Here's a round-up of some of the recruiting nuggets for the Trojans on the final weekend of the 2012 recruiting period:
* There are still plenty of moving parts for this class and things are not set. It’s still possible that the coaches will sign 15, but there is also a legit chance they will end up short.
* There’s not much buzz about Cyler Miles -- he appears to be sticking with his Washington commit.
* There are still plenty of moving parts for this class and things are not set. It’s still possible that the coaches will sign 15, but there is also a legit chance they will end up short.
* There’s not much buzz about Cyler Miles -- he appears to be sticking with his Washington commit.
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It was a busy weekend for wide receiver Bryce Treggs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco). The athlete took an official visit to USC Thursday and Friday and hopped on a plane and flew to California for an unofficial visit.
Treggs has been a long time Cal commitment, but slightly reopened his recruitment and was giving UCLA a hard look. USC also offered recently, so Treggs decided to give the Trojans a look as well.
“USC was cool, I had a lot of fun there,” Treggs said. “There’s a lot of great people at USC, they have a great program and it was a good experience, I’m glad I made the visit. I’m not really looking at them though -- they said they wouldn’t know until Tuesday if I had a solid offer or not. They offered three weeks ago but said they over offered too many players, so I would have wait and I’m not looking to do that.
Treggs has been a long time Cal commitment, but slightly reopened his recruitment and was giving UCLA a hard look. USC also offered recently, so Treggs decided to give the Trojans a look as well.
“USC was cool, I had a lot of fun there,” Treggs said. “There’s a lot of great people at USC, they have a great program and it was a good experience, I’m glad I made the visit. I’m not really looking at them though -- they said they wouldn’t know until Tuesday if I had a solid offer or not. They offered three weeks ago but said they over offered too many players, so I would have wait and I’m not looking to do that.
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Moments ago, Arik Armstead (Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove) announced at his church he will be playing his college ball at the University of Oregon.
Armstead’s final five also included Auburn, Cal, Notre Dame and Washington. In addition, he took an official visit to Alabama and considered UCLA and USC before making his selection.
Armstead’s recruitment had about as many twists and turns as any player in the West region over the last five years.
Armstead’s final five also included Auburn, Cal, Notre Dame and Washington. In addition, he took an official visit to Alabama and considered UCLA and USC before making his selection.
Armstead’s recruitment had about as many twists and turns as any player in the West region over the last five years.
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This might be the final weekend before signing day for the 2012 recruiting class, but it's never too early for coaches to focus on the next group of standouts.
That was the case Saturday, as junior linebacker Su'a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) took an unofficial visit to USC. Cravens is already one of the most highly recruited athletes in the 2013 class and could be the top player in the state of California next year. USC offered him after he had already heard from several other schools, and the Trojans initial offer was as a fullback. But after some consideration, Cravens was told that he would be recruited as a defensive player and now, the Trojans look as though they could be tough to beat for his services.
Cravens has developed a strong bond already with the USC coaches, and said after Saturday's visit via text, "I love talking to that staff."
That was the case Saturday, as junior linebacker Su'a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) took an unofficial visit to USC. Cravens is already one of the most highly recruited athletes in the 2013 class and could be the top player in the state of California next year. USC offered him after he had already heard from several other schools, and the Trojans initial offer was as a fullback. But after some consideration, Cravens was told that he would be recruited as a defensive player and now, the Trojans look as though they could be tough to beat for his services.
Cravens has developed a strong bond already with the USC coaches, and said after Saturday's visit via text, "I love talking to that staff."
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One of the unsung players for the 2011 USC team was senior linebacker/fullback/special teams performer Ross Cumming.
Cumming was a little-used senior linebacker heading into the season who had made his mark primarily on special teams, but the coaches moved him to fullback for the Arizona State game and his role steadily increased the rest of the year. Cumming is a hard-nosed and physical player so his style worked perfectly as a lead blocker for the Trojans offense. He even caught two passes for 16 yards and added 15 tackles on special teams en route to being named the USC Special Teams Player of the Year.
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Arik Armstead set to announce on Sunday 
January, 28, 2012
1/28/12
5:20
AM PT
By Greg Biggins | ESPN.com
One of the most intriguing recruitments this season will come to an end on Sunday when Arik Armstead (Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove) pulls the trigger.
