The defensive and offensive lines are major priorities for USC in this final recruiting cycle involving NCAA-mandated scholarship limitations, so it’s no surprise all five of the Trojans’ verbal commitments in the 2014 class are trenchmen.
Among those, three are defensive linemen, headlined by ESPN 300 nose tackle Tashon Smallwood (Fresno, Calif./Central). The other two – defensive end Austin Maloata (Corona, Calif./Centennial) and juco tackle Michael Wyche (Chesapeake, Va./East Los Angeles College) -- might be considered sleepers, but their inclusion is vital to the program’s future outlook after signing only Kenny Bigelow, Nico Falah and Khaliel Rodgers last February.