USC Trojans: Tashon Smallwood
A number of athletes with either offers or interest from USC took part in the Oakland NFTC this weekend. Here are some of the top storylines to emerge:
1. Mixon isn’t afraid to embarrass his friends
There is a group of recruits from Northern California that are good friends in running back Joe Mixon (Oakley, Ca./Freedom) and linebackers D.J. Calhoun (El Cerrito, Ca./El Cerrito) and Michael Lazarus (Berkeley, Ca./Berkeley).
1. Mixon isn’t afraid to embarrass his friends
There is a group of recruits from Northern California that are good friends in running back Joe Mixon (Oakley, Ca./Freedom) and linebackers D.J. Calhoun (El Cerrito, Ca./El Cerrito) and Michael Lazarus (Berkeley, Ca./Berkeley).
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A number of USC recruiting targets are expected to put their skills on display this weekend when the Nike Football Training Camp tour hits the Bay Area.
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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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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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WeAreSC recruiting reporter Blair Angulo answers reader questions in his mailbag every Friday. Have a USC recruiting question of your own? Submit it via Twitter @WeAreSCstaff or @bangulo.
Ryan S. Castro (via e-mail): Who are some of the expected visitors for the spring game this weekend?
Ryan S. Castro (via e-mail): Who are some of the expected visitors for the spring game this weekend?
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Defensive end Connor Humphreys (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) answered the phone on Monday morning without grand expectations. After all, USC assistant coach Mike Summers was on the other end and Humphreys was well aware of the Trojans’ reluctance to offer West Coast prospects without first having completed an in-person evaluation.
Humphreys didn’t anticipate a big development, but he got one.
Humphreys didn’t anticipate a big development, but he got one.
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WeAreSC recruiting reporter Blair Angulo answers reader questions in his mailbag every Friday. Have a USC recruiting question of your own? Submit it via Twitter @WeAreSCstaff or @bangulo.
@Will_Great1 (via Twitter): Do you guys think David Sills will be the next Todd Marinovich and will the offense go into more of a spread look?
@Will_Great1 (via Twitter): Do you guys think David Sills will be the next Todd Marinovich and will the offense go into more of a spread look?
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Defensive line a big USC focus for 2014 
March, 14, 2013
Mar 14
7:30
AM PT
By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
At one point last summer, USC had verbal commitments from five defensive line prospects to headline what, at the time, shaped up as the country's top-rated class. Eventually, the Trojans signed only one of those five: defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow of Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy.
No. 1 tackle prospect Eddie Vanderdoes signed with Notre Dame, Kylie Fitts with UCLA and Torrodney Prevot with Oregon, meaning USC not only lost those recruiting battles, but will have to face three of its former commits at some point in their college careers.
No. 1 tackle prospect Eddie Vanderdoes signed with Notre Dame, Kylie Fitts with UCLA and Torrodney Prevot with Oregon, meaning USC not only lost those recruiting battles, but will have to face three of its former commits at some point in their college careers.
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Local standouts highlight USC junior day
February, 26, 2013
Feb 26
12:00
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By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
LOS ANGELES -- Eighteen of California’s 23 ESPN Watch List members converged on the USC campus Sunday for the school’s junior day, providing the Trojans coaching staff with the opportunity to make an impression on a loaded group of high-caliber prospects.
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LOS ANGELES -- The list is subject to change, but ESPN Watch List athlete Michiah Quick (Fresno, Calif./Central) has a top five following his weekend trip to Los Angeles for USC’s junior day.
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LOS ANGELES -- Defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood (Fresno, Calif./Central) surprised himself on Sunday afternoon by committing to USC at the Trojans’ junior day event shortly after landing an offer from assistant coach Ed Orgeron.
Smallwood admitted he never gave much thought to committing this early, but USC felt like the perfect place. The lineman had seen enough and made his decision.
“I never really thought about it,” Smallwood said with a laugh. “The recruiting process has picked up for me, but this offer came up and USC seemed like the best place for me. I’m excited.”
