National Signing Day Live: Where are the top players going? How did UCLA and USC do?

USC’s signing day ended the same way it started. Two more high-profile recruits have announced they will sign with the Trojans, capping an impressive run for Coach Clay Helton in his first full recruiting cycle.

Receiver Joseph Lewis and athlete Greg Johnson, teammates at Hawkins, both selected USC at a ceremony early Wednesday afternoon.

Lewis, considered one of the best receivers in the class, adds to an already deep position for USC. Johnson is a versatile player, having been a quarterback, running back, receiver, cornerback and safety. Both were also considering Nebraska.

USC began the day with seven undecided targets on signing day. It secured commitments from six of them.

The success signals that Maranatha defensive end Terrance Lang, who had verbally committed to USC, could be signing elsewhere. USC has 21 signees, plus offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie, who is expected to blueshirt (meaning his scholarship will count against next year’s class). The school has room for 23, so Lewis and Johnson would put the Trojans at their limit.

USC has received signatures from running back Stephen Carr and tight end Josh Falo.

Of all the commits in USC’s class, maybe no one was rated higher than running back Stephen Carr of Fontana Summit High. Few had been committed for as long: Carr committed to USC about two years ago.

By noon on Wednesday, some USC fans on social media began to worry. Carr had recently visited UCLA, and he’d yet to sign. Would he flip?

He would not. Carr was waiting for a 12:30 p.m. ceremony at his school. There, he appeared with multiple USC banners, removing any remaining suspense.

USC’s red-hot signing day continues. Tight end Josh Falo from Sacramento announced he will sign with USC in a video posted on Twitter late Wednesday morning.

The Trojans had five uncommitted targets Wednesday morning. It reeled in four of them.

Falo, one of the nation’s best tight ends, was also considering Oregon.

Jay Tufele, a defensive tackle fom Utah, is USC’s 13th signee today, with another five enrolled early. That leaves five scholarships available.

It’s coming down to the wire as to which school has the No. 1 class in college football recruiting this year.

As of early morning, Scout.com had Georgia No. 1, Alabama No. 2, Michigan No. 3 and Ohio State No. 4 in its team rankings. USC was No. 7 and UCLA No. 21.

Rivals.com has Alabama No. 1, Ohio State No. 2, Georgia No. 3 and Michigan No. 4. USC was ranked No. 8 and UCLA No. 19.

Linebacker Juliano Falaniko has signed with USC. He becomes the first USC player from an American Samoan high school since defensive lineman Travis Tofi in 2002.

As college football programs continue to announce additions to their 2017 recruiting classes, one name stood out from the rest: Kobe Buffalomeat, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive lineman who will be joining the Illinois State Redbirds.

Naturally, folks on Twitter took notice of an amazing name like that.

USC has a reputation for closing well on national signing day, and the trend has continued early on Wednesday. Austin Jackson, a highly rated offensive tackle from Phoenix, became the second uncommitted recruit of the day to choose USC.

A few minutes later, defensive tackle Jay Tufele of Utah announced that he too would be signing with USC.

The Trojans have now hit on three of four of its targets on Wednesday, missing only on defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon, who was a long shot.

The commitment of Jackson, whose grandfather played for USC under John McKay, was not much of a surprise. Tufele’s decision was a victory for USC, which had been competing with Utah for his signature.

Both players fill positions of need. USC lost both starting offensive tackles from last season and needs depth at defensive tackle. Last season’s starter, Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, graduated, and the roster is thin at the position.

Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao of Phoenix has signed with USC. He might look familiar to Trojan fans: his uncle was Troy Polamalu, the former USC and longtime Pittsburgh Steelers safety.

It’s always good to have family ties to your university and coaches, and UCLA is taking advantage.

Its No. 1 recruit, defensive end Jaelan Phillips from Redlands East Valley, has long ties to UCLA through his parents.

Defensive back Quintin Lake of Santa Ana Mater Dei is the son of former Bruin great Carnell Lake.

And UCLA defensive backs Coach Demetrice Martin used his ties to Pasadena and the Holmes family to land Darnay Holmes of Calabasas.

Safety Bubba Bolden of Las Vegas has signed with USC.

The Trojans have now received letters from nine recruits on Wednesday, in addition to the five who enrolled early. Nine scholarships remain.

In a flurry of announcements, USC has received signatures from six more commits:

• Brandon Pili, a defensive lineman and a rare recruit from Anchorage, who prepped in Oregon
• Alijah Vera-Tucker, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman from Oakland
• Je’Quari Godfrey, a cornerback and high school teammate of Vera-Tucker who flipped from California
• Erik Krommenhoek, a tight end from Danville, Calif.
• Brett Neilon, an offensive lineman from Santa Margarita High
• Randal Grimes, a receiver from Las Vegas

Away on a school trip in Florence, Italy, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon quarterback Niko Harris still found a way to sign his letter of intent with UC Davis on Wednesday.

