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Rashan Gary Eyeing Trojans and More USC Football News

By Hank Shaw

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Can’t get enough USC football news? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

First Take… With five seniors on the defensive line, it’s no question that the front three of Justin Wilcox’s hybrid 3-4 defense is a position of emphasis going into 2016. That’s a big reason why the Trojans signed five defensive linemen in the 2015 class, highlighted by probable immediate rotation players Rasheem Green and Jacob Daniel.

But even with those five on top of the three already committed to the 2016 class in Keyshon Camp, Keanu Saleapaga and Liam Jimmons, it looks like USC is poised to make a serious run at the biggest fish out there: five-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary of Paramus, New Jersey.

Currently ranked as the nation’s No. 1 overall player, Gary’s mom told DawgNation.com on Tuesday that the Trojans are in the mix. Here’s what she had to say about USC:

"I would really like to get to USC. Rashan is really interested in Southern Cal, but with his football schedule and my work schedule, it’s just hard. I don’t want to go to Southern California for just a day. I want to spend some time there because if that is his decision on where he’ll play, I want to know about the area and know about everything. We have been traveling so much lately. We may even have to take an official there."

That sounds like serious interest for a guy that most pundits have seen as a lock to landing well east of the Mississippi.

At 6-foot-4, 311 pounds, Gary could play the defensive tackle position in Wilcox’s system, which could would work perfectly with Green at defensive end, Daniel at nose guard and Porter Gustin crashing off the edge as a rush end.

It’d be a near perfect marriage on paper for the Trojans. But let’s not get ahead of the game here.

Steve Sarkisian and his staff have to find a way to get Gary on campus, overcoming all of the hurdles his mother outlined. If that happens, look out for the Trojans to have a serious opportunity, as it’s all about winning over mom here.

If not though, then Gary won’t be coming to USC. It’s that simple.

For now though, look for the big lineman to release his top five as soon as the end of August, per Dawg Nation.

And Ten USC Football Links…

  1. Athlon: It’s an offseason tradition like no other: Pac-12 coaches anonymously dishing praise and dirt on the other 11 schools in the conference. Among the interesting things said about USC? Someone agrees with Sark, saying that Max Tuerk is the best center in the nation.
  2. USCFootball.com: Tight ends have been the story all offseason, which makes Dan Weber’s preview of them a good read. Though a nugget about Bryce Dixon potentially coming back could be an even bigger read for Trojans fans.
  3. ESPN: Kevin Gemmell takes a look at Pac-12 quarterbacks, with Cody Kessler leading the way in the conference this season, along with Cal’s Jared Goff.
  4. Ripsit Blog: The school announced on Tuesday that Sark’s MMQB will be back in session this year for fans who want to go over game film with the Trojans’ head coach.
  5. ESPN: With Hayes Pullard now in the NFL, it’s a big year for Su’a Cravens, who has to embrace being a leader. Johnny Curren delves into how Cravens is going about it.
  6. Conquest Chronicles: Jordan Schuchmann takes a look at the Trojans as they enter the season with Pac-12 title aspirations, to which he asks if they can finally make good on the hype.
  7. LA Times: Lindsey Thiry continues her look at USC’s freshmen with a brief glimpse at defensive tackle project Kevin Scott.
  8. Saturday Blitz: College Gameday has been a Saturday morning fixture for more than two decades now. Our friend Michael Collins over at Saturday Blitz went inside the popular traveling studio show to see how it became a hit.
  9. Reign of Troy: It may have been a day late, but our weekly mailbag looks at the Trojans’ defensive line and why there is reason for optimism despite having to replace Leonard Williams.
  10. Reign of Troy: In yesterday’s C&G Shades On column, our Sara Kakuris discusses the most important part of USC’s uniform tradition.

Stat of the Day:

If USC was to somehow find a way to land Rashan Gary, he could be the first No. 1 overall player in the 247Sports Composite to sign with the Trojans since Matt Barkley in 2009.

Tweets of the Day:

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