USC Trojans: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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."
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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Hinsdale (Ill.) Central tight end Ian Bunting listed a top three at the end of February, but that group dissipated nearly as quickly as it was created as several big offers over the next 72 hours made him open it back up.
After visits to several of those schools, the ESPN 150 tight end is closing in on naming a top group once again.
After visits to several of those schools, the ESPN 150 tight end is closing in on naming a top group once again.
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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
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By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.BUFORD, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List Brandon Dawkins (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) really wants to be in the Elite 11 quarterback competition. In fact, he and his family flew more than 2,000 miles to compete in Saturday's Atlanta regional.
The Elite 11 this year will be combined with The Opening so invitations are limited.
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N.Y. DT Holley could be going back to Cali 
April, 11, 2013
Apr 11
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Basketball brought Thomas Holley (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln) to California first. Football could bring him back.
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ND-USC recruiting battle shifts to Midwest
April, 2, 2013
Apr 2
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Notre Dame recruits the state of California heavily, so naturally the Irish go head to head with on-the-field rival USC several times a year on the recruiting front, as well, for prospects from the Golden State.
It is not too often the programs are competing for the same prospect out of Minnesota, but that was the case Tuesday.
It is not too often the programs are competing for the same prospect out of Minnesota, but that was the case Tuesday.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Outside linebacker Jacob Pugh (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby) isn’t exactly sure of how many offers he has. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior has not counted them. Once he had received over 30 offers to the top programs in the nation, there really seemed no point in doing so. Pugh is more concerned about the five that he has on top.
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Watch List S Simmons fights on with offer
March, 12, 2013
Mar 12
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By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
A familiar tune blared from the speakers immediately after Brandon Simmons (Arlington, Texas/Timberview) stepped into his father’s car on Sunday, an indication that the ESPN Watch List safety had just landed yet another scholarship offer.
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Super sophomore Patrick likes latest offer
March, 7, 2013
Mar 7
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By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
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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Jersey RB Hilliman plans several visits
February, 17, 2013
Feb 17
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
With more than two dozen offers, Jonathan Hilliman (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep) has the attention of schools all over the country. He knows some point over these next few months he will have to begin whittling his list down.
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Todd Kelly Jr. talks about latest visit
February, 13, 2013
Feb 13
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By
Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
Todd Kelly Jr. made his latest college visit a family affair.
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DE Fitts gives Trojans one last chance
February, 4, 2013
Feb 4
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By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
If it were up to him, ESPN 150 defensive end Kylie Fitts (Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley) wouldn't be facing a signing-day decision.
All of the tension and speculation would be over.
The former USC commit never expected to be tangled in a stressful situation as Feb. 6 looms. He initially had no plans to stretch out the process and surely didn't anticipate to be such a hot topic in the West region these last few weeks. If it were up to him, he'd be taking classes and studying for exams.
All of the tension and speculation would be over.
The former USC commit never expected to be tangled in a stressful situation as Feb. 6 looms. He initially had no plans to stretch out the process and surely didn't anticipate to be such a hot topic in the West region these last few weeks. If it were up to him, he'd be taking classes and studying for exams.
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Watch List DE McDowell picks up new offer
February, 1, 2013
Feb 1
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By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Penn State assistant Larry Johnson usually doesn't usually travel to Michigan high schools to offer juniors. But then again, he doesn't often come across defensive ends like the recruit he saw Thursday either.
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The bitter cold of the Midwest struck ESPN 150 defensive end Kylie Fitts (Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley) as soon as he deplaned on Friday for his official visit to Notre Dame.
The former USC commit managed to pull out his phone to inform his Twitter followers what he was -- or, in this case -- wasn’t feeling.
The former USC commit managed to pull out his phone to inform his Twitter followers what he was -- or, in this case -- wasn’t feeling.
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Q&A: Watch List RB Starks has a favorite
January, 23, 2013
Jan 23
1:30
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By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
ESPN Watch List running back Nathan Starks (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) is starting to narrow things down. But he’d also like to hear from one program in particular before he gets too deep into the recruiting process.
Which program is that? Where does Texas stand with him? And is the Longhorns’ biggest rival his favorite right now?
Which program is that? Where does Texas stand with him? And is the Longhorns’ biggest rival his favorite right now?
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ABOUT WE ARE SC
Garry Paskwietz
Garry Paskwietz is the publisher and founder of WeAreSC.com and has covered the Trojans since 1997. Send him an email at garry@wearesc.com.
Blair Angulo
Blair Angulo covers USC Trojans recruiting. He joined ESPNLA.com in 2010 and also interned at the Los Angeles Daily News. Email him at blair.angulo@gmail.com.