USC Trojans

Holding more than 40 offers, running back Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) is arguably the most sought-after recruit in the West region. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound, four-star back is the top running back in the West and the No. 135 player in the country. His offer sheet has seemingly grown by the minute this spring, but he isn't in any hurry to narrow it down.

Despite tweeting out a list of 16 programs several weeks ago, Mixon said Sunday that he only did that to highlight the schools recruiting him the hardest, not anything to be taken as a group of finalists.

"I'm still talking to a lot of people," Mixon said. "The recruiting thing has been crazy the past couple of weeks. I've pretty much been taking it well. I talk to them before school, during lunch and after school. I'm not to the stressful part yet, but the hard part has been staying in contact with everybody."

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ATHENS, Ga. -- Considering that running back Jacques Patrick (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) is only in his second year of high school but already has 25 scholarship offers, the case can be made that Patrick is one of the most coveted prospects in the Class of 2015.

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Five-star linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) is fresh off of a visit to Alabama, but questions linger about whether the nation’s sixth-rated prospect will head to Miami (Fla.) or USC next.

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Four-star outside linebacker Quinton Powell (Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland) has three official visits remaining, but the 6-foot-2, 205-pound ESPN 150 member knows when he will make his college decision.

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FULLERTON, Calif. -- A bevy of attributes make Tyler Luatua of La Mirada (Calif.) an elite prospect, but it’s one you can’t see that stands out above the rest: His dissatisfaction.

He’s physically imposing, yes. He’s strong, quick and versatile, too. Scouts rave on and on and on about the class of 2014 athlete’s advanced skill set. He’s smooth enough to play tight end, yet gritty enough to play linebacker.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete received his first scholarship offer from UCLA in February and, in a matter of weeks, had gone national. At least locally, no underclassman had a bigger spring. Luatua piled up offer after offer, and is considered one of California’s top recruits in next year’s class.

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Devon Allen (Phoenix/Brophy Prep) knows it’s time to start narrowing things down.

The three-star receiver has trimmed his list of favorite schools down to 15, and he plans to take five unofficial visits later this month.

Allen told HornsNation his top 15 are, in no particular order: Arkansas, Arizona State, California, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford, Texas, UCLA, USC and Washington.

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BRADENTON, Fla. – ESPN 150 athlete Alvin Bailey (Seffner, Fla./Armwood) just wrapped up a trip of schools that included visits to Notre Dame, Michigan and Clemson. The 6-foot, 175-pound junior described what he liked about each program.

Notre Dame: “It’s a very tradition-oriented school. I saw a lot of religious people walking around there. Like a lot of nuns and other people involved with the church. Overall it was a laid back place though. Everyone was happy. I met with the academic advisor and he was great. He laid out everything for me and it’s a school with great academics and great athletics."

Michigan: “As soon as we got into town we could see the JumboTron with the big M and the stadium. And it’s the biggest stadium I’ve ever stepped foot in. I took a picture next to the JumboTron and then went inside talked to the coaches. The coaches were a lot of fun and I saw some of the facilities, like the weight room and stuff, before meeting with the academic advisor.

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Don’t look for ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning (Dallas/Kimball) to make up his mind any time soon. In fact, look for him to take as much time possible with the recruiting process.

Manning late Tuesday evening said he’s not planning on making any rushed decisions and plans to weigh all eight of the schools in his current list carefully. LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Arkansas and USC all are getting major looks from the 6-foot-2, 275-pound, four-star lineman.

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If there’s one thing that ESPN 300 wide receiver Rickey Jefferson (Destrehan, La.) wants to show, it’s that he is fully recovered from an ACL tear suffered more than nine months ago.

Jefferson has been answering questions about his health with impressive spring workouts and 7-on-7 play. The 6-foot, 190-pound, four-star receiver now has 21 offers and is racking up additional interest daily.

Ranked No. 171 in the ESPN 300, Jefferson, the younger brother of former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, is showing why he’s still a hot commodity even after a major injury. Nebraska was the latest school to offer, but he has offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State, LSU, USC and a host of other programs.

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With Monday offers from Boise State and Mississippi State, junior college defensive tackle Toby Johnson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson Community College) now has 25 schools that have extended scholarships.

Considered one of the elite junior college players in the country, Johnson has the recruiting game in the palm of his hands. He has offers from all of the major FBS conferences, including USC, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee, Nebraska and West Virginia. In addition to Monday’s offers, he was offered by Arizona last Monday.

The good news for every program that’s offered is that Johnson currently has them all on equal turf.

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Darrell Daniels (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) has made up his mind. The four-star receiver has committed to Washington.

“Yeah, I’m a Dawg,” he confirmed via text.

The 6-foot-3, 211-pound prospect is ranked No. 54 in the ESPN 150. Daniels chose UW over a litany of other high profile offers including USC, Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Arkansas and UCLA.

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Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee defensive tackle Derrick Calloway wants to put all the rumors to rest.

"I don't have a favorite, a standout school, nothing," Calloway said. "I want to take some unofficials, do some camps and look around first."

Calloway said he was approached by Mississippi State last week and a coach from the school mentioned his commitment to another program.

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Priest Willis (Tempe, Ariz./Marcos De Niza), the No. 62 player in the ESPN 150, entered the spring with 29 offers and has become one of the most highly recruited players on the West Coast. He has already received phone calls from USC -- which called the first day contact was allowable -- as well as Arizona State and Notre Dame. This week, Marcos De Niza High School has received visits from Florida State, LSU and Arkansas, with USC coach Ed Orgeron scheduled to make a stop on Thursday. Willis said that since the spring evaluation period began, Georgia, Rutgers and Alabama have also begun showing interest.

Willis said the Trojans making the first call on April 15 stood out, but he is grateful for the interest from every school. And increased attention from the two programs that played in the most recent national championship game is difficult to ignore.

Willis said the Alabama coaches have been talking to him about how he would fit into their defense, but it's obvious that LSU has made a statement for Willis.

"They have a great defense," said Willis of LSU, a school he plans to camp with this summer. "And it would be great to just play football in that atmosphere."

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