COLLEGE RECRUITING : HOW UCLA, USC FARED : Emanuel Heads a Talented Trojan Catch

When Ted Tollner came to USC as an offensive coordinator under John Robinson in 1982, the traditional tailback assembly line was still moving, but the product was not up to its usual high standards.

Marcus Allen, the last Heisman Trophy winner, was gone and a committee operated at the position, partly because of injuries, but also because no one emerged as a dominant running back.

It was the same in 1983, when Tollner became head coach. He alternated Fred Crutcher, Michael Harper and Todd Spencer at tailback.

The position stabilized last year with Crutcher performing solidly as the starter, and freshman Ryan Knight, who had glowing prep credentials, backing him up.

The assembly line apparently is operating now with some of its old efficiency, since Aaron Emanuel announced Wednesday that he has signed a letter of intent to play for the Trojans.

Emanuel, who was sought by a least 100 schools, is a 6-foot 2-inch, 215-pound tailback from Quartz Hill High near Lancaster. He will enroll in the fall and will compete for the position with Crutcher, the senior starter; Knight and Zeph Lee, who was impressive at the outset of last season before a pinched nerve limited his playing time.

Emanuel, however, wasn’t the only highly touted prep star who signed with the Trojans. Three other Parade Magazine high school All-Americans are also in the fold--inside linebacker Delmar Chesley of Washington D.C.; offensive lineman Chuck Ebertin of San Jose, and wide receiver Marlon Washington of Kansas City, Kan.

In addition, USC apparently filled its needs at several positions with a recruiting class that includes six All-Southern Section first-team players, one Los Angeles All-City choice, two All-Northern California and one All-Arizona selection.

Tollner said that the recruiting class is comparable to the 1984 group that included four Parade All-Americans and was regarded as one of the best, if not the best, in the country.

USC apparently filled its needs for vacancies that will occur after the 1985 season. Tollner used the offensive line as an example.

James FitzPatrick, Tom Cox, Tom Hallock, all returning starters, and Gaylord Kuamoo, a projected starter, will be seniors next season.

So USC brought in Ebertin, 6-6 and 250; Brad Leggett, 6-5 and 245, from Fountain Valley, and Chuck Kunsaitis, 6-7 and 240, from El Toro. Brent Parkinson, 6-6 and 240, from Canyon High in Canyon Country, is expected to sign but did not Wednesday because of a death in his family.

Emanuel, who rushed for 1,962 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, however, is the most prominent USC recruit.

“He has a lot of qualities--size, strength, speed and toughness,” Tollner said. “He is a very committed young man and he has instincts of a good tailback, too. He has a lot of the same things we felt about Ryan Knight a year ago. We’re a tailback-oriented school and we’re very fortunate to have quality there.”

Emanuel most likely will serve an apprenticeship next season as a freshman and then compete strongly with Knight for the starting job in 1986.

“At any school, you are going to have someone ahead of you, but I’m sure there won’t be any controversy,” Emanuel said Wednesday at a press conference. “I’ve talked to Ryan Knight and we have a lot of respect for each other. He even encouraged me to come to USC. We will just have to compete with each other.

“The coaches said they couldn’t promise I’d start right away, but they think I have the ability to play if I work hard and learn the system.”

Emanuel dismissed the notion that USC might have too many quality tailbacks on its roster next season.

“It can only make us better,” he said. “Nebraska had three or four guys, and Washington had a guy back, too. You’re going to have to fight for your position at any major college. We’ll do that in practice and everyone comes together during the game.”

It was assumed a year ago that Emanuel was headed for USC. But Tollner said it hadn’t been automatic.

“He’s a very independent thinking young man and he looked very strongly at Nebraska and Washington,” Tollner said. “As for how much he’ll play, you can’t speculate on that. You have to get out on the football field and practice. We want quality at the position because it’s the focal position of our offense. We’re fortunate to have quality but we don’t have any more players on scholarship than anyone else does.”

The scholarship tailbacks are Crutcher and Lee, both seniors; Knight, a sophomore; Steve Webster, a redshirt freshman, and Emanuel.

Trojan Notes

Ted Tollner said that Andy Baroncelli, a starting center at the outset of last season, has transferred to San Diego State. . . . Delmar Chesley is the brother of tight end Martin Chesley, a USC redshirt freshman last season. . . . Brad Leggett is the son of Earl Leggett, a former NFL lineman, who is now an assistant coach with the Raiders. . . . USC is awaiting word on whether linebacker Quintus McDonald, considered the top prep player at his position in the country, would become the fifth Parade All-American to sign with the school. McDonald, from Montclair, N.J., has reportedly narrowed his choice of schools to USC and Penn State. . . . Other USC recruits include wide receiver John Jackson of Bishop Amat, son of former USC backfield coach of the same name; defensive lineman Dan Owens of La Habra High; wide receiver Travis Knox of San Dieguito High in Encinitas; defensive back Ernest Spears from Vista High in San Diego county; fullback Leroy Holt from Banning High; tight end Scott Galbraith from Highlands High, near Sacramento; defensive back Dwayne Garner from Skyline High in Oakland and outside linebacker Jack McDade, from Camelback High in Phoenix.

USC SIGNEES HIGH SCHOOL

Name School (Town, State) Hgt Wgt Daniel Barnes El Camino Real 6-4 230 Delmar Chesley Anacostia (Washington, D.C.) 6-3 235 Chuck Ebertin Bellarmine (San Jose) 6-6 250 Aaron Emanuel Quartz Hill 6-2 215 Derrick Gachett Esperanza 6-2 220 Scott Galbraith Highlands (North Highlands) 6-3 220 Dwayne Garner Skyline (Oakland) 5-11 190 LeRoy Holt LA Banning 6-2 230 John Jackson Bishop Amat 5-11 163 Travis Knox San Dieguito 6-0 175 Chuck Kunsaitis El Toro 6-7 240 Brad Leggett Fountain Valley 6-5 250 Jack McDade Camelback (Phoenix) 6-3 215 Desmond Moreland North Torrance 6-1 175 Dan Owens La Habra 6-4 230 Brent Parkinson Canyon (Country Canyon) 6-6 228 Dan Quinn San Dieguito 6-3 220 Ernest Spears El Camino (Oceanside) 6-0 175 J.P. Sullivan Vista 6-6 240 Cordell Sweeney Blackford (San Jose) 6-4 220 Marlon Washington Schlagle (Kansas City, Kan.) 6-0 185 Michael Williams Finkston (Dallas) 6-4 205

Name Position Daniel Barnes Defensive Line Delmar Chesley Linebacker Chuck Ebertin Offensive Line Aaron Emanuel Running Back Derrick Gachett Fullback Scott Galbraith Tight End Dwayne Garner Defensive Back LeRoy Holt Fullback John Jackson Wide Receiver Travis Knox Wide Receiver Chuck Kunsaitis Offensive Tackle Brad Leggett Offensive Tackle Jack McDade Linebacker Desmond Moreland Defensive Back Dan Owens Defensive End Brent Parkinson Offensive Lineman Dan Quinn Linebacker Ernest Spears Defensive Back J.P. Sullivan Defensive Lineman Cordell Sweeney Linebacker Marlon Washington Wide Receiver Michael Williams Linebacker