USC welcomes seven early enrollees to roster


Seven high school athletes have chosen to enroll at USC for the spring semester and will begin practicing with the football team when practice resumes in March.

Reinforcements · Members of USC coach Lane Kiffin’s highly touted recruiting class are already on campus after finishing high school early. - Carlo Acenas | Daily Trojan

Reinforcements · Members of USC coach Lane Kiffin’s highly touted recruiting class are already on campus after finishing high school early. – Carlo Acenas | Daily Trojan

Headlining the list of new Trojan football prospects is top-ranked quarterback Max Browne of Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash. Browne was named the 2012-13 Gatorade national football player of the year and set state records for career passing yards and completions. He’s expected to compete for the starting quarterback position as a freshman for the Trojans.

Joining Browne is a group of talented players on both sides of the ball, particularly in the secondary. Defensive back Su’a Cravens from Vista Murrieta High School (Calif.) was named the USA Today defensive national player of the year and is the top-ranked player at his position according to ESPN. Chris Hawkins (Rancho Cucamonga High School) and Leon McQuay III (Armwood High School in Florida.) are four-star recruits who are also poised to join a revamped secondary.

USC will get help in the backfield from running back Justin Davis (Lincoln High School in California), and also at wide receiver with the return of 2012 recruit Darreus Rogers. Rogers wasn’t cleared to participate with the team by the NCAA last season but is now eligible to play.

Rounding out the list is defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow from Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Md. He is the third-ranked defensive tackle in his class, according to ESPN.

The rest of USC’s 2013 recruiting class will be officially announced on Feb. 6. As it currently stands, the Trojans have seven additional verbal commitments. Those recruits have until signing day (Feb. 6) to officially make a decision on where to play next season. Despite facing scholarship restrictions, USC’s class is currently ranked ninth in the country according to ESPN.