UPDATE (2/7):
With the signing of Solo, OG and D. Williams, SC is at 2,595 pts. and somewhere around #6-8 in the team rankings. If we land ITS and John Jackson (and miss on Ezeike, as is being reported) we'll get to 2,886 pts. and still
#3 overall.
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UPDATE (2/6):
Most reports saying we'll sign OG, ITS, D. Williams, Solo, Ezeike, getting us to 2,916 pts. and safely in the #3 spot
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UPDATE (2/3):
With 4 days until signing day, USC's 2018 class (14 members;
#12 overall) should
finish no lower than #7 and as high as #3 overall. For the sake of argument, let's assume the Trojan's sign Olaijah Griffin, Issac Taylor-Stuart and Solomon Tuliaupupu. Here are a few scenarios that could play out:
16 Member Class (#6 or #7 Overall): With 4 spots open and 2 reported transfers, 16 seems like the smallest possible class size. Let's say we lose Tuli and pick up OG/ITS/Solo. This would put us at 2,511 points and #6 overall (given current rankings). Alabama has the biggest opportunity to improve (only 18 current commits) and move SC to #7.
17 Member Class (#4 or #5 Overall): If we sign the current verbals, add OG/ITS/Solo, the class would have 2,655 points and rank #4 overall (3 points behind Texas). Penn State could also improve on their 2,627 points, putting SC at #5.
18 Member Class (#3 Overall): Retaining the current verbals, adding OG/ITS/Solo, and then adding one of Devon Williams (which would give us 2,835 total points), Penei Sewell (2,831), Michael Ezieke (2,775), Eli'jah Winston (2,760), should put SC safely in the #3 overall spot.
19 Member Class (#3 Overall): If the Trojan's find 3 more spots, retain the current commits, add OG/ITS/Solo, and add two of the players listed above, the Trojans will finish with between 2,880 and 3,011 points, but still rank behind UGA and tOSU at #3.
In the unlikely event USC signs 20 players, and grabs 3 of the players listed in the "18 member class," the class could get as high as 3,131 points and rank as high as #2 overall. While possible, I don't see this as very likely and think we're probably capped at #3 overall.
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OP (1/3):
There's still a lot of unknowns (early NFL entrants, transfers, commits/decommits, final player rankings, etc.), but let's have some fun and project where the 2018 USC class might end up nationally.
Currently ranked
17th overall, with 13 total commits (not including JT Daniels), it's been reported this class could end up with 18-19 signees, allowing for a big move up the national rankings come February 7th. Let's make the following assumptions and see where that puts us:
- Given 10 players have already signed an LOI, let's assume USC signs 9 more
- Of the 3 verbal commits, only Trevor Trout and Tuli Letuligasenoa sign
- JT Daniels successfully reclassifies and ranks #10 overall in the 2018 class
- With the 6 remaining spots, USC signs Amon-Ra St. Brown (#3 overall), Isaac Taylor-Stuart (#11), Olaijah Griffin (#38), Penei Sewell (#46), Julius Irvin (#87), and Solomon Tuliaupupu (#94)
With these 19 and no changes in the final Rivals rankings, USC's 2018 class would close with an average star rating of 4.21 (the 3rd highest ever for Rivals, behind 2 other USC classes) and 3,013 total Rivals class points.
How good is 3,013 points?
Over the past 5 years, this many points would rank as high as #1 (in 2016) and no lower than #3 (in 2015 and 2017). Georgia's 2018 class currently has 3,193 and will be tough to pass, but if all the chips fall into place this USC class could certainly finish in the top 3 in the nation.
