O/NSO: 2015 recruiting edition

By Greg Katz – WeAreSC The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive tackle Jacob Daniel (6-4, 325) from Fresno, California/Clovis North High. The Not So Obvious: Daniel (above photo) wore No. 90 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans DL Claude Pelon. Did you know that Clovis North High is a relatively new high school in Clovis and had its first graduating class in 2011? The Obvious: The Trojans signed quarterback Sam Darnold (6-4, 215) from San Clemente, California/San Clemente High. The Not So Obvious: Darnold wore No. 18 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans WR Ajene Harris. Did you know that prominent San Clemente alumni include NFL football player Brian De la Puente, 2008 Olympics USA Men’s Volleyball gold medal winner Gabe Gardner, and 2010 Playboy Playmate Katie Vernola (Miss June)? The Obvious: The Trojans signed running back/wide receiver Dominic Davis (5-10, 175) from Mission Hills, California/Bishop Alemany High. The Not So Obvious: Davis wore No. 16 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that prominent Alemany alumni include comedian and actor “Cheech” Marin, actress Alyssa Diaz, and Jim Pons, former bass guitarist for The Leaves, The Turtles, and The Mothers of Invention? The Obvious: The Trojans signed offensive tackle Chuma Edoga (6-4, 285) from Powder Springs, Georgia/McEachern High. The Not So Obvious: Edoga wore No. 77 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans offensive lineman Chris Brown. Did you know that prominent McEachern High alumni include Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith; Mac Powell and Mark Lee of the four-time Grammy Award winning band Third Day; and Patrick Millsaps, television political analyst? The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive lineman Rasheem Green (6-5, 285) from Gardena, California/Junipero Serra High. The Not So Obvious: Green wore No. 52 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans defensive tackle Delvon Simmons. Did you know that prominent Serra alumni include former Trojans defensive back and current Seattle Seahawks defensive coach Kris Richard? The Obvious: The Trojans signed linebacker Porter Gustin (6-5, 250) from Salem, Utah/Salem Hills High. The Not So Obvious: Gustin wore No. 11 in high school, a Trojans number currently available Did you know that Porter was also a quarterback for Salem and that Salem Hills High School was the first new high school to be built in the Nebo School District in over 100 years, opening its doors in 2008? The Obvious: The Trojans signed De’Quan Hampton (6-4, 220) from Compton, California/Long Beach City College. The Not So Obvious: Hampton wore No. 2 in community college, a number currently worn by the Trojans corner/wide receiver Adoree’ Jackson. Did you know that prominent Long Beach City College alumni include actor Carl Weathers, MLB player Damon Easley, and former Trojans basketball great Mack Calvin? The Obvious: The Trojans signed offensive tackle Roy Hemsley (6-6, 310) from Los Angeles/Windward High. The Not So Obvious: Hemsely wore No. 63 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that prominent Windward alumni include The Wallflowers Jakob Dylan, son of the legendary Bob Dylan? The Obvious: The Trojans signed linebacker John Houston Jr. (6-3, 220) from Gardena, California/Junipero Serra High. The Not So Obvious: Houston wore No. 10 in high school, a number currently available. Did you know that prominent Serra High alumni include recent Trojans receiver greats Robert Woods and Marqise Lee (of course you did)? The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive tackle Noah Jefferson (6-6, 330) from Las Vegas, Nevada/Liberty High. The Not So Obvious: Jefferson wore No. 90 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans defensive tackle Claude Pelon. Did you know that Liberty, known as the Patriots, is located in Henderson County and through most of the school's history the athletic department used the logo of the New England Patriots? The Obvious: The Trojans signed running back Ronald Jones ll (6-0, 185) from McKinney, Texas/McKinney North High. The Not So Obvious: Smith wore No. 24 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans freshman walk-on tailback Stefan Smith. Did you know that prominent McKinney North alumni include Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Mike Bolsinger? The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive back Isaiah Langley (6-0, 165) from Pleasanton, California/Foothill High. The Not So Obvious: Langley wore No. 7 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans wide receiver Steven Mitchell. Did you know that former prominent Foothill High alumni include infielder Brandon Crawford