USC football: Quarterback Max Wittek recruits Silas Redd

USC quarterback Max Wittek, who grew up in Connecticut and played Pop Warner football with Silas Redd, called the Penn State running back this week to encourage him to join the Trojans.

Wittek, a redshirt freshman, said he spoke with Redd after the NCAA handed down sanctions in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal that allow Penn State players to transfer without penalty.

“I told him I was sorry to hear about everything that came down and that it was obviously a difficult situation,” Wittek said. “But I tried to sell USC to him a little bit. I’d love to have him here.

“He said thanks for reaching out, that he was definitely interested and was just trying to take the right steps to decide what he was going to do.”

USC Coach Lane Kiffin reportedly visited Redd, who has two years of eligibility, in Connecticut on Thursday.

Wittek said he was in sixth grade and Redd was in seventh when they were teammates. Wittek played linebacker at the time, Redd played running back and linebacker.

“He just dominated the game,” Wittek said. “It was as simple as that.”

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