O/NSO: 2016 recruiting edition
By Greg Katz – WeAreSC
The Obvious: The Trojans signed tight end Cary Angeline (6-6, 230) from Chester Springs, PA (Downingtown East HS)
The Not So Obvious: Angeline wore No. 6 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that notable Downingtown East alumni include NFL players Tyler Kroft, and Pat Devlin?
The Obvious: An early spring enrollee, the Trojans signed defensive end Oluwole Betiku (6-3, 250) from Lagos Nigeria (Gardena, Calif. – Serra HS).
The Not So Obvious: Betiku wore No. 47 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans outside linebacker Scott Felix. Did you know that prominent Serra alumni include former Trojans defensive back and current Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed safety Jamel Cook (6-3, 185) from Miami, FL (Miami Central HS).
The Not So Obvious: Cook wore No. 35 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith. Did you know that Cook was earlier committed to Florida State and that Miami Central High notables include MLB’s Ronnie Belliard, Florida State running back and cousin Dalvin Cook, and NFL running back Willis McGahee?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive end Josh Fatu (6-3, 290) from Long Beach, CA (Long Beach City College).
The Not So Obvious: Fatu wore No. 11 at Long Beach City College, a Trojans number that is currently retired (Matt Leinart). Did you know that Fatu played his high school ball at Lakewood (Calif.) High? Reportedly bench-presses 345 pounds.
The Obvious: An early spring enrollee, the Trojans signed quarterback Matt Fink (6-3, 180) from Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Glendora HS).
The Not So Obvious: Fink wore No. 12 in high school, a Trojans number that is currently retired (Charles White). Did you know that other Glendora High notables include former NBA player Tracy Murray, quarterback Jonathan Smith, and former major league baseball players Mike Misuraca, Ed Kirkpatrick, and Aaron Rowand?
The Obvious: An early spring enrollee, the Trojans signed wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe (6-2, 210) from Suwanee, GA (Sugar Hill North Gwinnett HS).
The Not So Obvious: Imatorbhebhe wore No. 80 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans receiver Deontay Burnett. Did you know that notable North Gwinnett alumni include major league baseball players Charlie Blackmon, and Blad Wood, NFL players Jared Cook and Ja’Waun James, and actor Daryl Mitchell, who played the fictional character Patton Plame in NCIS New Orleans?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed outside linebacker Jordan Iosefa (6-2, 215) from Waipahu, HI (St. Louis HS).
The Not So Obvious: Iosefa wore No. 4 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans safety Chris Hawkins. Did you know that other notables from St. Louis High include former Oregon Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, former Outland Trophy winner Dominic Raiola, MLB pitcher Brandon League, and former NFL All-Pro center Olin Kreutz?
The Obvious: An early enrollee, the Trojans signed defensive end Liam Jimmons (6-5, 265) from Huntington Beach, CA (Huntington Beach HS).
The Not So Obvious: Jimmons wore No. 33 in high school, a retired Trojans number (Marcus Allen). Did you know that other Huntington Beach High notables include NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, late college and NBA player Jack Haley, and MLB catcher Hank Conger?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive back Jack Jones (5-11, 170) from Long Beach, CA (Long Beach Poly HS).
The Not So Obvious: Jones wore No. 3 in high school, a retired Trojans number (Carson Palmer). 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 wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (6-0, 185) from Saraland, AL (Saraland HS).
The Not So Obvious: Jones wore No. 3 in high school, a retired Trojans number (Carson Palmer). Did you know that Saraland High is known as the Spartans and that head football coach Jeff Kelly graduated from University of Southern Mississippi, was selected in 2001 NFL Draft, and was once a member of the Seattle Seahawks (2001-2002)?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed running back Vavae Malepeai (6-0, 190) from Aiea, HI (Mililani HS).
The Not So Obvious: Malepeai wore No. 19 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that Malepeai, who reportedly runs a 4.4, is the state of Hawaii’s all-time leading rusher and has been compared to former Trojans running back Malaefou MacKenzie? He also had three uncles that played at Oregon. In the U.S. Army All-America game, Vavae led all rushers with 66 yards in six carries.