of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants? The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive back Iman Marshall 6-1, 195) from Long Beach, California/Poly. The Not So Obvious: Marshall wore No. 8 in high school, a Trojans defensive number currently available. Did you know that prominent Poly alumni include the late Tony Gwynn of the Padres, actress Cameron Diaz, and rapper Snoop Dog? The Obvious: The Trojans signed linebacker Osa Masina (6-4, 245) from Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton High. The Not So Obvious: Masina wore No. 54 in high school, a Trojans number currently worn by walk-on LB Reuben Peters. Did you know that prominent Brighton alumni include Trevor Lewis of the 2012 Stanley Cup winners Los Angeles Kings? The Obvious: The Trojans signed tight end Tyler Petite (6-6, 235) from Moraga, California/Campolindo High. The Not So Obvious: Petite wore No. 8 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that prominent Campolindo alumni include 11-time Olympic medal winning swimmer Matt Biondi and MLB Network sportscaster and host Matt Vasgersian? The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive end Christian Rector (6-5, 260) from Los Angeles Loyola High. The Not So Obvious: Rector wore No. 2 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans corner/wide receiver Adoree’ Jackson. Did you know that prominent Loyola alumni include legendary former KTLA broadcaster Stan Chambers and former Trojans tailback and former Loyola head football coach Steve Grady? The Obvious: The Trojans signed wide receiver/defensive back Ykili Ross (6-2, 185) from Riverside, California/Poly High. The Not So Obvious: Ross wore No. 7 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans wide receiver Steven Mitchell. Did you know that prominent Poly Alumni include former Trojans women’s basketball legend and Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller and her Hall of Fame basketball brother Reggie Miller and former MLB baseball great Bobby Bonds? The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive lineman Kevin Scott (6-5, 315) from Los Angeles Salesian High. The Not So Obvious: Scott wore No. 55 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans linebacker Lamar Dawson. Did you know that prominent Salesian alumni include Willie “Little Willie G” Garcia, lead singer of the famed Chicano and East L.A. rock band of the 60s, “Thee Midniters”? The Obvious: The Trojans signed linebacker Cameron Smith (6-2, 240) from Granite Bay, California/Granite Bay High. The Not So Obvious: Smith wore No. 5 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that prominent Granite Bay alumni include former Trojans linebacker Dallas Sartz and LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis? The Obvious: The Trojans signed center Cole Smith (6-4, 280) from Mission Viejo, California/Mission Viejo High. The Not So Obvious: Smith wore No. 56 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans offensive tackle Jordan Austin. Did you know that prominent Mission Viejo alumni include former Masters and British Open winner Mark O’Meara and Trojan and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez? The Obvious: The Trojans signed safety Marvell Tell lll (6-2, 190) from Encino, California/Crespi High. The Not So Obvious: Tell wore No. 7 in high school, a Trojans defensive number currently available. Did you know that prominent Crepsi alumni include former NFL player and broadcaster Randy Cross, former Dodgers MLB catcher Rick Dempsey, and actor Michael Angarano (Will and Grace)? The Obvious: The Trojans signed quarterback Ricky Town (6-3, 205) from Ventura, California/Saint Bonaventure High. The Not So Obvious: Town wore No. 8 in high school, a Trojans number currently worn by walk-on quarterback Andrew Zolintakis. Did you know that prominent Saint Bonaventure alumni include former NFL and Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker? The Obvious: The Trojans signed running back Aca’Cedric Ware (6-0, 200) from Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill High. The Not So Obvious: Ware wore No. 28 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans wide receiver Christian Tober. Did you know that former Trojan All-America tailback Anthony Davis also wore No. 28, and Cedar Hill High is also home to Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Josh Allen? The Obvious: The Trojans signed wide receiver Isaac Whitney (6-4, 205) from Moore, Oklahoma/Riverside (Calif.) Community College. The Not So Obvious: Whitney wore No. 8 in community college, a Trojans number currently worn by walk-on quarterback Andrew Zolintakis. Did you know that prominent Riverside CC alumni include Hall of Fame basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and late former Trojans head basketball coach Bob Boyd?