Something Good on a Monday.

Some good news to come on a Monday Morning. After losing out on Washington bound QB Jake Locker last week, and Oklahoma State bound Michael Goodson news came in today that USC has landed #2 Safety Taylor Mays, over the Wolverines and Huskies. Taylor’s announcement came after he took a second visit to Washington’s Campus on August 12th. Mays who had attended USC’s practice on August 6th said, "I walked away from there knowing I was going to go to USC".

This bit of information, regarding the influence attending practices can have, has to be a good sign in respect to the recruiting of LB Allen Bradford, who was seen at USC’s practice on Friday. Pete Carroll’s practices are fast paced and very intense. He makes it a point to do lots of in-game situations, lots of scrimmaging and full contact drills. Mays mentioned that attending USC's practice, "was the deciding factor for me". While I have never had the opportunity to witness a practice first hand, it has to have the same feeling as watching your own private USC Football game. Being right there when Scott Ware lays out a WR, or Chauncey Washington breaks someones ankles and runs 70 yards for a score as Pete runs down the sideline in ecstasy, has to have some power over a recruit.

This news comes as a big relief for fellow Trojan fans, as USC had yet to capture a 5 Star verbal commitment so far for 2006’s class. Even though the recruiting process is still early, and many of the most important players are still on the board, it still sets an uneasy feeling when Washington, Notre Dame and even Pitt are landing top 100 verbals. Added to this nervousness is the fact that The Trojans had lost recruiting monster Ed Orgeron, this last season. Orgeron is credited with helping orchestrate one of thee, if not the best recruiting class in college football history in this year's incoming freshman class. This incoming class includes the #1 Player in the country and #1 QB prospect in Mark Sanchez. Along with Sanchez come #1 WR Patrick Turner, #2, #3, #4 and #11 nationally ranked LBs in Rey Maualuga (pictured), Brian Cushing, Luther Brown and Kaluka Maiava. Orgeron also helped recruit #2 DE Averell Spicer, who along with Lawerence Lo-Jack Jackson, looks to help fill the void of departed Shaun Cody.