Top 5 High School Recruiting Pipelines for USC Football in 2017

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Sep 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; USC Trojans defensive back Jonathan Lockett (23) deflects a pass intended for Utah Utes wide receiver Cory Butler-Byrd (16) during a NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah defeated USC 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Mater Dei | Santa Ana, CA

Current Players: CB Jonathan Lockett, OL Frank Martin, LB Grant Moore

Notable Alumni (20 total): QB Matt Barkley, S David Gibson, LB Matt Grootegoed, C Khaled Holmes, QB Matt Leinart, FB Kennedy Pola, QB Max Wittek

It’s no secret that Orange County is USC country. A bulk of the alumni base live in the OC, and the region has long been a home for Trojan quarterbacks, including Sam Clemente’s Sam Darnold. But it’s Mater Dei in Santa Ana that takes the cake as the feeder from behind the curtain.

The Monarchs, a longtime Pac-5 powerhouse, have turned out two of the most iconic quarterbacks in USC history –Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley– along with All-American linebacker Matt Grootegoed, the king of Mater Lei lore.

Though recent recruits Max Wittek and Victor Blackwell didn’t pan out, and the Trojans missed out on Thomas Duarte, the pipeline is alive and well with contributor Jonathan Lockett and redshirt freshman Frank Martin on the roster.