USC Trojans: Michiah Quick
Every Wednesday, the WeAreSC staff will take a quick-hit look at some of the top recruits and storylines facing USC recruiting for the week.
This week’s targets: Assistant coach Ed Orgeron dropped by River Ridge (La.) John Curtis Christian over the weekend to see safety Mattrell McGraw, No. 2-rated receiver Malachi Dupre and four-star linebacker Kenny Young in their spring scrimmage. Assistant coach Mike Ekeler checked in with ESPN 150 linebackers Clifton Garrett (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and Nyles Morgan (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) at their respective schools on Monday, while three-star outside linebacker Michael Smith (Miami, Fla./Northwestern) said he also received a visit from USC. On Monday night, local receiver Brandon Burton (Gardena, Calif./Serra) became the first Class of 2016 prospect to land a Trojans scholarship offer.
Prospect performance: Last weekend’s Nike Football Training Camp in Oakland had a USC flavor to it. Five-star cornerback Adoree' Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra) shined in one-on-one drills, just a day after winning his section’s track and field title with a record-setting long jump of 25 feet. Jackson received an invitation to The Opening, as did fellow USC targets Joe Mixon, Michiah Quick and Adarius Pickett. Trojans defensive tackle commit Tashon Smallwood (Fresno, Calif./Central) also turned in an impressive performance in pass rushing drills. Fast-rising cornerback John Plattenburg (Corona, Calif./Centennial) and guard Kammy Delp (Pomona, Calif./Diamond Ranch), whom have garnered interest from USC assistant James Cregg, took home DB and OL MVP honors, respectively.
This week’s targets: Assistant coach Ed Orgeron dropped by River Ridge (La.) John Curtis Christian over the weekend to see safety Mattrell McGraw, No. 2-rated receiver Malachi Dupre and four-star linebacker Kenny Young in their spring scrimmage. Assistant coach Mike Ekeler checked in with ESPN 150 linebackers Clifton Garrett (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and Nyles Morgan (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) at their respective schools on Monday, while three-star outside linebacker Michael Smith (Miami, Fla./Northwestern) said he also received a visit from USC. On Monday night, local receiver Brandon Burton (Gardena, Calif./Serra) became the first Class of 2016 prospect to land a Trojans scholarship offer.
Prospect performance: Last weekend’s Nike Football Training Camp in Oakland had a USC flavor to it. Five-star cornerback Adoree' Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra) shined in one-on-one drills, just a day after winning his section’s track and field title with a record-setting long jump of 25 feet. Jackson received an invitation to The Opening, as did fellow USC targets Joe Mixon, Michiah Quick and Adarius Pickett. Trojans defensive tackle commit Tashon Smallwood (Fresno, Calif./Central) also turned in an impressive performance in pass rushing drills. Fast-rising cornerback John Plattenburg (Corona, Calif./Centennial) and guard Kammy Delp (Pomona, Calif./Diamond Ranch), whom have garnered interest from USC assistant James Cregg, took home DB and OL MVP honors, respectively.
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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Silence fell over the hundreds of athletes as they took a knee near the north end zone at Laney College. With the six-hour Nike Football Training Camp behind them, they nervously looked around in anticipation.
“And the defensive back MVP goes to…”
Would it be the favorite, five-star cornerback and ESPN 150 member Adoree’ Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra)? Would it be Stanford safety commit Brandon Simmons (Arlington, Texas/Timberview)? Or would Northern California based four-star prospect Adarius Pickett (El Cerrito, Calif./El Cerrito) defend his turf?
It was neither.
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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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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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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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Video: Pac-12 spring visits, big decommit
April, 26, 2013
Apr 26
9:57
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By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
In this week's edition of the Pac-12 Official Visit segment, West regional recruiting coordinator Erik McKinney joins Phil Murphy to discuss the latest decommitment for USC and a host of spring game visitors for UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.
With today's release of the ESPN 150, here's a look at 10 of USC's top targets in the 2014 class.
1. CB Adoree’ Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra)
5-foot-11, 183 pounds
ESPN 150 Rank: 5
1. CB Adoree’ Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra)
5-foot-11, 183 pounds
ESPN 150 Rank: 5
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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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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.
Top in-state talent to USC junior day
February, 21, 2013
Feb 21
8:00
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By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
A group of top in-state prospects are scheduled to converge on USC Sunday for the Trojans’ junior day.
The USC staff will have an opportunity to make a positive impression on the likes of Adoree’ Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra), Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom), Ainuu Taua (Lompoc, Calif./Lompoc), John “JuJu” Smith (Long Beach, Calif./Poly), Bryce Dixon (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure), Michiah Quick (Fresno, Calif./Central) and Dwight Williams (Gardena, Calif./Serra), though there was a mix up earlier in the week. Jackson, the highly coveted athlete who bagged a USC offer in late January, had not heard from the coaching staff about junior day and, as a result, did not plan to attend. But he and Williams finally received a call from Lane Kiffin on Wednesday and both expected to make the short drive to campus.
The USC staff will have an opportunity to make a positive impression on the likes of Adoree’ Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Serra), Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom), Ainuu Taua (Lompoc, Calif./Lompoc), John “JuJu” Smith (Long Beach, Calif./Poly), Bryce Dixon (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure), Michiah Quick (Fresno, Calif./Central) and Dwight Williams (Gardena, Calif./Serra), though there was a mix up earlier in the week. Jackson, the highly coveted athlete who bagged a USC offer in late January, had not heard from the coaching staff about junior day and, as a result, did not plan to attend. But he and Williams finally received a call from Lane Kiffin on Wednesday and both expected to make the short drive to campus.
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How USC can use 20 scholarships in 2014
February, 12, 2013
Feb 12
8:30
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By
Blair Angulo | ESPN.com
USC will have an extra five scholarships to use on the next recruiting class after signing only 12 on Feb. 6. Here’s a look at how the Trojans could spend their 20 scholarships in 2014.
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Eddie Vanderdoes builds local legend
November, 6, 2012
11/06/12
12:53
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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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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.