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MATT BARKLEY NEWS

• USC football: Matt Barkley named Pac-12 offensive player of week
• USC Trojans Football: Matt Barkley The Maestro In Upset Of Oregon
• Matt Barkley Heisman campaign begins
• USC huge win at Oregon
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• USC Football Returns Home To Host Arizona
• Bank Of The West Weekly Football Honors
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• Scoggins: For Kiffin, misery doesn't love company
• USC Football Notebook: Barkley, Woods on same page in scrimmage
• USC's Matt Barkley named to 2011 Manning Award watch list
• USC FOOTBALL NOTES: Barkley shaky in first scrimmage
• Pio Vatuvei Verbals To USC Trojans Football
• USC's Matt Barkley, 5 other Pac-12 players named to 2011 Walter Camp watch list
• Southern California Trojans football
• USC Trojans Football: The Nickell Robey Story
• USC football: Issues come to the fore in the fourth
• Trojans release new numbers fot the fall roster
• No changes on the horizon for USC's football uniforms
• USC football: Nick Perry has a big number in mind
• OT Smith helps keep first-round grade at USC pro day
• Injuries will impact USC practice
• USC linemen the next Cam Newton?
• USC hires Nebraska's Gilmore as WRs coach
• USC Trojans redshirt freshman WR Kyle Prater breaks foot
• Eight USC Trojans invited to 2011 NFL Combine
• USC's Johnson, O'Dowd, Wright to take part in 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl
• Amir Carlisle and Anthony Sarao Choose USC
• USC Recruiting | Trojans eyeing McKeesport DL recruit Delvon Simmons
• USC football: Is Lane Kiffin too unemotional?
• USC signs two more JC gridders
• Football recruiting: Losing Aaron Douglas hurts
• USC Football Recruiting: One More Verbal and Closing the Book on a Busy Weekend
• USC football: Breaking down Matt Barkley’s season
• USC seniors deserve a better ending
• USC Football Hosts Notre Dame In Famed Intersectional Rivalry
• USC Football: Was the Arizona Game a Sign of a Modified Spread in 2011?
• Barkley named semifinalist for O’Brien Award
• USC FOOTBALL NOTES: Passing comment serves as motivation
• Report card: Grading the Trojans (vs. Stanford)
• USC Football | Sarkisian shows he has transitioned from student to master
• Jupiter and Havili named USC Credit Union Student Athletes of the Week
• USC Football: Robert Woods' 97-yard kickoff touchdown return
• USC's Tyler goes from forgotten to first
• USC leans on Matt Barkley's leadership
• Mater Dei WR Blackwell among best in California
• USC Football Success Factors in 2010 And Beyond
• Laying the Foundation: USC Football Recruiting, 2011
• Joe McKnight doesn't mind the comparisons to New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush
• USC Trojans to face Boston College Eagles in Emerald Bowl
• Corp gets the nod in Saturday's game against Washington
• Colts sign rookies Austin Collie (WR, BYU) and Fili Moala
• The Sideline Report: '09 College Football Preview
• USC 101: History of the Song Girl
• USC football: The best DBs, OLs in the nation?
• USC football: 5 most indispensable Trojans
• Ryans set to help Cushing
• USC football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 4)
• UCS's Pete Carroll to Author "Win Forever" Book
• Trojans' quarterback Barkley getting into a groove
• Trojans' defense is quickly making strides
• 2009 NFL Draft Preview: Clay Matthews
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz will keep open mind at draft
• Waiting game finally over for Chiefs' Cassel
• Odd questions are the norm for prospects at the NFL combine
• Longevity runs in Matthews family
• Pythons kept at bay by brilliant Baxter
• SIGNING DAY 2009 : West Helena's Winston highlights Razorbacks' 2009 commitments
• USC's Sanchez among 12 Trojans invited to NFL combine
• Should He Have Stayed One More Season? Mark Sanchez Enters the NFL Draft!
• Carroll apologizes to Sanchez for demeanor
• Carl Smith And Mark Jackson Join USC Football Staff
• High School Football: Matt Barkley Leads White Team to Victory in Under Armour All-America Game
• Next Season Could Be A Test For Carroll, Trojans
• Trojans offensive line will have holes to fill
• Trojans' Moala will try not to cry
• Trojans' outlook: Up in BCS, down in Rose Bowl hopes
• USC blanks Arizona State, 28-0
• USC Seeks Upward Mobility
• QB Tuel takes aim at Centennial
• USC linebacker Cushing could be sidelined for Oregon State game
• Matt Barkley, Nation's Top HS Football Prospect, Opens Season on ESPN2

Laying the Foundation: USC Football Recruiting, 2011

 

There are two "givens" regarding recruiting and Lane Kiffin in terms of USC football.

One, at this time of year, offers made to prep football players are abundant, with the recruiting "net" being cast far and wide to prospective Trojans.

The other is that Kiffin, along with his personal recruiting guru, Ed Orgeron, will make persuasive pitches to these young players, enticing them to consider football on the west coast.

In the last week, the Trojan staff has been busy evaluating these would be men of Troy and their efforts have resulted in several offers to the erstwhile prep football players.

Included among these offers is one that has been extended to a player who has already given his verbal pledge to Oklahoma.

However, we all know how dramatically things can change in a young man's life so with a USC offer in Chris Barnett's pocket, the Trojans hope that if he does have a change of heart, he will consider playing football on the left coast.

