Lincoln Riley Is Right On Schedule

How USC football recruiting has shifted in one year

Entering Wednesday’s early signing day, Lincoln Riley has only six transfers committed to the Trojans…

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)  —  As he walked off the Coliseum field following USC’s win over Notre Dame, head football coach Lincoln Riley had a line of people waiting for him. Not fans, not donors, not administrators waiting to congratulate him.

Scores of high school recruits and their parents and coaches awaited, taking in the scene and wondering if USC was the right school for them. Riley greeted, hugged and dapped up all that came within his view before he had to go address his team in the locker room.

A year ago, Riley was in a different position. As the new coach at USC, Riley and his staff did not have relationships with many of the top high school recruits they would like to join them in Los Angeles. Riley settled for nine high school commits, many of whom he recruited at Oklahoma, while relying primarily on the transfer portal to enhance USC’s roster.

Entering Wednesday’s early signing day, Riley has a different type of class assembled. Twenty high school seniors are committed to USC, a group that is ranked 13th nationally and first in the Pac-12 by 247Sports.com.

And there are more possibilities, such as five-star St. John Bosco defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei, one of the recruits at the Coliseum for the Notre Dame game who will make his decision Wednesday.

But the composition of the 2023 class is of note, too.

In last year’s recruiting cycle, USC added 20 transfers compared to nine high schoolers. This cycle has been the opposite, with only six transfers currently committed to the Trojans.

There is still room for that number to grow, but with 20 scholarships allotted to incoming freshmen, it reinforces the commitment that Riley made during the February late signing period.

But regardless of where the new Trojans come from and their age, USC wants them to help contribute to one ultimate goal.

“I shoot it to them straight,” Williams said of his message to transfers. “I say, if you’re not coming here to focus on our team goals, don’t come. If you want to come work with a great group of guys, come on and let’s work. If you’re not here to reach our team goal in January, then don’t come join.”

ocregister.com

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Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
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December 21, 2022 5:36 pm

We all know that Oregon with their lousy program has to be buying recruits. That and they believe Lupoi. The same with TAMU, Texas and Miami. They are buying players, they would have to be to get good names into their crappy programs.

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
December 21, 2022 4:34 pm

19 signed Frosh and 6 transfers, 12 on defense and 12 on offense plus the punter. We’ll see how the work out.

Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
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December 21, 2022 1:37 pm

Where is Jakobe Lane?

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
December 21, 2022 4:29 pm
Reply to  Steveg

Still a hard commit on 247

Chris
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Chris
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December 21, 2022 6:45 pm
Reply to  Steveg

He’s flipping to ASU.

Chris
Major Genius
Chris
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December 21, 2022 8:43 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Agreed. He is no where near Singer, Lemon, and Branch.

Chris
Major Genius
Chris
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December 21, 2022 1:35 pm

Kingston would be a huge pickup for us. He’s a stud and would most likely be our left tackle. He would start either way. If we land he and Wade, our line would be set and deeper than last year. Nobody will be Voorhees good but we could certainly be as good if not better collectively.

Chris
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Chris
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December 21, 2022 2:03 pm
Reply to  Chris

Update: pretty sure we just got Wade. Huge pickup. Now let’s close Kingston. Fight on

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
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December 21, 2022 11:54 am

Remember how we used to talk about the “domino” effect of a coach leaving a high profile job on other schools. When Riley went to USC, that opened up OK etc. I suggest we now have a different type of “domino” effect – the NIL cash domino effect. All of this is speculation – I have no inside information. We all know that Oregon has a “Play for Pay” NIL that is funded (for all practical purposes) by Nike. That NIL must have a budget for true frosh players. So, when the five star QB Moore decommitted from OR and… Read more »

Steveg
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Steveg
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December 21, 2022 9:03 am

Where is the crazy tight end, qb, rb Eldridge?

RialtoTrojan
Noble Genius
RialtoTrojan
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December 21, 2022 8:14 am

Great artists chose their marble carefully. I was going to say that it doesn’t matter who Riley picks up because he can develop them as players. But I realized starting with good marble is important when creating a masterpiece.
All this philosophical do-do to say things are looking better all the time.

Chris
Major Genius
Chris
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December 21, 2022 7:55 am

I think we have some serious dudes in this class. I love the way the line projects. Branch is a better athlete than we have had in a long time. He’s the kind of guy that can make a defense look really bad, like Reggie did. I also think Shelby and Curtis will get lots of snaps this year. They are just too athletic and ready to go.

Chris
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Chris
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December 21, 2022 6:18 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Looks like Matayo is headed to Oregon. All the recruiting services changed their CB last night like they had info. We shall see.

UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
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December 21, 2022 6:33 am
Reply to  Chris

Hoping they are wrong.

Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
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December 21, 2022 7:20 am
Reply to  Chris

$$$$ Truck pulled up out front from Oregon. Same old story. Sure wish USC would have enough to fight back.

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
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December 21, 2022 11:01 am
Reply to  Steveg

Steve, collegiate football has changed big time. Riley and SC have clearly chosen NOT to play big $ to true frosh. I think that is wise. Remember, this family had a son flame out at Clemson. He got no NIL money upfront and was on the cusp of big NIL money (he did a Dr. Pepper commercial) and then faded badly, to the point where he is now going to HI and probably does not have much of a pro career in his future. So, based on that experience, they choose to take NIL $ upfront. My guess is OR… Read more »