USC football 2012 recruiting class impressive.

Sure, the Trojans didn't get all the guys they wanted, especially Andrus Peat and Aziz Shittu, both who ended up at Stanford instead, and Tyriq McCord.  Instead, they settled for 12 recruits this year (3 others counted towards last year).

But the only difference between USC and the other schools in the NCAA, is that those other squads ended up with a lot more 3-star guys, as shown by USC's leading 4.07 average rating, compared to the next highest average rating held by the top recruiting class, Alabama, at 3.77.  USC has once again focused on quality, and if we can trust USC's coaches, then every single one of those recruits will contribute extensively over their career at USC.

By the way, how did Miami end up with 33 recruits signing?  Is is not pure audacity for Miami to oversign - yet again - players, in the face of serious violations that the NCAA is investigating?  By my count, there are about 66 players with 2 or fewer years starting; there is no way Miami could sign 33 players, unless it tossed 14 of them, and there were zero 3-year starters coming back.

The NCAA is surely, biased, allowing for Miami to get away with violations left and right.

Oh well.  USC's class / ratings by Rivals:

Nelson Agholor	WR	5 stars
Zach Banner	OL	5 stars
Jordan Simmons	OL	5 stars
Morgan Breslin	DE	4 stars
Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick	TE	4 stars
Max Tuerk	OL	4 stars
Darreus Rogers	WR	4 stars
Leonard Williams	DE	4 stars
Kevon Seymour	DB	4 stars
Devian Shelton	DB	4 stars
Gerald Bowman	DB	4 stars
Scott Starr	LB	4 stars
Jabari Ruffin	LB	4 stars
Jahleel Pinner	RB	3 stars
Chad Wheeler	DE	3 stars

I don't think most fans realize just how spectacular USC's coaches are performing under the thumb of the NCAA's dubious sanctions.  For years, Alabama had just a handful of 4-star recruits each year, and zero 5-star guys, following their 2002 sanctions that included a 2-year bowl ban and 5-scholarships per year reduction for 3 years.  They had four poor years of recruiting (for a nationally-relevant school), and did not get back to a BCS bowl game for six years.

Recruiting has NOT dropped off under Lane Kiffin, as a result of the most severe sanctions since the NCAA canceled SMU's season altogether, in 1987.

That fact, no doubt, irritates USC's enemies to no end.  And if USC wins out next Fall to reach the BCS NC game, it will drive the Trojans' enemies bonkers, that no amount of questionable sanctions can defeat the Spirit of Troy.

So that's the goal, Trojans: Win out and win the BCS NC game.