Starting with that offer to Barnett, lets take a look at this latest round of Trojan offers to some interesting players, some of whom carry high rankings as evaluated by Scout.com:

Chris Barnett

Although this 6'5," 230 lb. tight end/ defensive end from Dallas, TX has already given his verbal pledge to the Sooners, the Trojans have thought enough of his film to enter into the recruiting fray for his services.

Though Barnett's future at the next level looks to be at tight end, a position that the Trojans are currently experiencing a wealth of talent at, Kiffin and company know that the recent Trojan tradition of graduating tight ends to the NFL (Dominique Byrd, Freddy Davis and now Anthony McCoy) will play well with Barnett should he have second thoughts about his recent verbal to Oklahoma.

Michael Bennett

This 6'3," 275 lb. defensive tackle from Centerville, Ohio has offers from most, if not all of the major college power programs. Athletic and cerebral (3.3 gpa), Bennett has all the tools to succeed at the next level.

Although Bennett also holds an offer from Ohio State, who seldom let these local prep stars get away, Bennett lists all of his suitors as "medium" on his interest list.

Cedric Reed

Reaching deep into the heart of Texas for this 6'5," 243 lb, defensive end, the Trojans are hoping that a Trojan offer will persuade Cedric Reed to come out west. Although Reed does play tight end for his high school team as well, his future at the next level will be at defensive end where his 11 sacks as a junior has all of the major programs vying for his services. Scout.com lists Reed as a "four star" recruit.

Cedric Reed lists the Trojans, as he has with all others who have offered him, as medium in terms of his interest.

Jamar Lewter

Jamar Lewter, a 6'7," 265 lb. converted tight end who is now playing on the offensive line, is intriguing on many levels. Extremely athletic, Lewter has a body that is built to carry more weight, and at a major college program, he will be afforded every opportunity to pack on that bulk. However, it is Lewter's athleticism that has attracted many college offers and this raw talent is sure to improve technique-wise now that he has settled on a position.

Lewter lists the Trojans, as he does with all those who have offered him, including programs such as Auburn, as medium for the four star recruits services.

Mike Blakely

This 5'9," 192 lb running back has all the tools to succeed at the next level. Fast (4.45 forty) and shifty, Mike Blakely, who hails from Bradenton, FL, holds offers from most of the major college football programs including hometown favorites, Florida and Miami. Blakely, who gained 1400 yards as a junior, also possesses great hands and vision.

Blakely lists the Trojans, like all of his suitors, as medium on his interest list.

Kyler Kerbyson

Lane Kiffin is returning to his old haunts for this 6'5," 290 lb. offensive lineman from Knoxville, TN. Rated a "3 star" recruit by Scout.com, Kerbyson has the size and football acumen to succeed at the next level.

Holding offers from most of the major programs, Kerbyson lists them all as medium on his interest list but watch the locals howl if Kyler chooses the Trojans.

Jabrian Niles

A fast rising defensive end, Jabrian Niles has great size (6'2.5," 265 lbs.) and speed (4.7 forty) to go along with his raw talent on the edge. Rated a "3 star" by Scout.com, Niles doesn't hold a ton of offers but expect this to change during his senior year where he will be counted on by his high school team to be a game changer.

Niles lists all of his suitors as medium.

Quinta Funderburk

Quinta Funderburk is another of those fast rising "3 star" players who will be rated much higher by the end of their senior year. A 6'3," 200 lb wide receiver who has very good speed (4.5 forty), Funderburk has all the tools to be a dominant receiver at the next level.

Funderburk currently holds offers from most of the major programs and lists them all as "medium."

DJ Pettway

Speaking of a fast rising recruit (Pettway doesn't hold a Scout.com rating yet), DJ Pettway, who hails from Pensacola, FL, has the size (6'2.5," 255 lbs.) and the production (12.5 sacks as a junior) to make the major programs sit up and take notice. And those programs, such as Alabama, are taking notice of Pettway who now holds offers from a handful of colleges, including the Trojans.

Pettway lists all of his potential suitors as medium.

So there they are. Nine new prep players, all of whom hail from somewhere other than California, that the Trojans have offered.

Kiffin and Orgeron have stated that they will be active on the national scene when it comes to recruiting and this last batch of recruits certainly backs that assertion up.

As the high school football season draws near, expect the Trojans to focus on the local southland scene a bit more but until then, Kiffin and company will continue to extend the Trojan recruiting reach nationally.

When they do, I will profile all of those prep stars that the Trojans hope will wear cardinal and gold in the future.

 

More on bleacherreport.com

 

MORE MATT BARKLEY NEWS

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Jan 30 2012 2:34PM GMT

Football recruiting: Morris may be a pleasant surprise for Tide
Montgomery Advertiser Jan 30 2012 2:34PM GMT Florida State. "You see Alec Morris here, he's serviceable. Alabama hasn't needed to have Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley or Matt Stafford out there to win. So field generals are good. Quarterbacking one of the premier programs for two seasons in

Football recruiting: Morris may be a pleasant surprise for Tide
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Santa Cruz Sentinel Jan 30 2012 10:59AM GMT the Intermediate flight, La Selva's Ryan Gonyea shot a 2-under 112 for the win, San Jose's Matt Barkley took second with 117 and Monterey's Sean Allen took third at 119. CYCLING The fourth race in the Surf City Cyclo-X series course was held Sunday at

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DawgsBite.com Jan 30 2012 6:37AM GMT of Robert Woods and Marquise Lee among others, and some teams could lose some of their leaders like Matt Barkley. ?Getting or keeping those guys on campus while trimming the roster of non producers will help lessen the impact of the scholarship

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