Armstead will announce at 3 p.m. PT Sunday at The House Christian Church, his family’s church.
“He’ll decide between Auburn, Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame and Washington,” Gus Armstead, Arik’s father said. “We had our last home visit Thursday and now we’re just going to sit back and pray on this decision. It has been a long process but it’s coming to an end and I think Arik is ready to put this behind him.”
Armstead will announce at 3 p.m. PT Sunday at The House Christian Church, his family’s church.
“He’ll decide between Auburn, Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame and Washington,” Gus Armstead, Arik’s father said. “We had our last home visit Thursday and now we’re just going to sit back and pray on this decision. It has been a long process but it’s coming to an end and I think Arik is ready to put this behind him.”
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ESPNU 150 WR Agholor heads west in final trip
January, 28, 2012
1/28/12
12:01
AM PT
By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
Four-star wide receiver Nelson Agholor (Tampa/Berkeley Prep) couldn't believe the hot streak Tampa Catholic went on in the third quarter of their basketball matchup on Friday.
"They couldn't miss," said Agholor, who finished with 21 points in the 66-53 loss. "In the third quarter everything they threw up went in."
Agholor takes his basketball serious, as he's been playing AAU for years, but even he understands that the two hours on the court is the best opportunity he has to avoid the same questions about his recruitment.
"They couldn't miss," said Agholor, who finished with 21 points in the 66-53 loss. "In the third quarter everything they threw up went in."
Agholor takes his basketball serious, as he's been playing AAU for years, but even he understands that the two hours on the court is the best opportunity he has to avoid the same questions about his recruitment.
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It was a whirlwind recruitment for D.J. Foster (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro), but moments ago at a school press conference the athlete said he’ll play his college ball at Arizona State.
“It was a tough decision, I actually didn’t decide until this morning,” Foster said. “I wanted to stay close to home to be with my friends and family, that was very important to me. My dad sent me a picture this morning of him wearing a Sun Devil shirt with my sister in it and I decided right there that I wanted to be a Sun Devil.
“I really like the new staff and Coach [Todd] Graham told me to pray on this decision and that’s what I did. Cal was right there too and I had a great relationship with the Coach [Ron] Gould. I told them this morning that I would be choosing ASU, but I still haven’t told ASU yet.”
“It was a tough decision, I actually didn’t decide until this morning,” Foster said. “I wanted to stay close to home to be with my friends and family, that was very important to me. My dad sent me a picture this morning of him wearing a Sun Devil shirt with my sister in it and I decided right there that I wanted to be a Sun Devil.
“I really like the new staff and Coach [Todd] Graham told me to pray on this decision and that’s what I did. Cal was right there too and I had a great relationship with the Coach [Ron] Gould. I told them this morning that I would be choosing ASU, but I still haven’t told ASU yet.”
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After losing Marc Tyler to graduation, Amir Carlisle to transfer and George Farmer to a position switch, the USC tailback depth suffered another blow Friday, when D.J. Foster (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) announced he will sign a letter of intent with Arizona State.
Foster had been a strong Arizona State lean through much of the recruiting process, but a coaching change in the desert caused the 5-foot-11, 185-pound tailback to rethink his options. Solid visits to Cal and USC had many thinking he could be headed out of state. Rumors even spread during his visit to USC that he had committed to the Trojans.
In the end, the opportunity to stay home and play in front of friends and family proved too much for Foster to pass up. He becomes Arizona State’s top-ranked recruit and one of the first big-name players the Sun Devils have convinced to remain in state in recent years.
His commitment also leaves the Trojans without a pure tailback in this class, and could lead to fullback commit Jahleel Pinner (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) getting a look there this fall.
Foster had been a strong Arizona State lean through much of the recruiting process, but a coaching change in the desert caused the 5-foot-11, 185-pound tailback to rethink his options. Solid visits to Cal and USC had many thinking he could be headed out of state. Rumors even spread during his visit to USC that he had committed to the Trojans.
In the end, the opportunity to stay home and play in front of friends and family proved too much for Foster to pass up. He becomes Arizona State’s top-ranked recruit and one of the first big-name players the Sun Devils have convinced to remain in state in recent years.