He got a table, a chair and signed his letter in front of the Duomo, Coach Jon Ellinghouse said.

Asked who was going to fax the letter from Italy, Ellinghouse said, “Somebody is taking care of it.”

Since Michigan is coming to Italy for a couple days of spring practice later this year, maybe Harris can scout some good things to do for Jim Harbaugh.

Two more letters have been faxed to USC. Hunter Echols, a defensive end from Los Angeles Cathedral who flipped from UCLA this summer, signed with USC. And Levi Jones, who committed earlier this morning, made it official shortly after.

Echols was among those cheering Jones’ decision:

USC can use some help at defensive tackle. It’ll have to find it somewhere other than from Georgia defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon.

The Trojans were finalists, along with Alabama, Georgia and Michigan, for Solomon, one of the highest-rated defensive tackle in the nation. Solomon opted for Michigan.

Eric Scott guided Los Angeles High to the City Section Division II championship, then resigned to become an assistant coach at Nevada. He’s using his City Section connections as a recruiter.

Expected to sign with Nevada are Narbonne All-City defensive end Dominic Peterson and Los Angeles defensive lineman Chris Green.

Nevada is also in the running for Lawndale QB Kaymen Cureton, who used to play for Scott at Los Angeles.

USC has announced that its first signee is booked: Jacob Lichtenstein, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive lineman from Florida who was already a verbal commitment.

The first USC hat was on the table at 6 a.m. today, and USC couldn’t have started its signing day much better. Linebacker Levi Jones of Austin, Texas, was widely expected to choose Florida State, where he visited last weekend. Instead, he went with the Trojans with a flourish: He took off a sweatshirt to reveal a Florida shirt, then a Florida State shirt, before finally sticking with a shirt that said “SC.”

“It’s a great place to be at,” Jones said at his signing ceremony.

Jones said he decided at midnight of signing day and credited Coach Clay Helton for, “from the beginning, him not pressuring me to make a decision, him telling me to go out and look at all my options.”

Jones is the third linebacker in USC’s class, joining Juliano Falaniko of American Samoa and Tayler Katoa of Utah. Linebacker is one position where USC needs the extra depth.

Jones’ surprise decision tentatively puts USC at 20 commitments, meaning it has room for three more.

UCLA is in need of improving its offensive line depth, so Bruin fans should be celebrating after 6-foot-5, 290-pound Stephan Zabie from Austin (Texas) Westlake High announced Wednesday morning he would become a Bruin.

He’s an offensive tackle and helps the Bruins overcome some recruiting disadvantages they faced after offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was let go.

UCLA had lost a commitment from a top lineman in Oregon, so Zabie’s signing should be considered an important development for Coach Jim Mora.

Zabie was ineligible to play this season for Westlake

Here is a look at who has committed to UCLA’s 2017 football class:

Player, position, height, weight, school, comment

Martin Andrus, DT, 6-2, 280, Los Angeles HS

Started his high school career on the junior varsity at Long Beach St. Anthony before he transferred.

Austin Burton, QB, 6-3, 200, Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange HS

A Boston native, Burton announced a commitment to Boston College before he switched to UCLA.

Elijah Gates, CB, 5-11, 170, Buena Park HS

Gates also plays receiver and caught 27 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Darnay Holmes, CB, 5-10, 195, Calabasas HS

Holmes committed on national TV during the Army All-American Game. The young nephew who was with him looked disappointed that Ohio State’s hat wasn’t chosen.

Odua Isibor, DL, 6-5, 235, Phoenix St. Mary’s HS

Isibor made 13 tackles for loss, including nine sacks, last season.

Jimmy Jaggers, TE, 6-4, 230, Roseville (Calif.) HS

Bruins offensive lineman Kolton Miller and Jaggers are former high school teammates.

Rahyme Johnson, LB, 6-4, 210, Los Angeles Salesian HS

Having first committed to UCLA in July 2015, he announced 10 months later that he was reconsidering all options.

Quentin Lake, CB, 6-1, 175, Santa Ana Mater Dei HS

Son of former UCLA All-American, five-time NFL Pro Bowler and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake.

Morrell Osling, CB, 6-1, 175, Lancaster Antelope Valley HS

Osling was committed to Colorado for six months before he switched to UCLA.

Cassius Peat, DL, 6-3, 275, Tucson Pima C.C.

Peat committed to UCLA from Corona Del Sol High in Tempe, Ariz., but signed with Michigan State in 2015. He redshirted for the Spartans and then transferred to Pima in Tucson.

Jaelan Phillips, DL, 6-6, 250, Redlands East Valley HS

Phillips is a consensus five-star player among recruiting services.

