BOWL UPDATE : JOHN HANCOCK : Six Trojans to Play in All-Star Games

Six USC seniors will play in postseason all-star games:

--Linebacker Scott Ross, offensive tackle Pat Harlow and offensive guard Mark Tucker will play in the Hula Bowl Jan. 19.

--On the same day, flanker Gary Wellman will play in the Senior Bowl at Mobile, Ala.

--Harlow, tailback Ricky Ervins and defensive guard Don Gibson will play in the Japan Bowl Jan. 13 at Tokyo.

--Gibson and Ross will play in the East-West Shrine game Jan. 26 at Stanford.

Coach Larry Smith said USC has received unwritten commitments from 12 recruits, about twice the number that would usually have committed by this time. Letters of intent can’t be signed until Feb. 6. “We’ve really gotten off to a great start,” said Smith, who hopes to sign 24 players. “We had about 30 guys visit and we’ve gotten 12 commitments. We’ve got another 35 visiting after the first of the year.”

Among those who have committed is Smith’s son, Corby, a quarterback who led Loyola High to the Southern Section Division I championship.