Posted on July 14th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

For the past ten days, I have been on UCLA’s campus, fulfilling a contractual obligation to be a faculty advisor for some very talented high school scholars preparing to enter medical school.
And like some kind of bizarro world revenge for having a committed Trojan spending time in enemy territory, I silently and painfully watched a [...]

Posted on July 2nd, 2010 by Rick McMahan

With the Trojans needing to find a long-term kicking replacement for whoever they give the job to this year, special teams coach John Baxter has made place kicking a priority in terms of recruiting for next year’s incoming class.
Now coach Baxter’s efforts have paid off.
Andre Heidari, from Stockdale high school in Bakersfield, Ca., gave his [...]

Posted on June 20th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

With the unwelcome news of the NCAA’s sanctions against the USC Trojans, including the loss of 30 scholarships over three years, it appears that only a few days later, the Trojans recruiting strategy has been deeply affected.
Of course, this is to be expected from a program that now has only 15 scholarships to offer for [...]

Posted on June 14th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

Well, that certainly didn’t take long.
Only a day after the NCAA lowered the boom on USC, the vultures are attempting to circle the carcass.
ESPN’s Joe Schad is reporting that USC mega-recruit, running back Dillon Baxter, has notified the Trojans’ compliance office that five schools have illegally contacted him, apparently attempting to woo him to their [...]

Posted on June 8th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

A couple of articles ago, I profiled Bakersfield (Centennial high school) quarterback Cody Kessler, who received a scholarship offer from the Trojans.
In the piece, I listed all of the qualities that young Mr. Kessler possessed, including a rocket for an arm and a tough running style that produced a dozen touchdowns last year.
Make no mistake [...]

Posted on May 29th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

Before going any further, it should be noted with abundant emphasis that Lane Kiffin, Ed Orgeron and the entire USC recruiting staff have done a marvelous job of swaying excellent prep talent to verbally commit to the Trojans.
USC already has six pledges from highly regarded prep players including the star of the six, cornerback/running back [...]

Posted on May 24th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

The dominoes are beginning to fall for the Trojans in the 2010 prep recruiting season.
Just three days after five-star (as rated by Scout.com) cornerback/running back DeAnthony Thomas gave USC his verbal pledge, Tre Madden, a 6’1,” 217 pound linebacker from prep power Mission Viejo high school has done the same.
Madden, rated a three-star by Scout, [...]

Posted on May 22nd, 2010 by Rick McMahan

There is big recruiting news coming out of Trojanland, and it is accompanied by a bit of intrigue.
First, the big news.
Victor Blackwell, the multi-talented wide receiver from Mater Dei high school, home of 2010 Trojan verbal Max Wittek, has decided to join his quarterback teammate at the college level by giving his verbal pledge to [...]

Posted on April 26th, 2010 by Rick McMahan

Usually, weekends are rather slow for prep football recruiting, but not this one.
Wanting to get the process behind him, fast-rising quarterback Max Wittek from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., gave his verbal commitment to Lane Kiffin and the Trojans on Sunday.
Wittek, labeled a “four star” recruit by Scout.com, has seen his scholarship [...]