2015 USC Football Recruiting Class Preview: Defensive Line

USC football recruiting in 2015 turned the eye towards the defensive line, where a group of big recruits have some big shoes to fill.

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Although expected, Leonard Williams’ departure to the NFL has yet to sink in for most fans. Despite being one of the most praised athletes on the team, the full impact of his absence has yet to be felt.

Returning starters in redshirt senior Antwaun Woods, redshirt senior Delvon Simmons and senior Claude Pelon could lighten the load. Meanwhile redshirt senior Cody Temple and redshirt senior Greg Townsend will attempt a late break through late and young players like redshirt sophomore Kenny Bigelow and redshirt freshman Don Hill may emerge.

Oct 11, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive line coach Chris Wilson against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. The Trojans defeated the Wildcats 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

, the five-star out of Serra, is one of the premiere defensive lineman recruits in the country. He is 6-5 and 275 lbs according to 247 Sports, and his performance on the field is very impressive. He can get off of blocks quickly to stop the run and has incredible speed for a person at the tackle position. It seems possible that Greene could play either defensive end or tackle depending on what the coaches decide, as he has a very versatile set of skills. Either way, if he chooses to become a Trojan, he can definitely help fill the shoes of Leonard Williams.

Kevin Scott, a three-star, out of Salesian, has picked up steam late in his recruitment. With a 6-5, 280 lb frame and just a year of high school football experience, the defensive tackle is a project with major upside.

The push for four-star DT Tim Settle also came up short.

At tackle, Green is a top-level talent and it would not be out of the realm of possibility to see him step into a starting spot right away, though he will have to unseat an already established player to do so.

Daniel, Jefferson and Scott could find themselves as part of the rotation early in order to cope with the number of tempo teams in the conference.