With the 2014 national signing day still nearly a full calendar year away, Smallwood knows this might not be the final event in his recruitment. But if college coaches come calling, he’ll make sure to let them know where he stands.
“I’m going to tell them I’m a Trojan,” Smallwood said.
Smallwood credited a comfortable relationship with Orgeron and the rest of the coaching staff as a major reason for committing while he was on campus. He wasn’t necessarily unfamiliar with the Trojans -- Smallwood and high school teammates Devon Brewer and Michiah Quick unofficially visited USC for the Oregon game last fall.
“Coach O and the whole coaching staff are awesome,” Smallwood said. “The way he coaches defensive lineman. It just fits my style and I couldn’t wait.”
Once the announcement came, Smallwood made Orgeron lose his appetite.
“He was so happy that he couldn’t eat,” Smallwood said. “We were eating when I told him and as soon as that happened he couldn’t eat.”
Smallwood said the coaching staff sees him as a nose tackle, as either a one- or three-technique. The 6-foot, 270-pound lineman also has offers from Cal, Houston, Nevada, Oklahoma and Oregon State.
“Coach [Clancy] Pendergast is going to be great for them,” Smallwood said. “They’ll be a lot better defensively than they were last year. The scheme is really aggressive and I feel it fits me perfectly.”
Smallwood became the fourth member of the 2014 recruiting class that currently features three ESPN Watch List offensive linemen.
Smallwood admitted he never gave much thought to committing this early, but USC felt like the perfect place. The lineman had seen enough and made his decision.
“I never really thought about it,” Smallwood said with a laugh. “The recruiting process has picked up for me, but this offer came up and USC seemed like the best place for me. I’m excited.”
With the 2014 national signing day still nearly a full calendar year away, Smallwood knows this might not be the final event in his recruitment. But if college coaches come calling, he’ll make sure to let them know where he stands.
“I’m going to tell them I’m a Trojan,” Smallwood said.
Smallwood credited a comfortable relationship with Orgeron and the rest of the coaching staff as a major reason for committing while he was on campus. He wasn’t necessarily unfamiliar with the Trojans -- Smallwood and high school teammates Devon Brewer and Michiah Quick unofficially visited USC for the Oregon game last fall.
“Coach O and the whole coaching staff are awesome,” Smallwood said. “The way he coaches defensive lineman. It just fits my style and I couldn’t wait.”
Once the announcement came, Smallwood made Orgeron lose his appetite.
“He was so happy that he couldn’t eat,” Smallwood said. “We were eating when I told him and as soon as that happened he couldn’t eat.”
Smallwood said the coaching staff sees him as a nose tackle, as either a one- or three-technique. The 6-foot, 270-pound lineman also has offers from Cal, Houston, Nevada, Oklahoma and Oregon State.
“Coach [Clancy] Pendergast is going to be great for them,” Smallwood said. “They’ll be a lot better defensively than they were last year. The scheme is really aggressive and I feel it fits me perfectly.”
Smallwood became the fourth member of the 2014 recruiting class that currently features three ESPN Watch List offensive linemen.
Eddie Vanderdoes builds local legend
November, 6, 2012
11/06/12
12:53
PM PT
By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
The legend of Eddie Vanderdoes (Auburn, Calif./Placer) continued to grow on Friday night.
With a massive cheeseburger already bearing his name at a local diner, it seemed nearly impossible for the USC defensive line commit to become more adored in his hometown. But Vanderdoes left perhaps his greatest mark by guiding Placer (10-0) to its first outright league football title since 1981.
Big things were expected from Vanderdoes before the season, and the four-star recruit delivered.
With a massive cheeseburger already bearing his name at a local diner, it seemed nearly impossible for the USC defensive line commit to become more adored in his hometown. But Vanderdoes left perhaps his greatest mark by guiding Placer (10-0) to its first outright league football title since 1981.
Big things were expected from Vanderdoes before the season, and the four-star recruit delivered.
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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.