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National Signing Day 2018: 5 players who will make an immediate impact

By Nicholas Ian Allen

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: A view of the logo on display before the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: A view of the logo on display before the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: A view of a USC flag during a game between the Hawaii Warriors and the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Coliseum on September 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Trojans defeated the Warriors 49-10. (Photo by Dan Avila/Replay Photos via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: A view of a USC flag during a game between the Hawaii Warriors and the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Coliseum on September 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Trojans defeated the Warriors 49-10. (Photo by Dan Avila/Replay Photos via Getty Images) /

High School: Mater Dei; Anaheim, CA

247 Sports Composite Rankings: No. 11 overall, No. 2 WR

Another five-star wideout, Amon-Ra St. Brown, could have an even bigger immediate impact. St. Brown committed to USC at the U.S. Army All-American Game, so like Shorter, he will not be on campus for spring practice. But like Shorter, St. Brown is simply too talented to stay buried on the depth chart.

St. Brown, the brother of former Notre Dame star receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, is wildly talented. He ranks No. 11 overall in the 247Sports Composite, and second to Shorter among receiver prospects. St. Brown is quick off the line of scrimmage, and though he doesn’t have elite speed or size for the position, is one of the most athletic prospects in the nation, and his agility, hands and body control help him as a terrific all-around playmaker. He also plays with unmatched confidence.

USC will be breaking in a new quarterback this season, which gives newcomers like St. Brown the opportunity to develop chemistry with the new signal caller along with leading returning receivers Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman, Jr., instead of starting at a disadvantage.

And, should true freshman J.T. Daniels win the job (a long shot since Daniels reclassified to the 2018 recruiting class from 2019 and would typically be readying for his senior high school season instead of competing for the starting job at a Pac-12 powerhouse), chemistry already exists. Both Daniels and St. Brown played at Mater Dei High School last season, where they combined as arguably the best passing tandem in the nation on the way to a 15-0 record and national championship recognition.

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