USC Signing Day 2014: Steve Sarkisian, Trojans Face Early Program-Defining Day

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Today’s the day we get our first clue as to what the Steve Sarkisian era will look like. It’s a new day not only for the Trojans’ roster rebuild following a mass exodus of early NFL Draft entrants, but a program-defining day for Sarkisian and his staff, as sanctions levied on USC four years ago finally come to a close.

And close is exactly what the Trojans will try to do themselves today.

With five early enrollees in tow and ten commitments projected to follow through and sign their names over to Sarkisian’s roster, it’s the final four scholarships in USC’s class that are the focus, with three of them potentially holding a giant key to the day’s success.

Despite a revamped staff and two straight losses to arch rival and inner-city nemesis Jim Mora and his UCLA Bruins, USC is in prime position to perhaps seal the deal on a trio of local recruits: Adoree’ Jackson, Juju Smith and Damien Mama.

The three have a combined 14 stars to their name and have all three been projected by the majority of analysts to pick up USC caps today, live on ESPNU.

A sweep would make for a perfect day as far as USC is concerned, given their play at positions of need, rallying fans and boosters around the same Sarkisian they balked at two months ago.

Three swings and a miss would cast today’s potential legacy for naught, and awaken the echos of ‘Seven Win Steve’.

Either Sarkisian is going to be able to exercise some of the last remaining demons of the Lane Kiffin era and close on Signing Day, or he’s keep everyone wanting more as he was known for at Washington.

Adoree’, Damien and Juju will decide how that story plays out, ironically leaving the day’s winner/loser of the day powerless.

Who will join them as members of Sark’s first USC haul? Who will be Trojans? And who will find their heart pumping a different shade of red?

Today we find out if Sark’s got the juju.

Today’s the day the Kiffin narrative ends and Sarkisian narrative begins.

That narrative’s direction has yet to be decided, but today’s first step could be the loudest.

Today is Signing Day. Does Sark have the brew to close?