What is the greatest USC football recruiting class of all-time?

USC football’s No. 6 recruiting class: 2014

Grade: 8/10 Class Ranking: 10th nationally | 1st in Pac-12 Class Composition:

2 ★★★★★ 8 ★★★★ 8 ★★★ 1 ★★

With the final of three sanctioned recruiting classes, USC hit home runs at the top and produced solid contributors throughout the group with room to grow.

Exceeded expectations:

Five-star players Adoree’ Jackson and JuJu Smith-Schuster arrived at USC with a mountain of expectation and somehow managed to scale it with ease.

Jackson became USC’s second-ever Thorpe Award winner, an All-American and perhaps the greatest corner in Trojan history.

Smith-Schuster finished his three-year Trojan career sitting fourth among USC’s all-time pass catchers, despite playing through various injuries including a broken hand.

Three-star safety Uchenna Nwosu successfully transitioned to an outside linebacker in Clancy Pendergast’s 5-2 defense and went on to attain All-American honors with an outstanding 2017 campaign.

Contributors:

A highly-touted group of four-star offensive linemen established themselves as solid contributors for the Trojans.

Damien Mama, Viane Talamaivao, Toa Lobendahn and Chris Brown were all multi-year starters.

Four-star junior college transfer Claude Pelon only had five starts during his career, but was a regular member of USC’s defensive line rotation. Three-star lineman Malik Dorton maintained a similar role.

Two-star receiver Ajene Harris received early playing time on offense but moved to defense and spent multiple seasons as a regular starter.

Disappointments:

Defenders like four-star Jonathan Lockett and three-stars John Plattenburg and Olajuwon Tucker were contributors whose careers were ultimately limited by injury.

Four-star receiver Rahshead Johnson and cornerback Lamont Simmons each spent one season in Troy before transferring away.

Four-star tight end Bryce Dixon and linebacker Don Hill were both dismissed from school because of student conduct issues.