.
Five-stars:
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Adoree’ Jackson
Rasheem Green
John Houston
Biggie Marshall
Porter Gustin
Jack Jones
Tyler Vaughns
Three-stars:
Jordan Austin
Malik Dorton
Uchenna Nwosu
Ajene Harris
John Plattenburg
Don Hill
Jalen Greene
Deontay Burnett
Kevin Scott
Christian Rector
Cole Smith
Isaac Whitney
Daniel Imatorbhebhe
Matt Fink
Jordan Iosefa
Liam Jimmons
Cary Angeline
Jamel Cook
Keyshawn Young
Josh Fatu
Jalen McKenzie
Erik Krommenhoek
Jacob Lichtenstein
Tayler Katoa
Je’Quari Godfrey
Brandon Pili
***
Out of the 53 4-stars that USC signed between 2014-17, only 17 of them (32 percent) have been productive to this point. Granted, a lot of the ones that haven't are from the 2016-17 classes, so it's still very early in their careers. Several of these players, in fact, are projected to have a bigger role this upcoming season. But the large amount of four-stars that either fell out of the program or haven't produced from the 2015 class was probably a big reason why the Trojans were better two years ago than they were last year. It's been a feast-or-famine group that includes the likes of Darnold, RoJo and Cam.
The data suggests USC has a) done well with its five-stars -- there hasn't been a bust in several years, b) hit big with a handful of three-stars, though it's signed three times as many that haven't made an impact, and c) needs to get more out of its four-stars. I suspect most people will point to player development, which I understand, but evaluation, usage and a player's work ethic are also important factors in the equation.
***
So my question is, do the Trojans currently have too many three-star commits for your liking? Which commit is your favorite at this point?
