What might be the saddest part of USC’s recruiting class this week is how the Trojans are not even part of the national conversation any more.
No one thinks USC can be a College Football Playoff contender. No one thinks USC can compete anymore with Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma or even Michigan.
Clay Helton, who was viewed as the adult in the room a few years ago, is now seen as a bland coach who can no longer face the hard truths of his program.
When USC suffered bad seasons in the past, the coaching staffs never really worried too much about it affected recruiting. “It some ways it helps because a lot of recruits will think they can come in and play right away,” one coach used to tell me.
That obviously did not seem to happen this year. A prime reason might be that USC did not even seem to speak to a lot of prospects.
Here’s what Chris Swanson of USC247.com tweeted today: “USC’s 2019 recruiting troubles started well before the season. In April, the Trojans hosted a collection of four and five-stars but didn’t speak to any of them. Brendan Gant, Elijah Higgins and Isaiah Rutherford were among those who eliminated USC after the debacle.”
It almost felt like Helton tried to sabotage his own recruiting class.
Lynn Swann said he gave Helton his five-year extension last year to help recruiting. When will Swann address how it helped recruiting this year? Maybe when he gets off the golf course.
- Three former USC players, including two All-Americans, had lunch this week. What did they talk about? Their surprise at how USC could put together such a bad recruiting class.
- USC guard Kevin Porter has been out a month with a bruised thigh. He is hopeful he can return Dec. 30 against UC Davis. That’s good to hear because is college basketball circles there has already been speculation whether the injury kept him out or some other issue arose.
- As bad as the Pac-12 is in football, at least it is worse in basketball.
- Remember when the Bruin Bear statue was vandalized with red and yellow paint the week of the USC-UCLA game? UCLA police arrested Louis Torres, 19, and Willie Johnson, 18, on Wednesday. Neither was a student at USC or UCLA.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
I am not happy with the direction of the football program, and while I appreciate SW’s blog, I am at the point where I have had enough negativity, at least for a while. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!
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Same to you torjan67…Go Chargers!
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Chargers, baby!
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I’m patiently waiting for Fresno State to blow out USC next season, and please believe me, it’s gonna happen 😂😂
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Me too, and it will be another step to forcing this nightmare to end. I’m also hoping the new University president isn’t awful. I actually miss Sample.
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Pathetic bitter old men come here to worship their hero.
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You’re in denial, Ken. The truth is harsh and hurts sometimes, and this is one of them. Please deny anything written here, and support with facts. You cannot defend the indefensible with this coach, staff, program, A.D. and university administration any more. It’s a dumpster full of old tires burning out of control. “And the truth shall set you free”, brother.
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Take it easy, relax and slow your roll.
Ken, your boys are going down… Wolfman can’t stop it anymore.
In the words of Bobby Knight “If rape is inevitable relax and enjoy it”
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Don’t forget the second signing day…. USC will be the most relevant team on that day. I appreciate the negative pile-on, though, Scottie. Do your worst, baby!
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Really, Lamont? Chris Steele and Thibodeaux are making surprise signings with SC on the first Wednesday in February? Wow, that’ll really be something to see, “Lamont”.
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Frankly, this is where we are 21st December 2018 and shall be for the next 40 weeks until this sad incompetent fool is gone and hopefully the athletic director with him.
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“In April, the Trojans hosted a collection of four and five-stars but didn’t speak to any of them.” So what you’re saying is the USC brought in the recruits and they just wandered alone around campus?
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The funny thing is he quotes Chris Swanson who has been running a Twitter fight with USC football. Anyone knows why Swanson was kicked out of USC practices?
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Yes. Many know. And why he was forced out at rivals? Yup, know that too.
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Pud what do you know?
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Scottie doesn’t know.
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so, the shadow knows…
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Sweet pic wolfy!
I can’t decide which one I like better:
Clay with mouth agape or the mighty bruins physically dominating the soy boys of Troy?
Extend clay 2019! Chip probably only needed a 1 year head start, any additional years we get outta clay are just gravy.
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