Kanan Ray, OL, 6-4, 275, Chatsworth Sierra Canyon HS

Ray is UCLA’s longest-standing commitment; he announced for the Bruins last March.

Moses Robinson-Carr, TE, 6-5, 260, Lancaster Antelope Valley HS

Robison-Carr committed to Oregon but withdrew his commitment soon after the Ducks fired coach Mark Helfrich and hired Willie Taggert.

Greg Rogers, DL, 6-4, 300, Las Vegas Arbor View HS

Rogers announced his commitment in a video with his mother that remade an iconic scene from the film “Goodfellas.”

Sean Seawards, OG, 6-3, 315, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro HS

Formerly committed to Boise State.

Jaylan Shaw, CB, 5-11, 170, Corona Centennial HS

Shaw intercepted five passes and forced two fumbles last season.

Zack Sweeney, 6-3, 260, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas HS

Sweeney’s high school team won three consecutive state titles.

Jax Wacaser, OL, 6-5, 260, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro HS

Wacaser reportedly grew two inches and gained 30 pounds between his junior and senior years.

Here’s a look at who has committed to USC’s 2017 class:

Player, position, height, weight, school, comment:

Bubba Bolden; S; 6-2; 200; Las Vegas Bishop Gorman HS

After committing to USC in December 2015, he announced seven months later that he would reconsider his options. He recommitted during a the broadcast of the Army All-American Bowl.

Stephen Carr; RB; 6-0; 200; Fontana Summit HS

In March 2015, he became the first player to announce his commitment to USC as part of the 2017 class.

Hunter Echols; DL; 6-4; 230; Los Angeles Cathedral HS

Committed to UCLA before he switched to USC.

Juliano Falaniko; LB; 6-4; 200; Pago Pago A.S. Leon HS

Would be the first player to enroll at USC from an American Samoan high school since defensive lineman Travis Tofi in 2002.

Je’Quari Godfrey; CB; 6-2; 175; Oakland Bishop O’Dowd HS

He was committed to California for eight months before switching to USC.

Randal Grimes; WR; 6-5; 210; Las Vegas Desert Pines HS

Filling in at quarterback for a game last season, Grimes completed five of six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Damon Johnson; LS; 6-0; 205; Citrus College

The former Glendora High star did not play football last season.

Tayler Katoa; LB; 6-2; 225; Layton (Utah) HS

Played quarterback, defensive end and linebacker in high school.

Erik Krommenhoek; TE; 6-5; 235; Danville Monte Vista HS

Parents attended UCLA.

Terrance Lang; DL; 6-7; 265; Pasadena Maranatha HS

Also a basketball player, he has played football for just two seasons.

Jacob Lichtenstein; DL; 6-5; 240; Weston (Fla.) Cyprus Bay HS

Chose USC from among more than 30 scholarship offers.

Marlon Tuipulotu; DL; 6-2; 295; Independence (Ore.) Central HS

He was committed to Washington for nine months before switching to USC.

Jalen McKenzie; OL; 6-5; 305; Concord Clayton Valley HS

The son of Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie; older brother Kahlil plays at Tennessee.

Brett Neilon; OL; 6-2; 275; Santa Margarita HS

Former USC offensive lineman Max Tuerk, now with the Chargers, also attended Santa Margarita.

Brandon Pili; DL; 6-4; 310; Portland (Ore.) Westview HS

From Anchorage, Alaska, but played senior season in Oregon to gain exposure.

Isaiah Pola-Mao; S; 6-4; 190; Phoenix (Ariz.) Mountain Pointe HS

Pola-Mao is the nephew of former USC All-American and eight-time NFL Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu.

Jack Sears; QB; 6-3; 205; San Clemente HS

Committed to Duke before settling on USC. Followed Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold as San Clemente’s quarterback. Passed for 2,602 yards and 37 touchdowns with six interceptions and rushed for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns for a team that won a state championship.

Alijah Vera-Tucker; OL; 6-4; 290; Oakland Bishop O’Dowd HS

Chose USC from among offers from Nebraska, Oregon, Texas A&M and Washington.

Andrew Vorhees; OL; 6-6; 290; Kingsburg (Calif.) HS

Played on the offensive and defensive line in high school.

(Christina House / For The Times)

If you fish and have ever lost a big one — a four-digit-sized marlin kind of big — then you know how the football staffs at USC and UCLA are likely to feel this week.

Today is national signing day for football, when the very best high school football seniors will be officially accepting scholarships from the nation’s very best college programs.

Which brings us to Wyatt Davis, the big one — literally and figuratively.

Davis, whose grandfather is Green Bay Packers legend Willie Davis, last season became the first offensive lineman to win the Los Angeles Times’ award as the top high school football player in the Southland.

Yet, Davis says that when he is asked his college choice, he will answer … Ohio State.

Ohio State?

Read More