Wide out Bryce Treggs (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) took his official visit to UCLA over the weekend.
Did the Bruins do enough to make things interesting with longtime favorite Cal?
“I’m still committed to Cal, but I have a lot to think about,” Treggs said. “The visit to UCLA was great, I had a lot of fun hanging out with the other recruits and the players on the team were great to me. It’s a close knit group, and I fit in really well with them. I think the highlight for me was just spending so much time with Coach [Eric] Yarber, who I said before is my favorite receiver coach.
Did the Bruins do enough to make things interesting with longtime favorite Cal?
“I’m still committed to Cal, but I have a lot to think about,” Treggs said. “The visit to UCLA was great, I had a lot of fun hanging out with the other recruits and the players on the team were great to me. It’s a close knit group, and I fit in really well with them. I think the highlight for me was just spending so much time with Coach [Eric] Yarber, who I said before is my favorite receiver coach.
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While this weekend gave USC coaches the opportunity to sway six uncommitted official visitors, it also presented a chance to put the finishing touches on the recruitment of committed tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney).
Cope-Fitzpatrick verbally committed to USC this past summer, but continued to hear from other schools. Most notably, Colorado made a strong late push and hosted the tight end on a January official visit. Heading into this weekend, Cope-Fitzpatrick was armed with more than a few questions. By the time USC tight end coach Justin Mesa was finished answering them, Cope-Fitzpatrick was pleased enough to give the Trojans staff an answer in return.
"I sat down with coach Mesa and we talked about about four hours, strictly about football," Cope-Fitzpatrick said. "I'm leaving here feeling very comfortable coming to USC."
Cope-Fitzpatrick verbally committed to USC this past summer, but continued to hear from other schools. Most notably, Colorado made a strong late push and hosted the tight end on a January official visit. Heading into this weekend, Cope-Fitzpatrick was armed with more than a few questions. By the time USC tight end coach Justin Mesa was finished answering them, Cope-Fitzpatrick was pleased enough to give the Trojans staff an answer in return.
"I sat down with coach Mesa and we talked about about four hours, strictly about football," Cope-Fitzpatrick said. "I'm leaving here feeling very comfortable coming to USC."
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Zach Banner (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) took his fifth and final official visit this past weekend to USC. The lineman had earlier checked out Michigan, Notre Dame, Washington and Oklahoma.
“This trip was the most fun for me out of any of the visits,” Banner said. “It was pretty eye opening to see USC up close and see all the opportunities I could have if I attended school there. The highlight was just being around the players on the team, those are some real cool guys. With all these trips, my goal is to see, for 48 hours, what it would be like to attend school there and I definitely got a great vibe at USC.
“I got a campus tour, spent a lot of time with the academic people and saw the new football facilities that they’re building. I’ve been to USC twice before but this was my first time visiting the Coliseum. It was awesome, they turned the scoreboard on for us and they had our names on the scoreboard, it was really cool.”
“This trip was the most fun for me out of any of the visits,” Banner said. “It was pretty eye opening to see USC up close and see all the opportunities I could have if I attended school there. The highlight was just being around the players on the team, those are some real cool guys. With all these trips, my goal is to see, for 48 hours, what it would be like to attend school there and I definitely got a great vibe at USC.
“I got a campus tour, spent a lot of time with the academic people and saw the new football facilities that they’re building. I’ve been to USC twice before but this was my first time visiting the Coliseum. It was awesome, they turned the scoreboard on for us and they had our names on the scoreboard, it was really cool.”
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After verbally committing to USC immediately upon receiving a scholarship offer, fullback Jahleel Pinner (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) has been locked into becoming a USC Trojan for the better part of a year. Pinner had just one official visit scheduled and took it this weekend to check out his future home.
"It was great," Pinner said of his visit to USC. "I had no clue what we were going to do on the trip, but I'm glad I came down here. I had a good time meeting all the players."
Pinner said it was the time he spent with the coaches that put the visit over the top for him. While he has had brief contact with several members of the staff through the recruiting process, this was the first time he was able to speak in depth with every coach.
"It was great," Pinner said of his visit to USC. "I had no clue what we were going to do on the trip, but I'm glad I came down here. I had a good time meeting all the players."
Pinner said it was the time he spent with the coaches that put the visit over the top for him. While he has had brief contact with several members of the staff through the recruiting process, this was the first time he was able to speak in depth with every coach.
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Heading into the weekend, the USC Trojans were scheduled to host eight official visitors.
Sunday, news spread that a ninth visitor was on campus, as Washington quarterback commit Cyler Miles (Denver/Mullen) joined the festivities. Miles is the No. 10 quarterback in the country and has been a Huskies commit since early June.
Sunday, news spread that a ninth visitor was on campus, as Washington quarterback commit Cyler Miles (Denver/Mullen) joined the festivities. Miles is the No. 10 quarterback in the country and has been a Huskies commit since early June.
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USC to get in-home visit with Arik Armstead 
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
10:38
PM PT
By
Garry Paskwietz | ESPN.com
It's never over in the world of high school recruiting.
It was only two weeks ago that Armond Armstead announced he would be leaving USC with the intention of playing out his final season of college eligibility at another school. It was Armond’s goal to play next year with his brother Arik Armstead, a top recruit who had once been committed to the Trojans.
