USC Early Signing Day 2020: LOI tracker, live blog and open thread

USC Early Signing Day 2020 has arrived with major pressure on the Trojans to close strong to salvage what is likely to be the lowest-ranked class in history.

It hasn’t been a particularly strong recruiting year for the Trojans, which should make USC Early Signing Day 2020 especially interesting.

USC enters the day ranked 83rd nationally in the 247Sports composite team rankings. A big day could spring the Trojans up into far more acceptable territory. But a couple of misses could leave Clay Helton and company with a load of egg on their face.

LOI Tracker | Big Board | Twitter

It all starts with Justin Flowe, the five-star linebacker out of Upland, but the Trojans are also swinging for the fences with a chance at five-star running back Bijan Robinson and LSU commit Elias Ricks.

RELATED: USC’s 10 Biggest Signing Day Gets of the Last 10 Years

Of course, numbers may be limited. A small senior class of 2019 means the Trojans won’t have room to take a full class of 25. Figuring out just what number will look like is what Signing Day is all about.

USC Early Signing Day Live Blog

12:50 p.m.: During his Early Signing Day press conference, Clay Helton confirmed that USC will have three early enrollees: DT Kobe Pepe, WR Josh Jackson and K Parker Lewis.

11:45 a.m.: Any hope USC had of flipping five-star running back Bijan Robinson at the last minute is also gone. He has signed with Texas.

11:32 a.m.: Losing Justin Flowe is a major bummer, but it’s not all awful for USC in recruiting right now. Five new crystal ball predictions in the Trojans’ favor were just logged for Narbonne four-star wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. That’s something, right?

11:23 a.m.: USC lost Justin Flowe to Oregon, which would be bad enough news without some tweets piling on the disappointment.

10:55 a.m.: Where will Justin Flowe sign? His announcement is coming up. You can watch the Periscope here.

10:22 a.m.: The final USC commit is now officially signed. Jonah Monheim is the Trojans’ 11th Signing Day LOI.

9:40 a.m.: QB CJ Stroud included USC in his Top 5 when making his Signing Day commitment, but as expected the Trojans were not in the cards for teh Rancho Cucamonga product.

9:25 a.m.: LOI No. 10 is officially in. Jamar Sekona has signed on at defensive tackle.

8:45 a.m.: The Trojans have confirmed LOI No. 9 for 2020. Three-star tackle Andres Dewerk is the latest to sign.

8:10 a.m.: Three-star offensive tackle Caadyn Stephen is the latest USC commit to send in an LOI.

7:45 a.m.: Boom! The first new commitment of the day is in, a bit earlier than planned.

Lawndale’s Tuli Tuipulotu, the brother of current Trojan Marlon, wasted no time in publicly pledging, simply sending in his letter of intent.

7:35 a.m.: Narbonne wide receiver Josh Jackson is the latest Trojan commit to sign. More on him here.

7:10 a.m.: The arrival of the seven o’clock hour means west coast recruits can now send in their letters of intent. And USC starts things off with a big one from Kobe Pepe.

6:33 a.m.: Could USC manage a massive flip of quarterback Bryce Young from Alabama back to the Trojans? Adam Gorney of Rivals says…not likely.

6:30 a.m.: The LOIs from out of state continue to roll in. Andrew Milek from Arizona is the next one down the line.

6:25 a.m.: Here’s more on Courtland Ford, a former LSU commit.

However, any hopes of USC stealing an even bigger one out from under Ed Orgeron’s nose were dashed this morning when five-star cornerback Elias Ricks officially signed with the LSU Tigers.

6:20 a.m.: Another LOI is in the books, this one from three-star kicker Parker Lewis.

https://twitter.com/USC_FB/status/1207303499999928320

6:00 a.m.: Here’s more on Casey Collier, the first new Trojan to get in his LOI.

In the meantime, USC’s social media game seems to be heightened this Signing Day, for what it’s worth. The coaches are certainly awake.

5:45 a.m.: Good morning Trojan fans! Early Signing Day has started off early with something unusual…Official announcements from USC.

Say hello to Casey Collier and Courtland Ford, two signees from Texas, who have their LOIs in right at the starting gun.

In years past we have relied on Twitter tea leaves while USC slow played their announcements, so this is something difference and welcome.

The Big Board:

Five-star LB Justin Flowe

• Rank: 4th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 6-foot-2, 225 lbs.
• Location: Upland, CA
• Status: SIGNED with Oregon
• Choices: Oregon, USC, Clemson

Five-star QB Bryce Young

• Rank: 6th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 5-foot-11, 183 lbs.
• Location: Santa Ana, CA
• Status: COMMITTED to Alabama
• Choices: USC, Alabama

Five-star CB Elias Ricks

• Rank: 12th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 6-foot-2, 192 lbs.
• Location: Bradenton, FL
• Status: SIGNED WITH LSU
• Choices: LSU, USC, Ohio State

Five-star RB Bijan Robinson

• Rank: 15th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 6-foot-0, 200 lbs.
• Location: Tucson, AZ
• Status: SIGNED WITH TEXAS
• Choices: USC, Texas

Four-star WR Gary Bryant Jr.

• Rank: 57th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 5-foot-10, 164 lbs.
• Location: Corona, CA
• Status: UNCOMMITTED
• Choices: USC, Oklahoma, Washington, Oregon, ASU

Four-star CB Darion Green-Warren

• Rank: 184th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 6-foot, 187 lbs.
• Location: Harbor City, CA
• Status: UNCOMMITTED
• Choices: USC, Michigan

Four-star WR LV Bunkley-Shelton

• Rank: 224th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 6-foot, 180 lbs.
• Location: Gardena, CA
• Status: UNCOMMITTED
• Choices: USC, ASU

Three-star DT Tuli Tuipulotu

• Rank: 487th in 247Sports Composite
• Size: 6-foot-3, 266 lbs.
• Location: Lawndale, CA
• Status: SIGNED WITH USC

USC Early Signing Day Signees (11):

Current Unsigned USC Commitments (0):