His commitment also leaves the Trojans without a pure tailback in this class, and could lead to fullback commit Jahleel Pinner (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) getting a look there this fall.
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Murphy recaps USC visit, torn between two
January, 27, 2012
1/27/12
10:08
AM PT
By Greg Biggins | ESPN.com
For most of the year, offensive lineman Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif.) seemed like a pretty strong lean to Stanford. After his official visit to USC over the weekend, are the Trojans now a serious player?
Prior to his visit to USC last weekend, the feeling from talking to some close to Murphy and some of the Triton coaching staff was the Cardinal had a pretty solid 60-40 lead. After the visit, the talented tackle said the two are now dead even.
“I had a great trip, to be honest, it was a lot better than I expected,” Murphy said. “I got a good feel for what it would be like to attend USC and I fit in a lot better than I anticipated. I loved the atmosphere there and I really connected well with the players and coaches.
Prior to his visit to USC last weekend, the feeling from talking to some close to Murphy and some of the Triton coaching staff was the Cardinal had a pretty solid 60-40 lead. After the visit, the talented tackle said the two are now dead even.
“I had a great trip, to be honest, it was a lot better than I expected,” Murphy said. “I got a good feel for what it would be like to attend USC and I fit in a lot better than I anticipated. I loved the atmosphere there and I really connected well with the players and coaches.
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In this edition of RecruitingNation 411, ESPN’s recruiting experts pick out the teams they think need to make a big impression during the final weekend before signing day.
After decommitting from USC several months ago, the Trojans coaches made one thing very clear to defensive end Arik Armstead (Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove) -- that they were going to recruit him all the way to signing day. Lane Kiffin and staff have made good on that promise, and sat down with Armstead for an in-home visit on Tuesday.
It might surprise some, as USC was thought to be out of the running with Armstead seemingly focused on Cal, Notre Dame, Oregon and Auburn. But Armstead's father, Guss Armstead, said Arik was agreeable to meeting with the Trojans staff.
"We talked with them and they wanted to do an in home visit," Guss Armstead said of the USC coaches. "Arik said they could come and talk to him."
It might surprise some, as USC was thought to be out of the running with Armstead seemingly focused on Cal, Notre Dame, Oregon and Auburn. But Armstead's father, Guss Armstead, said Arik was agreeable to meeting with the Trojans staff.
"We talked with them and they wanted to do an in home visit," Guss Armstead said of the USC coaches. "Arik said they could come and talk to him."
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Garry Paskwietz and Kyle Williams take you through what USC has to do differently in recruiting to help defend against the spread offense.
The WeAreSC staff makes their projections of school choices for some of the top remaining recruits on the USC wish list:
Garry Paskwietz
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Thursday's episode of RecruitingNation
January, 26, 2012
1/26/12
9:17
AM PT
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
"RecruitingNation" airs at 5:30 p.m. ET today on ESPNU with host Dari Nowkhah and RecruitingNation's Tom Luginbill, Craig Haubert and Jamie Newberg.
RecruitingNation breaks down the top 10 players still undecided, including Dorial Green-Beckham, Davonte Neal, Andrus Peat and Eddie Goldman. The panel discusses why these players are important, where are they are likely to end up, and what it means for the teams that don’t get them.
The show will also feature results from ESPN The Magazine’s "Recruiting Confidential" poll of the top prospects in the nation. Who do the top players think is the nation’s best recruiter? Most over-rated recruiter? And, do they feel like they were being stalked through the recruiting process?
The show wraps up with a look at the top storylines for fans to follow as we count down to Feb. 1, national signing day.
RecruitingNation breaks down the top 10 players still undecided, including Dorial Green-Beckham, Davonte Neal, Andrus Peat and Eddie Goldman. The panel discusses why these players are important, where are they are likely to end up, and what it means for the teams that don’t get them.
The show will also feature results from ESPN The Magazine’s "Recruiting Confidential" poll of the top prospects in the nation. Who do the top players think is the nation’s best recruiter? Most over-rated recruiter? And, do they feel like they were being stalked through the recruiting process?
The show wraps up with a look at the top storylines for fans to follow as we count down to Feb. 1, national signing day.
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.