12-05-2022, 05:18 AM
When five-star linebacker Justin Flowe grabbed an Oregon hat and announced he would play for the Ducks on Wednesday, it put the finishing touch on the worst-ranked recruiting cla s in USC history or at least since 1999, which is as far back as 247Sports' recruiting team rankings go.Trojans coach Clay Helton may have two weeks ago, but he couldnt persuade recruits to play for his team. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, USC finished the first day of college football's early signing period with the Erik Gonzalez Jersey , right between Bowling Green and Louisiana. That ranks last in the Pac-12, and nine places behind the second-worst Pac-12 recruiting cla s: .WOLF: If you want an example Shane Bieber Jersey of how much things have changed for USC, none of the top has signed or committed to the Trojans. Only one, wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. of Corona Centennial, is expected to end up at USC. Just two years ago, the program signed the top four players in the Golden State.The reasons are simple: Heltons precarious job security has created uncertainty, which will continue into next season. But perhaps more damaging is the perception among recruits that USC does not develop its players. Add in the idea that the best football is played in the SEC, Big Ten or Clemson, and things have gotten even more difficult for the Trojans.I just feel like it's Yan Gomes Jersey different towards the Midwest, the East, the South, just because they cherish their football so much, said quarterback CJ Stroud of Rancho Cucamonga, about 45 miles from USC. Stroud signed with Ohio State.Its not just a USC problem. Its a Pac-12 problem. In 2015, 16 of the top 25 players in California stayed in their home state. In 2020, 19 have already signed or committed to out-of-state schools; only one stayed in state.USC fans who were furious that Helton kept his job were irate again on Wednesday, Abraham Almonte Jersey especially when athletic director Mike Bohn not only promised recruiting would improve dramatically, but also said it was going better than people wanted to admit.Helton tried to put his best spin on the recruiting cla s during his early signing period news conference, which as of Wednesday was just 11 players."At the end of the day I'm not about perception, I'm about wins, Helton said.Its not going to be the national ranking because you just dont have the numbers, but it does fill the needs," he said. "And Im more worried, again, about wins than I am Michael Brantley Jersey about winning today. Im more worried about winning on Saturday.Its hard to believe Helton is so concerned about winning when he sports a 13-11 record the past two seasons. Even so, Signing Day was a lo s for USC. And things will get even worse if the Trojans lose to Iowa in the Holiday Bowl.In an incredible display of bad timing, USC in the middle of the worst signing day ever with Bohn and several players asking fans to travel to San Diego next week for the bowl game.It was promptly scorned on social media, like so many things involving USC these days.