The reasons for Armond’s departure and Arik’s decommit from USC have been well documented, involving an undisclosed medical condition which did not allow Armond clearance to play in 2011.
It was only two weeks ago that Armond Armstead announced he would be leaving USC with the intention of playing out his final season of college eligibility at another school. It was Armond’s goal to play next year with his brother Arik Armstead, a top recruit who had once been committed to the Trojans.
The reasons for Armond’s departure and Arik’s decommit from USC have been well documented, involving an undisclosed medical condition which did not allow Armond clearance to play in 2011.
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USC quarterback Matt Barkley sat down with Shelley Smith and discussed the highs and lows of his USC career, but for this life-long Trojan fan he wouldn't have it any other way.
Previewing USC's official visit weekend
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
11:00
AM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
At least eight official visitors will be on the USC campus this weekend, as the USC coaches look to put the final touches on another outstanding recruiting class.
Just like last weekend, it all starts on the offensive line with this group.
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With less than two weeks until national signing day, it's time to talk about everything from where the top uncommitted prospects are heading to who will have the nation's top class to much, much more. WeAreSC recruiting writer Erik McKinney will be on at 11:30 a.m. PT, so get your questions ready.
Chat with our stable of experts after the jump to get the answers to all your recruiting questions:
Chat with our stable of experts after the jump to get the answers to all your recruiting questions:
High three-star offensive guard Hiva Lutui (Euless, Texas/Trinity) is no longer committed to the Bruins following an official visit, multiple sources report. He originally selected UCLA in August well before the coaching change.
According to multiple sources, UCLA's rival USC and new PAC-12 member Utah are the leaders for Lutui. He visited the Utes in December and has a trip to USC planned for this weekend. Scout.com also believes Brigham Young could land the coveted blocker.
According to multiple sources, UCLA's rival USC and new PAC-12 member Utah are the leaders for Lutui. He visited the Utes in December and has a trip to USC planned for this weekend. Scout.com also believes Brigham Young could land the coveted blocker.
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USC seniors to watch in all-star games
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
8:00
AM PT
By
Kyle Williams | ESPN.com
Four USC seniors will wear the Cardinal and Gold on their helmets one last time on Saturday in their last attempt to showcase their skills on the field before April’s NFL draft.
East-West Shrine Game -- 1 p.m. Saturday, Orlando, Fla.
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Offensive lineman Zach Banner (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) will take his final official visit this weekend and also set the date for when he’ll be making his college choice.
Banner has already visited Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Washington and will head to USC this week. He’s narrowed his choices to the Sooners, the Huskies and the Trojans.
“This will be my third time visiting USC,” Banner said. “I’m pretty excited about it. USC has been recruiting me hard for a long time, and I have a great relationship with the coaches there. I know a lot of the recruits, I’m familiar and like the area and campus and USC is a school that I loved watching when I was younger.
Banner has already visited Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Washington and will head to USC this week. He’s narrowed his choices to the Sooners, the Huskies and the Trojans.
“This will be my third time visiting USC,” Banner said. “I’m pretty excited about it. USC has been recruiting me hard for a long time, and I have a great relationship with the coaches there. I know a lot of the recruits, I’m familiar and like the area and campus and USC is a school that I loved watching when I was younger.
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Thursday's episode of RecruitingNation
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
11:51
AM PT
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Tune in to ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. ET today for RecruitingNation. Tom Luginbill, Craig Haubert and national and local writers from RecruitingNation break down the latest recruiting news from across the country.
Thursday's show will look at the impact on Gunner Kiel’s decision to attend Notre Dame, what the pledge does for the Irish and where does LSU go now at quarterback? There will also be analysis on Mario Edwards’ decision to eliminate Texas from consideration on Thursday, what Jameis Winston is going to do and how Oklahoma is going do to recover from losing one of its best recruiters.
Luginbill and Haubert will also review the new ESPNU 150 rankings that were released on Thursday and highlight some of the big risers and fallers.
The broadcast can also be seen on WatchESPN.
Thursday's show will look at the impact on Gunner Kiel’s decision to attend Notre Dame, what the pledge does for the Irish and where does LSU go now at quarterback? There will also be analysis on Mario Edwards’ decision to eliminate Texas from consideration on Thursday, what Jameis Winston is going to do and how Oklahoma is going do to recover from losing one of its best recruiters.
Luginbill and Haubert will also review the new ESPNU 150 rankings that were released on Thursday and highlight some of the big risers and fallers.
The broadcast can also be seen on WatchESPN.
Cope-Fitzpatrick is nation's top tight end
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
9:28
AM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
After checking in as the No. 2 tight end for much of the process, USC commit Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) leapt 15 spots in the final ESPNU 150 and grabbed the No. 1 spot away from Florida commit Colin Thompson (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood).
Cope-Fitzpatrick had a tremendous showing during practices for the Under Armour All-America Game and impressed during the game as well, hauling in several passes, including a touchdown.
Cope-Fitzpatrick had a tremendous showing during practices for the Under Armour All-America Game and impressed during the game as well, hauling in several passes, including a touchdown.
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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.