FULLERTON, Calif. -- Since ESPN 150 athlete John Smith (Long Beach, Calif./Poly) had been all but consumed by track and field this spring, the highly coveted prospect was a must-see attraction this past weekend in the IMG 7v7 West Regional at Fullerton College.
Known simply as “JuJu” by players, coaches and spectators, Smith drew the attention of countless cameras once he stepped onto the field for Team AIGA. And with Long Beach Poly set to kick off spring practice this week, the versatile 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete is preparing himself for many more eyes, as coaches from across the land are expected to stop by to see him in person.
Three schools in particular have been fighting for his attention.
Known simply as “JuJu” by players, coaches and spectators, Smith drew the attention of countless cameras once he stepped onto the field for Team AIGA. And with Long Beach Poly set to kick off spring practice this week, the versatile 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete is preparing himself for many more eyes, as coaches from across the land are expected to stop by to see him in person.
Three schools in particular have been fighting for his attention.
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Trojans' 2010 class caught in transition 
May, 7, 2013
May 7
8:40
AM PT
By
Garry Paskwietz | ESPN.com
As the Trojans continue to hit the spring recruiting trail, we take a look back at Lane Kiffin's first recruiting class as head coach at USC, the Class of 2010. It was a class whose foundation was built by Pete Carroll but had to be salvaged by Kiffin, Ed Orgeron and others after Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks only a few weeks before signing day.
Given those circumstances, it's not surprising to see both solid contributors and players who simply never found their way at USC. There were 19 players signed -- 10 of whom were in the ESPN 150 -- with wide receiver Robert Woods the highest ranked of the group and the No. 1 receiver.
Given those circumstances, it's not surprising to see both solid contributors and players who simply never found their way at USC. There were 19 players signed -- 10 of whom were in the ESPN 150 -- with wide receiver Robert Woods the highest ranked of the group and the No. 1 receiver.
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Lessons Learned: IMG West Regional
May, 5, 2013
May 5
6:43
PM PT
By
Blair Angulo and
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Some of the region's top teams showcased their skills in the IMG 7v7 West Regional at Fullerton College this past weekend, with the top four squads -- B2G 5-Star, Body By Tra, Those Guys #1 and TGS Warriors -- qualified for the national championship, which runs June 21-23 in Bradenton, Fla. Here is what we learned:
1. B2G gets payback
1. B2G gets payback
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Austin Maloata (Corona, Calif./Centennial) didn't need to think about it long.
Just hours after learning he had landed a scholarship offer from childhood favorite USC, the defensive end sat down with his family to discuss the plan of attack.
As it turned out, there was no need for a discussion. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound transfer from Samoa decided to commit to the Trojans, becoming the fifth member, and third defensive lineman, in USC's 2014 recruiting class.
Just hours after learning he had landed a scholarship offer from childhood favorite USC, the defensive end sat down with his family to discuss the plan of attack.
As it turned out, there was no need for a discussion. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound transfer from Samoa decided to commit to the Trojans, becoming the fifth member, and third defensive lineman, in USC's 2014 recruiting class.
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It’s not that four-star defensive end Malik Dorton (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) had grown disillusioned, but he was thinking rationally.
Childhood favorite USC had extended scholarship offers to 12 other defensive ends, including two from the West Coast in Qualen Cunningham (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) and Connor Humphreys (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic). Even Dorton’s high school teammate, ESPN 150 offensive guard Damien Mama, had landed a coveted offer from the Trojans. Assistant coaches Tee Martin and Ed Orgeron visited nearby St. John Bosco on the first day of the spring evaluation period, but they left campus without giving Dorton great news.
On Friday, it was finally Dorton’s time.
Childhood favorite USC had extended scholarship offers to 12 other defensive ends, including two from the West Coast in Qualen Cunningham (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) and Connor Humphreys (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic). Even Dorton’s high school teammate, ESPN 150 offensive guard Damien Mama, had landed a coveted offer from the Trojans. Assistant coaches Tee Martin and Ed Orgeron visited nearby St. John Bosco on the first day of the spring evaluation period, but they left campus without giving Dorton great news.
On Friday, it was finally Dorton’s time.
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The Northern California-based group headlined by D.J. Calhoun, Joe Mixon, and Adarius Pickett has a fourth, lesser-known member.
He’s linebacker Michael Lazarus (Berkeley, Calif./Berkeley), and he’s ready to bust out just as his good friends have.
He’s linebacker Michael Lazarus (Berkeley, Calif./Berkeley), and he’s ready to bust out just as his good friends have.
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This week's look at Pac-12 recruiting touches on Oregon-bound Morgan Mahalak, Joe Mixon, Nathan Starks and more.
LOS ANGELES -- It’s been less than three weeks since USC wrapped up spring ball, but there the Trojans were this past Monday and Wednesday, a large collection of players tossing the ball around on Brian Kennedy-Howard Jones Field. It was the usual suspects making the majority of the big plays during the volunteer passing sessions -- guys such as Cody Kessler, Max Wittek and Nelson Agholor. But there was one more slightly under-the-radar player who stood out too, just as he quietly did throughout the spring -- tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick.
“It’s great to get back to work,” Cope-Fitzpatrick said. “Any time you get to play football, it’s always a blessing, especially with the weather that we’ve been having. We’re just having fun putting in work as a team.”
Showcasing soft hands and looking quick and fluid in running his routes, the 6-foot-5 sophomore with two career catches under his belt has taken his game to another level over the course of the last two months, emerging as a more-than-capable option at a position that certainly could use his services this fall. After all, while Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer make up what is arguably one of the top tight end duos in all of college football -- the Trojans currently only three scholarship players at the position with Junior Pomee's status unclear. In terms of depth, that’s a dangerously low number, as USC head coach Lane Kiffin found out the hard way this past spring.
