Assessing USC QB Recruiting Class of 2015

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While many in Troy are focused upon the three-quarterback race emerging for this upcoming fall, an equally intriguing competition over roster commitments for the quarterback class of 2015 is brewing.

In the all important decision of quarterback, one in which the Trojans have held their fair of share of success in the national recruiting spectrum, USC has extended recent offers to two of the top prospects in California.

The USC Trojans extended their third offer to a prep quarterback in the recruiting class of 2015, offering local standout Josh Rosen (Bellflower, Ca/St. John Bosco), the top-rated pocket passer in the ESPN 300.

After impressing coaches throughout the southland with his strong play for Trinity-League Champion St. John Bosco as a sophomore, Rosen continues to shine this summer, garnering the attention of USC quarterbacks coach Clay Helton.

Combine a strong performance at the Rising Stars Camp earlier this summer with a dominant display at “Battle of the Bay” Edison Passing Tournament against some elite competition in Huntington Beach, and the Trojans loved what they had seen. Enough so to make the offer to the highly coveted prospect who continues to rise in national recruiting rankings.

Rosen currently holds offers from 12 schools, including Cal, Vanderbilt, Michigan and Tennessee, and he has placed Stanford in the lead at this moment. The junior-to-be posses leadership intangibles, a smart mind and will continue to develop under head coach Jason Negro against stiff competition from the vaunted CIF Trinity League.

Earlier in the month the Trojans made an equally impressive splash, offering second-ranked pocket passer in ESPN Top 300 Ricky Town (Ventura CA, St. Bonaventure High School). The highly-coveted junior already has offers from Alabama, Texas, UCLA and Florida State to name a few.

Town is the largest of the class with a 6’4″, 190-pound frame and is a strong-armed QB that is polished in his set-up and throwing mechanics. Considered one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, Town put up gaudy numbers last season at St. Bonnaventure, most notably an 11-12 passing performance with 3 touchdown passes against Garfield in the first week of the season.

As a product of a great football environment, Town will shine under the brightest lights in Southern California. Leading St. Bonaventure to an elite ranking last season, Town blossomed in front of our eyes with a strong arm and good intangibles to make plays on the run.

Here are some of the best plays from Town’s sophomore season in Pac-5 action.

The biggest question sits around David Sills (Elkton, Md./Eastern Christian Academy), the player who made national headlines at 10 years old after committing with USC to play under Lane Kiffin. This, while never meeting the coach beforehand, basing his talent from a Youtube video and a Clarkson recommendation.

Does the name Steve Clarkson sound familiar? He is famous for his coaching sessions with Matt Barkley, Matt Leinart, J.P. Losman, Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Cassel among others. With that roster of talent tied to his name, Clarkson is a known commodity for transforming high school talent into elite level quarterback play.

Clarkson has recently worked with Max Wittek while he was still a student at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, leading to a scholarship offer and acceptance to USC for the 2015 class.

Looking ahead, the Trojans seem relatively set with these three quarterbacks in their class. That being said, Rosen and Town have been courted rather heavily and the process will definitely draw out for at least this upcoming football season, if not more time until signing period in the Spring of 2015.

Assuming Lane Kiffin remains at the helm for the next two seasons, Sills should also remain in the picture for a starting job which could be wide open. Either way, expect many of the names on this list to make some moves in the coming months.

With the newest recruits (Rosen and Town) playing in elite competition in the Pac-5 Division in Southern California, Sills will need to dominate Delaware competition if he wants to maintain his status as the top man on the Trojans radar.