Blogger: Rick McMahan
Recently receiving a masters degree from California State University Northridge, Rick McMahan is a contributing writer for USC football here at SoCal Sports Hub.com. In addition to writing for SoCal Sports Hub, McMahan is also a columnist at the Bleacher Report.com and doesn’t shy away from voicing his opinions of the Trojans and the rest of the college football world. He can be reached by e-mail at sirsocalrick[a]hotmail.com
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 slow exodus of players streaming ... 14Jul2010 |
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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 verbal pledge to the Trojans ... 2Jul2010 |
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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 the 2011 season, instead of ... 19Jun2010 |
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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 programs.
Alabama, Florida, Fresno State, Oregon, ... 13Jun2010 |
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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 about it, Cody Kessler is ... 7Jun2010 |
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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 DeAnthony Thomas.
With this kind of ... 29May2010 |
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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, will wind up with a ... 24May2010 |
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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 USC.
Blackwell, a four-star (as rated ... 21May2010 |
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On April 28, the Rotary Club released its 2010 "watch list" for the prestigious Lombardi Award.
According to its press release, the qualifications for consideration for the award are, for linemen, setting up no further than 10 yards right or left on either side of the ball, while linebackers must line up no deeper than five yards deep from the line ... 1May2010 |
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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 offers rise dramatically following an ... 26Apr2010 |
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While USC Trojan fans await the NCAA's ruling on possible rules violations by former coach Pete Carroll and his staff, two of his former college players are not waiting to sound off on the head of the former Trojan regime.
Taylor Mays, a three year starter at safety for the Trojans, and wide reciever Damian Williams, who transferred from Arkansas, voiced ... 24Apr2010 |
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Well, it appears that "Slick Rick" Neuheisel is up to his old antics again.
Just when you think that the 'ol gambler learned his lesson from his failed UCLA "The football monopoly in L.A. is officially over" advertisement gaffe, he goes and sticks his foot in his mouth again.
ESPN reports that while speaking to Dan Patrick on his radio show, Neuheisel ... 21Apr2010 |
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There are two "givens" regarding recruiting and Lane Kiffin in terms of USC football.
One, at this time of year, offers made to prep football players are abundant, with the recruiting "net" being cast far and wide to prospective Trojans.
The other is that Kiffin, along with his personal recruiting guru, Ed Orgeron, will make persuasive pitches to these young players, enticing ... 15Apr2010 |
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Out of the east came Lane Kiffin and his posse to rescue a Trojan nation whose hearts were ripped out when their beloved coach, Pete Carroll, left for NFL riches in the Pacific Northwest.
Kiffin, the former Trojan offensive coordinator whose one year stay in Knoxville, Tenn., was a mixed bag of promise and gaffes, brought along a sterling staff and ... 12Apr2010 |
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It has been awhile since we last looked at the recruiting efforts of coach Lane Kiffin and company at "Trojanville."
In our absence, the Trojans have offered five more athletes, including a quarterback from a prep school that has historically been a pipeline of quarterbacks to USC.
None of these athletes have achieved a high "star status" as rated by Scout.com, but ... 26Mar2010 |
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On April 22, when the flashbulbs start popping indicating those most favored by the draft mavens of the NFL, don’t expect former USC offensive lineman Alex Parsons to be among those first chosen.
When that Thursday comes and goes, while Parsons’ fellow Trojan teammates are smiling and saying nice things about their new employers, Alex will probably be working out.
And while ... 22Mar2010 |
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News coming out of Knoxville has Bryce Brown, the 6'0", 215 lb. running back who was widely considered to be the best prep running back in 2008, leaving Tennessee for "personal reasons."
New Volunteer head coach Derek Dooley yesterday confirmed the report saying that Brown, "was no longer a member of the football team."
Brown, whose career at Tennessee began under a ... 21Mar2010 |
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According to multiple sources, Trojan recruit Seantrel Henderson, the massive lineman from Minnesota, will not be signing his letter of intent with USC today as had been previously reported.
Citing "scheduling problems," Henderson will sign with the Trojans but not until sometime next week.
There may be a couple of reasons for this beyond the usual rumors suggesting that Henderson is just ... 18Mar2010 |
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One man leaves the Los Angeles area as a legend to USC fans, the other enters as a pariah to followers of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Before the shock of Pete Carroll leaving the Trojans had worn off, the elation of a Lane Kiffin hiring, at least for most USC football fans, set in.
To be sure, in the annals of Trojan football, ... 15Mar2010 |
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It is now being reported that Seantrel Henderson will indeed sign with the Trojans after initially saying he would wait until the NCAA rules on possible violations of the USC football program.
According to ESPN, Henderson's father has said that his son will sign without waiting for the ruling.
Seantrel Henderson, who is a top ten prep prospect for most, if not ... 15Mar2010 |
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Even UCLA fans know Nestor is a douche. 
Nice piece.
I didn't even read the Simers article far enough to see that he took credit for Pods' hit ...
So you're saying that UCLA's hopes rest in the performances of the offense and the defense. Well, we'll just ...