[Papa John]

I know that it's still early and the transfer portal is impossible to predict, but USC already has three 5-star HS commits for 2023, per 247sports.  One of those happens to be Malachi Nelson, the #2 HS QB recruit in the nation. And, by all accounts, Lincoln Riley is a good coach.

You're telling me a historical blue-blood with a new well-hyped coach (who is a GREAT recruiter) is recruiting like one by landing 5* kids in its own backyard?

Say it ain't so!

I'm afraid it is so, SamuelMcF. Consider yourself warned!

Since Pete Carroll left after the 2009 season, here's how USC's 5-star recruiting has fared, per 247sports:
2010: Lane Kiffin head coach, five 5-stars (Carroll's recruits)
2011: 1
2012: 1
2013: 4
2014: Steve Sarkisian head coach, 2 (Kiffin/Orgeron/Helton's recruits)
2015: 4
2016: Clay Helton head coach, 2 (Sarkisian/Helton's recruits)
2017: 2
2018: 4
2019: 1 (plus 1 5-star transfer)
2020: 0
2021: 1
2022: Lincoln Riley head coach, 1 (plus 1 5-star transfer) (Helton/Williams' recruits)
2023: 3 and counting

So yeah, the fact that USC has three 2023 commits and they are all 5-stars has me concerned. USC has not recruited consistently at Pete Carroll levels since...Pete Carroll.

[Papa John]

I know that it's still early and the transfer portal is impossible to predict, but USC already has three 5-star HS commits for 2023, per 247sports.  One of those happens to be Malachi Nelson, the #2 HS QB recruit in the nation. And, by all accounts, Lincoln Riley is a good coach.

You're telling me a historical blue-blood with a new well-hyped coach (who is a GREAT recruiter) is recruiting like one by landing 5* kids in its own backyard?

Say it ain't so!

I'm afraid it is so, SamuelMcF. Consider yourself warned!

Since Pete Carroll left after the 2009 season, here's how USC's 5-star recruiting has fared, per 247sports:
2010: Lane Kiffin head coach, five 5-stars (Carroll's recruits)
2011: 1
2012: 1
2013: 4
2014: Steve Sarkisian head coach, 2 (Kiffin/Orgeron/Helton's recruits)
2015: 4
2016: Clay Helton head coach, 2 (Sarkisian/Helton's recruits)
2017: 2
2018: 4
2019: 1 (plus 1 5-star transfer)
2020: 0
2021: 1
2022: Lincoln Riley head coach, 1 (plus 1 5-star transfer) (Helton/Williams' recruits)
2023: 3 and counting

So yeah, the fact that USC has three 2023 commits and they are all 5-stars has me concerned. USC has not recruited consistently at Pete Carroll levels since...Pete Carroll.