USC Recruits: National Signing Day Includes Some Top Incoming Freshman

Though USC has been hit with scholarship limitations, it hasn't stopped head coach Lane Kiffin and assistant Ed Orgeron from still putting together a solid recruiting class.

Kiffin and Orgeron are considered among the best recruiters in college football, and with USC looking to make a run at National Championship next season, the Trojans appear to have yet another stellar recruiting class going into the 2012 season.

On National Signing Day, the Trojans landed some notable recruits. Overall, USC appears to have placed a strong emphasis on the offensive line and at safety.

Guard Jordan Simmons, ranked in the Top Five by recruiting Web site Rivals.com and Scout.com at the position, is one of the newest Trojans, as the big lineman made his intention to attend USC official on Signing Day. Simmons is 6'5 and 340 pounds and played his high school football at Crespi, in Encino. Calif.

The Trojans already had Zach Banner and Max Tuerk, who are considered among the best offensive lineman in the nation.

USC also remain in the running for other top offensive linemen. Kyle Murphy from San Clemente High and Andrus Peat from Tempe (Ariz.) Corona del Sol are highly regarded recruits who have USC on their list.

Based on Scout.com rankings, USC has added two of the five best safeties in the nation. Junior college transfer Gerald Bowman had previously announced his intention of going to USC, and on Tuesday the Trojans welcomed Nelson Agholor, of Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Fla.

USC also added defensive back Devian Shelton, of Inglewood High School. Shelton is considered to have a lot of potential, though hasn't been regarded as highly as Bowman and Agholor.

The other Signing Day arrival was defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The 6'5, 265-pound Florida product was rated No. 13 as a defensive end by Scout.com, and No. 5 at the defensive tackle position by Rivals.com.

An area that USC didn't gain much ground is at tailback. USC, known for having some of the greatest rushers in college football history, head into next season a little thin at the position. The Trojans have not signed one true running back in the 2012 class.

Curtis McNeal returns next season for his senior year after leading USC in rushing yards with 1,005 yards. USC also welcome back D.J. Morgan, who rushed for 163 yards in his first season.

After that, the Trojans appear to lack some depth. George Farmer enrolled at USC as one of the best wide receivers in the nation but was converted into a running back. The freshman looked rather uncomfortable at the position, but it's possible he can make strides in the spring. Redshirt freshman Buck Allen is another option at running back, after being coveted out of Florida.