Robinson Hits Road, USC Goes First Class

Soon after USC finished recruiting last year, and after assessing the talent he inherited from Larry Smith as he embarked on his second tour of duty at the school, football Coach John Robinson told his staff: “We need to have a top-five recruiting class next year.”

The hard work began at the top. Robinson hit the road for a week in May, highly unusual for a head coach, so he could personally evaluate some of the top prospects in the state. Among the players he watched practice were defensive linemen Darrell Russell of San Diego St. Augustine and George Perry of San Bernardino, running back Rodney Sermons of La Puente Bishop Amat and wide receiver Larry Parker of Bakersfield.

Robinson continued to actively recruit during the season. One day after practice in November, he flew to San Diego to watch Russell play in a game that night.

Robinson set his sights on the best players available, and also hoped to re-establish the Trojans’ national recruiting presence. Now, a year later, Robinson’s recruiting class is receiving widespread acclaim as one of the best in the country. Among his most heralded signees are none other than Russell, Perry, Sermons and Parker.

One publication ranked USC’s class No. 1 nationally, another had it No. 2 and most others put it in the top five.

This year’s Trojan recruiting class includes several players who have not yet qualified academically, but who USC coaches and academic counselors believe were “good risks” to sign conditionally: top running back prospects Delon Washington of Dallas and Marlin Carey of San Diego Mt. Carmel, defensive back Ken Haslip of Pasadena Muir and defensive lineman Antoine Simpson of La Porte, Tex.

Hoping for some immediate help, USC signed 10 junior college players out of its class of 29, and added sophomore quarterback Bob Otten (6-6, 215), a transfer from Weber State. Best of the bunch appears to be wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson (6-4, 205) of West L.A. College, cornerback Mario Bradley (6-2, 195) of Cerritos and inside linebacker Errick Herrin (6-2, 220) of Mt. San Jacinto.

Robinson and his staff were able to beat either or both Notre Dame and UCLA head-to-head for several superb high school players--including Russell, Sermons, kicker Adam Abrams (5-9, 170) of La Jolla, safety Grant Pearsall (6-1, 185) of Villa Park, tight end Rome Douglas (6-7, 245) of Claremont and defensive lineman Marc Matock (6-5, 235) of Salinas, Calif.

Notes

UCLA had the second-best recruiting class in the Pac-10, probably a top-10 class nationally, and one of its best in recent years. Most talented of the new Bruins could be defensive lineman Vavae Tata (6-3, 240) of Honolulu St. Louis, described by one UCLA assistant as “a physical player in the Junior Seau mold.” Tata and fullback Jarvis Watson (5-11, 215) of Downey Warren might play as freshmen.

Other standouts in the Bruins’ class include quarterback Steve Buck (6-3, 185) of Alta Loma, wide receivers Tod McBride (6-2, 180) of Walnut and Jim McElroy (6-0, 170) of Washington High, offensive lineman Terry Williams (6-6, 270) of El Dorado, linebacker Danjuan Magee (6-2, 255) of Long Beach Poly and cornerbacks Javelin Guidry (5-10, 165) of Gahr and Akil Davis (6-0, 180) of Mesa, Ariz. UCLA coaches believe the “sleeper” of the class could be outside linebacker Ryan Neufeld (6-4, 205) of Morgan Hill, Calif. They also like Shaun Williams, a running back from Crespi who might be moved to the secondary.

Hoop report: Add Duke to the list of schools recruiting former Edison High star Brandon Jessie, a 6-5 forward at Ventura College who has developed into one of the top community college prospects in the country. Duke’s top assistant, Mike Brey, flew to California recently to watch Jessie play. Among other schools recruiting Jessie include Kansas (where his father, former Ram wide receiver Ron Jessie, attended college), Arizona State, Washington State, Oklahoma and Utah.