For example, the two premier high school recruiting services, Scout.com and Rivals.com often evaluate and rank prep talent very differently.

A good example of this would be Kyle Prater , the 6′5″ wide receiver stud from Illinois who recently confirmed that he was a “100% Trojan” come signing day.

Rivals has Prater listed as their #2 player overall, in the “Rivals 250″ list of top high school players in the nation.

Meanwhile, Scout has Prater listed as their #13 player overall (Prater has recently jumped higher in their list of evaluated players).

While this is not a glaring example of the discrepancies between prep recruiting services, it does serve to show that sometimes there is a gulf between the services and their evaluation of high school football talent.

The point is that often those assigned to rate the quality of high school athletes miss their mark and either rate some players too high or, conversely, too low.

This makes the assignment of the associated “stars” hung next to these high school players a rating whose validity often is not determined until long after the player has hit the field of play for his college team.

The necessity for explaining the nuances of high school recruiting is borne of the need to qualify the veracity of these recruiting services and to explain to the reader that the difference between a four star athlete (and indeed many three star recruits) and a five star athlete may not be a true representation of the athletes future value to his college team.

USC has already gained verbal commitments from many highly regarded four star athletes.

Matt Darr , a two way kicker in the David Buehler mold, Jesse Scroggins , the very highly regarded Lakewood high school quarterback and DJ Morgan , the #51 overall player in Scouts top 300 are just a few of the four star athletes who have given their verbal pledge.

These players, should they honor their verbal commitment, will all play a significant role in the future of the Trojans in years to come.

Without further delay, here is the list of Scout four star recruits who are considering the Trojans along with a thumbnail sketch of their measurables and talents:

Hayes Pullard (linebacker, 6′2″, 220 lbs., 4.6): The Trojans are just one of a few schools that Pullard is considering.

Ricky Heimuli (defensive tackle, 6′4″, 285 lbs., 4.9): A well regarded defensive stalwart who is rising quickly, Heimuli is also looking at several other schools.

Christian Jones (linebacker, 6′4″, 215 lbs., 4.7): Jones, who is from Florida, is considered a long shot to sign with the Trojans.

Sean Parker (safety, 5′10″, 188 lbs.): Parker, once considered a lock for the Trojans has now is looking hard at Michigan, amongst other schools. It may be that the Trojans have backed off in their pursuit of Parker.

Chaz Green (offensive tackle, 6′6″, 278 lbs.): The Trojans are very much in the mix for Green’s sevices along with Florida and Tennessee, who has yet to offer Green.

Christian Thomas (tight end, 6′3″, 245 lbs., 4.6): Thomas, who is very talented, also is very intelligent and with the Trojans already having verbal commitments from tight ends Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfair, will probably look elsewhere.

Josh Shirley (outside linebacker, 6′2″, 220 lbs., 4.55): Also once considered a Trojan lock, Shirley will now also consider a variety of PAC-10 schools, Notre Dame and Miami (Fl). This may be a result of the Trojans new recruiting philosophy which kept them from offering Shirley early.

Dietrich Riley (safety, 6′1″, 195 lbs., 4.5): Riley, also once considered a future Trojan, will now decide, most likely, between Florida and the Trojans.

Ego Ferguson (defensive end, 6′4″, 270 lbs.): Ferguson, who hails from Virginia, is considered unlikely to sign with the Trojans.

Marquis Flowers (safety, 6′2″, 193 lbs., 4.4): Flowers, who has eye popping measurables, has recently gone on record as saying his Trojan visit was his “best by far.” This is a good sign for USC, who would love to have this kid.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa (defensive end, 6′4″, 240 lbs., 4.7): A very talented end, the Trojans are just one of many in the mix.

Demetrius Wright (cornerback, 6′1″, 195 lbs., 4.5): A very physical corner back, Wright is considered a lock for the Trojans.

Anthony Jefferson (cornerback, 6′2″, 180 lbs., 4.5): Talented and with potential to become great, Jefferson is in the process of deciding between many schools and USC is among them.

These are the four star recruits that the Trojans are currently pursuing.

This group of recruits have tremendous ability, and as was mentioned previously, other recruiting services have rated some, like Jesse Scroggins , much higher in their evaluations.

To be certain, the prep stars listed here, if they sign with the Trojans, will be heard from in the future.

To what extent they will contribute to USC’s future success is yet to be determined but if Pete Carroll’s track record holds to form, there should be smiles found in the years to come.

On “NFL Live,” Adam Schefter reported that the Chicago Bears may have targeted USC offensive “guru” Jeremy Bates as a possible candidate for the offensive coordinator position.

Bates, who until this year was the only offensive coordinator, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had known in his professional career, has spent a disappointing year directing the Trojans’ offense.

It was reported that Cutler had advised friends that if Bates would have been retained by the Denver Broncos, he (Cutler) would not have asked for the trade that eventually found him being dealt to the Bears.

With Chicago’s offense struggling this year, talk had turned to the possible return to the NFL of former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis as an offensive coordinator.

Weis, it has been reported, would welcome an offer by the Bears to run their offense.

Now Bates’ name has been tossed into the ring, and there is little doubt that Cutler would welcome the return of Bates, of whom Cutler says, “is one of the best minds in football.”

For many USC fans, the departure of Jeremy Bates would be a welcome event.

The Trojan offense in 2009, supposedly the strength of this year’s team, has under performed, and much of the blame has been laid at Bates’ feet.

Questionable play calling has left many Trojan fans scratching their collective heads all season long.

Of course, to be fair to Bates, USC has played true freshman Matt Barkley at quarterback, and he has experienced the expected growing pains, which has hampered the USC offense.

In addition, the offensive line, called the best in the nation by The Sporting News prior to the beginning of the season, has also under achieved.

