USC’s spring semester starts Monday, and when the football players head back to class, there will be nine new Trojans among the ranks.
Pending the school’s appeal of the NCAA sanctions, scheduled for January 22, the Trojans are facing scholarship limits over three seasons.
The mid-year enrollees count against the 2010 recruiting class, saving additional spots for 2011 and giving the players the opportunity to participate in spring practices and get a head start on preparations for next season.
Trojans fans can get their first look at one of the enrollees, highly touted quarterback Cody Kessler, when he takes the field in this weekend’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
USC head coach Lane Kiffin has compared Kessler to former Trojan Mark Sanchez, who is in the midst of preparing for his second playoff run in two seasons as the starter for the New York Jets.
Kessler, from Centennial High in Bakersfield, Ca, was named the 2010 Gatorade California Player of the Year and earned a four-star rating from both Rivals and Scout. As a senior, he threw for 2,831 yards and 36 touchdowns and ran for 8 more.
Kessler told Rivals.com, “I’ve never been scared of competing; I don’t care who’s there” – a good mindset to have since one of his fellow mid-year enrollees is another high-profile quarterback, Max Wittek.
- Future USC Trojan Max Wittek was named MVP of the Under Armour High School All America Game a week before beginning classes at USC.
Wittek, a product of Mater Dei High School like current Trojans QB Matt Barkley and former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, showed off his arm strength at the Under Armour High School All-America Game last Wednesday.
One of the quarterbacks on the White Team, Wittek was poised as he led his team back from a 21-9 deficit in the fourth quarter to win the game, 22-21. He threw hard and accurately, outshining Florida commit Jeff Driskel and earning MVP honors.
It seemed to take him a few series to get into a groove, but he only got better as the game progressed.
Matt Barkley has the starting job locked down for 2011, but it’ll be interesting to see how the quarterback battle between Kessler, Wittek, and Jesse Scroggins shakes out in the next few seasons. Scroggins has the edge in learning the system after reshirting in 2010, but Wittek looked very good in Wednesday’s showcase, and The OC Register reports that Kessler may be even better.
Joining Kessler and Wittek on campus this semester are special teams standouts Andre Heidari and Peter McBride. Heidari, a place-kicker, and McBride, a long snapper, both participated with Wittek in last week’s Under-Armour High School All-American Game.
Heidari, out of Stockdale High in Bakersfield, Ca, recorded touchbacks on 83 per cent of his kickoffs in the past two seasons and is expected to claim the starting role from former walk-on Joe Houston in the fall. Both Heidari and McBride are excited to play for USC’s special teams guru John Baxter, and both should provide an immediate boost to a kicking game that was just 22 of 33 on field goals in the past two seasons.
Fullback Soma Vainuku is another new recruit who could see significant playing time as a freshman as the Trojans don’t currently have anyone to fill the shoes of graduating senior Stanley Havili. Vainuku, out of Eureka High in Eureka, Ca., is a powerful runner, similar to Havili in his ability to break tackles.
USC’s other mid-year enrollees hail from junior colleges and should help the Trojans fill some glaring holes, especially on the offensive line. Offensive linemen David Garness (City College of San Francisco) and Jeremy Galten (San Mateo College) could immediately become starters on a line depleted by the loss of Kristopher O’Dowd, Tyron Smith, and Michael Reardon.
Defensive back Isiah Wiley (Arizona Western Community College) is on the small side at 5’8” but he has a reputation for moving all over the field to make plays. He’ll have an opportunity to make an impact on a secondary that returns lots of young talent but lost its top returning cornerback to graduation.
Linebacker Dallas Kelley (Chaffey College) will challenge senior Wes Horton and incoming freshman Tre Madden as weak-side linebacker, though he may end up backup up at middle linebacker this season. Either way, Kelley will be a welcome addition to a defense that struggled through much of the 2010 season.
There are still a few weeks until Signing Day but USC’s mid-year enrollees have the Trojans’ 2011 recruiting class off to a promising start.
