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

USC football’s No. 13 recruiting class: 2007

Grade: 5/10 Class Ranking: 2nd nationally | 1st in Pac-12 Class Composition:

6 ★★★★★ 8 ★★★★ 4 ★★★

USC nabbed another top national recruiting class in 2007, but it didn’t match that level in production.

Exceeded expectations:

Of the five-star commits in the class of 2007, Ronald Johnson had the brightest career. He is 17th on USC’s career receptions list with 138 catches but his 20 career touchdown receptions ranks 11th all-time.

Four-star Kris O’Dowd was an immediate contributor, starting the season opener as a true freshman. He’d go to start 36 games as a Trojan and took home All-Pac-10 first-team honors in 2008.

Rhett Ellison came in as a three-star player and became a critical figure for USC as a blocking tight end, fullback and special teams ace. He was named an All-Pac-10 first-teamer on special teams in 2011.

Contributors:

Joe McKnight was USC’s highest-rated recruit ever, and still holds that honor to this day. His career never reached the height of the expectations surrounding it, but with 2,213 career rushing despite dealing with a variety of injuries, he was reasonably successful. In fact, his 6.38 yards per carry is the third-best among Trojan rushers with 200 or more carries.

Fellow five-stars Everson Griffen, Marc Tyler and Chris Galippo also had acceptable, if slightly underwhelming, careers for the Trojans. Griffen was an All-Pac-12 second-teamer and tallied 18 career sacks. Tyler rushed for 1,751 career yards in 14 starts and Galippo had 166 tackles in 28 career starts.

Four-star Malcolm Smith held down a starting job at linebacker for two seasons and was a captain while DaJohn Harris started 22 times at defensive tackle.

Disappointments:

Aaron Corp’s single start for the Trojans is best forgotten. The five-star prospect ultimately transferred away after losing the starting job to true freshman Matt Barkley in 2009.

Four-stars like safety Marshall Jones, tackle Martin Coleman and defensive lineman Michael Reardon all dealt with nagging injuries throughout their careers and never rose beyond back up status.

Broderick Green, a four-star running back, transferred back to Arkansas to be with family.