Having said that, Bates has rankled the Trojan faithful by calling passing plays when the running game was clicking, and vice versa.

All of which has translated into an offense that found itself ranked between 45th and 60th at various times during the season.

Which is much better than the third-down conversion rate of roughly 100th in the nation.

So will Jeremy Bates leave after this season?

Rumors started last week that Bates would return to the NFL when his old boss, Mike Shanahan was thought to possibly be returning to the professional ranks.

USC head coach, Pete Carroll, did nothing to squelch the rumors when he talked about Bates’ familiarity with the NFL and how attractive he might be to those teams looking for an offensive coordinator.

Now comes word of the Bears interest in Bates, and for many Trojan fans his departure would be welcomed.

To what extent Bates is responsible for the Trojans offensive woes is anyone’s guess.

Would the loss of Bates be a Trojan addition through subtraction?

Who knows, but a lot of Trojan fans would like to find out.

Reaching deep into the abyss of my waning optimism, I think I have found that hope in the oddest of places.

Nine years ago, Pete Carroll took over a moribund USC Trojan team that had floundered under the tutelage of Paul Hackett.

That 2001 team wound up 6-6, and lost 10-6 to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Led by Carson Palmer, a highly touted prep quarterback out of Santa Margarita high school in Orange county, Ca., the Trojans shut out the UCLA Bruins 27-0 in a controversial game that was highlighted by excessive celebrations by the Trojans which rankled the sensibilities of Bruin nation.

However, the 2001 season, while it indicated hope for the future, was generally considered a disappointment.

After all, a 6-6 season should never be celebrated by fans of the men of Troy.

Fast forward to 2009.

In Pete Carroll’s ninth year at the helm, the Trojans have gone 8-4, and the season has been roundly described as a disappointment by the fans of USC.

Led by Matt Barkley, a much celebrated prep quarterback out of Mater Dei high school in Orange county, Ca., the Trojans beat UCLA 28-7 in a controversial game marred by UCLA’s irritation at excessive Trojan celebration.

Sound familiar?

Wait, it gets weirder.

USC is expected to be extended an invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl where they probably will meet…yep, you guessed it, Utah.

Hold on, I’m not finished.

Although Carson Palmer was a junior in 2001, his passing statistics almost mirror young Matt Barkley’s in 2009.

Palmer’s passing statistics in 2001:

221/377 (58.6%) for 2717 yards, 13 Passing TDs and 1 Rushing TD; with 12 Interceptions

Matt Barkley’s passing statistics for 2009:

184/315 (58.4%) for 2385 yards, 13 Passing TD’s and 1 Rushing TD; with 12 Interceptions.

Uncanny eh?

In 2002, Carson Palmer began the Trojan resurrection by leading the Trojans to 11-2 record and a convincing win over Iowa in the Orange bowl.

Oh yeah, Carson Palmer also picked up some personal hardware along the way.

You know, that little bronze guy who is straight arming an imagined foe and is named for some guy named “Heisman.”

Now, I am not suggesting that 2010 will be the year when Matt Barkley wins a Heisman trophy even though I would be ecstatic if he did.

But what I am suggesting is that history often repeats itself and with an extra year under his belt, I expect Matt Barkley, he of the abundant talent, to improve and along with that, elevate the Trojans back to elite status.

And if he wants to win a Heisman along the way, that alright too…

That crescendo of silence you just witnessed was a collective yawn from Trojan nation.

Bates, who has been roundly criticized for his unimaginative offense by USC fans, would not address the issue when asked by reporters.

Bates did say this, “Were focused on Arizona, this is a big PAC-10 game. We are not going to be distracted.”

Too late for that Jeremy.

Bates, in his first season with the Trojans, has led an anemic offense that has featured spotty play from true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley and an offensive line that was supposed to be among the best in the nation but has fallen far short of that.

Now, I understand that Jeremy Bates has obstacles with this offense that have prevented him from implementing the sort of game plan that he may have imagined when he signed on with the Trojans.

Matt Barkley, for all of his enormous potential, has regressed as the season wore on.

The aforementioned offensive line has struggled mightily in the running game which has prevented Bates from utilizing play action to its best effect.

Still, Bates play calling has left many scratching their heads.

When the Trojans have found success with the running game, which admittedly has been intermittent, Bates has gone to the pass.

When Barkley has found his groove, Bates switches to the running game.

Meanwhile, the Trojans third down efficiency has been…well…inefficient.

And that is being charitable.

In actuality, both the Trojans third down and red zone offense (scoring touchdowns) has been awful.

Bates must accept some responsibility for this and Trojan fans have not been shy about laying the blame directly at his feet.

Is it fair? Probably not but this was to be expected at USC.

Before the season started, I wrote an article that described exactly what Jeremy Bates could expect and much like a sports writing Nostradamus, I was right.

Not that it took much of a genius to realize that the USC microscope can be overwhelming but nonetheless, the disappointment of the Trojan fans with Bates could be seen a mile away if the offense failed to perform.

Which brings me to Norm Chow.

Will the wily, old ex-Trojan offensive coordinator come back to USC?

Not a chance in hell.

There is too much water under the bridge and the only thing less likely than Pete Carroll offering Chow his old job back is Chow accepting it.

This is a prototypical “non-story.”

Despite a longing by Trojan nation to return the salad days of Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and the 2005 crew, those days are long gone.

If Bates leaves, expect John Morton, the passing game coordinator, to be given the job, and along with it, the magnified glare of scrutiny that comes with the title.

Given the criticism of Jeremy Bates this year, John Morton can expect more of the same if he fails to bring the offense back up to the high expectations of Trojan fans.

Those are lofty standards and difficult to live up to.

Good luck coach Morton.