National signing day: USC gets defensive back John Plattenburg

By By Gary Klein

Feb 05, 2014 | 8:32 AM

National signing day: USC gets defensive back John Plattenburg — John Plattenburg (33) is swarmed by Corona Centennial teammates after making an interception in November 2012. Plattenburg played last year for Houston Lamar and is now headed for USC. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

John Plattenburg, a defensive back from Houston, has signed a national letter of intent with USC, the school announced.

Plattenburg, 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, played at Lamar High. He previously played at Corona Centennial High before moving to Texas.

USC Coach Steve Sarkisian had said that defensive backs were a priority in the 2014 class.

"He has a very high football IQ," Sarkisian said on the USC website. "He gets the game which allows him to make a lot of plays by anticipating what is coming."

Keith Heyward, USC's secondary coach, said on the website that Plattenburg was "very, very strong and kind of built up already. He looks like he's playing in college right now."

Plattenburg is the second defensive back to sign with the Trojans. USC announced that Lamont Simmons also had signed.

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