USC Football Recruiting 2017: 5 must-have recruits for Trojans

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans coach Clay Helton reacts during the 103rd Rose Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; (From left) USC Trojans athletic director Lynn Swann and coach Clay Helton and Niki Nikias and president C.L. Max Nikias pose with the Leishman Trophy after the 103rd Rose Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

With National Signing Day approaching, who are the top USC football recruiting targets left on the board?

Was there a hotter team in college football to end the 2016 season than the USC Trojans? Absolutely not. After a 1-3 start to the year, including a blowout loss to Alabama in the opener, USC found a way to finish the season with nine straight wins. The final victory of the season happened to be a Rose Bowl comeback over Penn State.

Clay Helton’s once-gloomy first season as USC’s head coach turned into the ideal situation, especially pertaining to the recruiting circuit. Not only did the head coach finish with 10 wins in his first year, but he also pieced together the Pac-12’s premier recruiting class.

In fact, the Trojans’ 2017 class is currently ranked No. 1 in the conference and eighth in the country, according to 247Sports. While that may be impressive already, the Trojans are in line to add a number of four and five-star prospects by signing day and make a major jump in the rankings.

Take a look at the five must-have targets for USC football recruiting by National Signing Day.

All recruiting rankings reflect the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

5. Levi Jones, 4-star OLB (Austin, Texas)

Recent trips to USC and UCLA have had positive impacts on four-star outside linebacker Levi Jones from Austin, Texas, but the uncommitted recruit is leaning toward Florida State, it seems.

While the Seminoles received Jones’ final official visit on Jan. 27, he did enjoy his time at USC and there’s still a chance he picks up the Trojan hat on National Signing Day. He’s down to UCLA, USC, Florida State and Florida. It’s off that a kid from Texas would decide to leave the state to play college ball — they’re usually drawn to playing for hometown programs.

Jones has officially visited his four favorites since Jan. 13 and his decision on Wednesday may just come down to Florida State while others have a good feeling about USC. However, the outside linebacker position is not vacant at USC like it is with some of his other finalists.

The four-star from Texas is ranked the No. 92 overall prospect in the 2017 class as well as the No. 6 outside linebacker.

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