Grimble first went down with a chest fracture midway through the spring. Then in the final week of workouts, Telfer was forced to the sideline with a torn meniscus in his knee. Fortunately for Kiffin and Co., Cope-Fitzpatrick was waiting in the wings and ready for a chance to make a statement. And that’s precisely what the Rocklin (Calif.) Whitney product did, particularly in the spring game when, as the only true tight end available, he came through with a big six-catch performance.
And while that outing undoubtedly served as a major confidence booster for Cope-Fitzpatrick, it’s the increased workload that he shouldered throughout the March and April practices that has proven to be even more valuable.
“The game is starting to slow down, and I’m starting to feel a lot more confident in my game,” Cope-Fitzpatrick said. “Instead of pressing like I might have before, I’m starting to use my natural abilities. It was just about getting reps in -- and not even so much the physical reps, but it was more about the mental reps. I spent a lot of time in the classroom really breaking down what I needed to work on.”
[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY SportsJalen Cope-Fitzpatrick broke out in the spring game, hauling in six passes.
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY SportsJalen Cope-Fitzpatrick broke out in the spring game, hauling in six passes.Showcasing soft hands and looking quick and fluid in running his routes, the 6-foot-5 sophomore with two career catches under his belt has taken his game to another level over the course of the last two months, emerging as a more-than-capable option at a position that certainly could use his services this fall. After all, while Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer make up what is arguably one of the top tight end duos in all of college football -- the Trojans currently only three scholarship players at the position with Junior Pomee's status unclear. In terms of depth, that’s a dangerously low number, as USC head coach Lane Kiffin found out the hard way this past spring.
Grimble first went down with a chest fracture midway through the spring. Then in the final week of workouts, Telfer was forced to the sideline with a torn meniscus in his knee. Fortunately for Kiffin and Co., Cope-Fitzpatrick was waiting in the wings and ready for a chance to make a statement. And that’s precisely what the Rocklin (Calif.) Whitney product did, particularly in the spring game when, as the only true tight end available, he came through with a big six-catch performance.
And while that outing undoubtedly served as a major confidence booster for Cope-Fitzpatrick, it’s the increased workload that he shouldered throughout the March and April practices that has proven to be even more valuable.
“The game is starting to slow down, and I’m starting to feel a lot more confident in my game,” Cope-Fitzpatrick said. “Instead of pressing like I might have before, I’m starting to use my natural abilities. It was just about getting reps in -- and not even so much the physical reps, but it was more about the mental reps. I spent a lot of time in the classroom really breaking down what I needed to work on.”
WeAreSC recruiting reporter Blair Angulo answers reader questions in his mailbag every week. Have a USC recruiting question of your own? Submit it via Twitter @WeAreSCstaff or @bangulo.
Rob DiGiacomo (@Its_RobD): What’s the recruiting plan for defensive backs? Su’a Cravens and Leon McQuay are promising, however the past four seasons the secondary (has been) a big weakness.
Rob DiGiacomo (@Its_RobD): What’s the recruiting plan for defensive backs? Su’a Cravens and Leon McQuay are promising, however the past four seasons the secondary (has been) a big weakness.
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After signing only one defensive line prospect in the 2013 class, USC figured to amp up its pursuit this recruiting cycle.
Fresno (Calif.) Central defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood became the first to commit, doing so at the school's junior day event in late February just moments after sitting down with assistant coach Ed Orgeron. The second piece fell into place on Thursday, when juco defensive tackle Michael Wyche (Chesapeake, Va./East Los Angeles College) unofficially visited campus and committed to the Trojans shortly after coach Lane Kiffin extended a scholarship offer.
Fresno (Calif.) Central defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood became the first to commit, doing so at the school's junior day event in late February just moments after sitting down with assistant coach Ed Orgeron. The second piece fell into place on Thursday, when juco defensive tackle Michael Wyche (Chesapeake, Va./East Los Angeles College) unofficially visited campus and committed to the Trojans shortly after coach Lane Kiffin extended a scholarship offer.
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Travis Haney's list of post-spring breakout players is headlined by Florida State's Jameis Winston, but USC WR Nelson Agholor made his way into the top 10.
Click here
to see why Haney expects big things from Agholor and for a look at who else he expects to have a big 2013.
Click here
to see why Haney expects big things from Agholor and for a look at who else he expects to have a big 2013.
Give your most memorable USC quarterback battle or situation that involves two or more quarterbacks.
Garry Paskwietz
There were high hopes for the USC Trojans in 1989. The program was on an upswing under new coach Larry Smith and had risen to No. 2 in the polls in 1988 before a late season loss to eventual national champion Notre Dame.
Garry Paskwietz
There were high hopes for the USC Trojans in 1989. The program was on an upswing under new coach Larry Smith and had risen to No. 2 in the polls in 1988 before a late season loss to eventual national champion Notre Dame.
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Nearly three months have passed since national signing day and USC’s 2014 recruiting board is slowly taking shape as the spring evaluation period rolls on. With up to 20 available scholarships, the Trojans look to add to the six offensive prospects they signed in the last recruiting cycle. Here’s a look at where USC stands in its offensive recruiting:
Quarterback
Quarterback
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With just about four months to go until USC opens the 2013 season, the Trojans are currently sitting smack-dab in the offseason doldrums. And while it’s a relatively quiet stretch of the year, it’s vital in terms of player development. And for the USC defensive back corps, the coming months figure to be even more important than usual. After all, the unit had a ton of question marks heading into the spring, and even after 15 practices, not all of them were answered. With that in mind, here are some of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason for USC's secondary.
The search continues at CB
The search continues at CB
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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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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.