The Obvious: The Trojans signed offensive guard Frank Martin ll (6-5, 310) from West Covina, CA (Santa Ana Mater Dei HS).
The Not So Obvious: Martin wore No. 73 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans offensive tackle Zach Banner. Did you know that Mater Dei head football coach Bruce Rollinson played for the Trojans and was a 5-foot-9, 186-pound flanker in 1971, and that the last major Mater Dei offensive lineman to USC is center Khaled Holmes, presently with the Indianapolis Colts?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed defensive end Connor Murphy (6-7, 255) from Mesa, AZ (Brophy Prep HS).
The Not So Obvious: Murphy wore No. 90 in high school, a Trojans number currently available. Did you know that Murphy’s brother, Trent Murphy, was a standout for Stanford under Jim Harbaugh? Notable Brophy High alumni include NBA player Mark Alarie and actor Dean Winters. Murphy played his senior season with a groin injury that required surgery. He also has a sister, Kayla, who played basketball at Arizona State.
The Obvious: An early spring enrollee, the Trojans signed wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (photo above, 6-4, 210) from Woodland Hills, CA (Westlake Villege Oaks Christian HS).
The Not So Obvious: Pittman wore No. 1 in high school, a number currently worn by the Trojans receiver Darreus Rogers. Did you know that other Oaks Christian football notables include the sons of Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky, Will Smith, and former Los Angeles Rams running back Wendell Tyler, the father of former Trojans running back Marc Tyler?
The Obvious: An early spring enrollee, the Trojans signed safety C.J. Pollard (6-1, 185) from Carson, California (Gardena Serra HS).
The Not So Obvious: Pollard wore No. 24 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans safety John Plattenburg. Did you know that Pollard’s dad, Marvin, played corner for the Trojans from 1988-1991?
The Obvious: The Trojans signed offensive tackle E.J. Price (6-6, 325) from Dacula, GA (Lawrenceville Archer HS).
The Not So Obvious: Price wore No. 77 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans offensive guard Chris Brown. Did you know that Archer High is a relatively new high school that opened its doors in 2009 with an enrollment of 1,200 students? The Trojans continue to have good recruiting luck in the state of Georgia, as Price will join fellow Georgia natives Chuma Edoga and the Imatobhebhe brothers, Josh and Daniel.
The Obvious: The Trojans signed wide receiver/corner Trevon Sidney (5-11, 170) from Covina, CA (La Puente Bishop Amat HS).
The Not So Obvious: Sidney wore No. 2 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans corner Adoree’ Jackson. Did you know that Bishop Amat also produced such USC football players as All-America linebacker Adrian Young and tailback Mazio Royster?
The Obvious: An early spring enrollee, the Trojans signed offensive tackle Nathan Smith (6-6, 265) from Murrieta, Calif. (Murrieta Mesa HS).
The Not So Obvious: Smith wore No. 77 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans offensive guard Chris Brown. Did you know that Mesa High’s nickname is the Rams, and that the school opened in 2009 and has its first graduating class in 2012? The school got its name from the mesa it sits on, identified in an 1884 surveyor’s map of the valley.
The Obvious: The Trojans signed wide receiver Tyler Vaughns (6-2, 180) from Covina, CA (La Puente Bishop Amat HS).
The Not So Obvious: Vaughns wore No. 1 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans receiver Darreus Rogers. Did you know that Trojans athletic director Pat Haden and associate athletic director J.K. McKay attended Bishop Amat and are considered one of the greatest prep passing combinations in CIF-SS history? And, of course, let’s not forget All-America QB Paul McDonald, who also attended Amat.
The Obvious: The Trojans signed wide receiver/free safety Keyshawn Young (5-11, 175) from Miami, FL (Miami Senior HS).
The Not So Obvious: Young wore No. 1 in high school, a number currently worn by Trojans wide receiver Darreus Rogers. Did you know that Miami High also produced such notable as actor/singer Desi Arnaz (I Love Lucy), NBA guard Steve Blake, and NFL wide receiver Andre Johnson? And did you know that Young’s nickname is “Pie”?
