O/NSO: Boon or swoon for June edition
The Obvious: Welcome June. We’re so happy to see you, and, May, you were a rotten ending to what seemed like a peaceful and positive month. Then again, maybe June will be an all-or-nothing proposition, considering rumored athletic director candidates and a massive amount of high-quality recruits on campus slated for this this month, which could be a boon or a swoon. Or maybe we just call June the name-game month.
The Not So Obvious: Yes, the month of May didn’t seem to have much negativity…until former USC athletic director Mike Bohn abruptly resigned on Friday, May 19, and out came an avalanche of alleged disturbing information that Bohn had conducted inappropriate behavior towards women employees at USC and created a divisive workplace environment, as well. Not to be outdone, information from Bohn’s time at the University of Cincinnati seemed to indicate a similar pattern of alleged behavior.
The month of May will be remembered for the stunning resignation of USC athletic director Mike Bohn.
The Obvious: In the concluding final weeks in May, the national and local media spent time substantial time holding USC’s feet to the fire in terms of repeated national floggings over the Bohn situation.
The Not So Obvious: It was hard to defend another negative image perception of USC and even former Trojan football players expressed their displeasure over the Bohn resignation and the seemingly endless misfiring of hires of the last ten seasons. There’s been too many Haden’s, Swann’s, Kiffin’s, Sarkisian’s, Helton’s, and other administration incompetence.
Hiring Pat Haden as the USC AD began what seems like an endless list of poor hires and even worse decision-making.
(Photo above by Al Seib / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Obvious: So, here is June and we’re a month closer to the positives of the 2023 football season, which will make for a great diversion from recent events.
The Not So Obvious: That diversion begins with the list of names that could interviewed as potential candidates for the vacant USC athletic director position. For those not carrying a Trojans’ athletic director scorecard of potential candidates, here’s what we’ve got in terms of candidate possibilities:
Pat Chun (Washington State AD), Jen Cohen (U. of Washington AD), Brandon Sosna (Detroit Lions), Greg Byrne (Alabama AD), Mack Rhodes (Baylor AD), Russ Bjork (Texas A&M AD), Kim Heaton (Ohio State Assoc. AD), Jeremiah Donati (TCU AD), Heather Lyke (U. of Pittsburgh AD), Dr. Magdi El-Shahway (U. of Georgia senior associate AD of athletics and student development), Mark Jackson (Villanova AD), John Currie (Wake Forest AD), Lynda Tealer (Florida deputy AD).
Could the next USC athletic director be the University of Washington’s Jen Cohen?
(Photo above by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Obvious: The Trojans will have a nice beginning to this month with, according to the WeAreSC recruiting division, a chance to make some headlines down the road.
The Not So Obvious: For those of you keeping calendar score, this first weekend in June (1-4) is expected to see the arrival of such notable 4-star recruits as RB Taylor Tatum (Longview, TX/Longview), CB Zabien Brown (Santa Ana, CA/Mater Dei), CB Dakoda Fields (Gardena, CA/Junipero Serra), OT Manasse Itete (Modesto, CA/Central Catholic), OLB Elijah Newby (Cheshire, CT/Academy),
And 3-stars J’Koby Williams (Beckville, TX/Beckville), S Jarvis Boatwright Jr. (Clearwater, FL/Academy), and OL Hayden Treter (Englewood, CO/Cherry Creek). It should be noted that in recruiting nothing is set in stone until a player actually arrives for his visit on campus, so keep this in mind.
Texas running back Taylor Tatum, considered by some the best in the country, is visiting USC this weekend.
(Photo above by Tim Verghese/On3)
The Obvious: While USC begins its big recruiting drive this weekend, the Trojans on Sunday, June 4, will hold its High School Elite Camp l.
The Not So Obvious: If you didn’t notice the word “Elite” in the title you should. This camp should bring out some potential recruits that will participate in a football evaluation gathering, which allows the coaching staff a chance to coach and watch these potential Trojans go through their paces on campus.
The Obvious: The weekend of June 9-11 may not seem like a showstopper in terms of large recruiting numbers, but it’s sometimes quality over quantity.
The Not So Obvious: Yes, it’s still a huge weekend when you have the likes of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco 4-star national prospects like ILB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and S Peyton Woodyard on campus. It’s no secret that Viliamu-Asa may be leaning towards Notre Dame, and it’s no secret that Woodyard is currently a Georgia commit, but Lincoln Riley will make sure that both these current SJB Braves stars will have something to think about after these official USC visits.
Both 4-star Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (middle) will be taking an official visit June 9-11.
The Obvious: Sunday, June 10, commences High School Elite Camp 2 on campus.
The Not So Obvious: Another chance to see more prospects and do some more coaching evaluations. There’s that word “Elite” again.
The Obvious: The mother of all recruiting June visits appears to be the June 15–18 lollapalooza.
The Not So Obvious: Hold on to your national letter of intent document as the Trojans are scheduled to receive official visits from 5-star WR Mike Matthews (Lilburn, GA/Parkview), and 4-stars like CB Marcelles Williams (Bellflower, CA/St. John Bosco), WR Tyan Pellum (Long Beach, CA/ Millikan), WR Dre’lon Miller (Silsbee, TX/Silsbee), OL DeAndre Carter (Santa Ana, CA/Mater Dei), Xavier Jordan (Chatsworth, CA/Sierra Canyon), Edge Jaylen Harvey (Potomac, MD/Quince Orchard), Edge Darien Mayo (Olney, MD/Good Counsel),
RB Nathaniel Palmer (Decatur, TX/Decatur), CB Bryne West (Cleveland, OH/Glenville), IOL Jason Zandamela (Clearwater, FL/Academy), S Marquis Gallegos (West Hills, CA/Chaminade), IOL Devin Brooks (Clackamas, OR/Clackamas), Edge Marquise Lightfoot (Chicago, IL/ Kenwood Academy), OT Justin Tauanuu (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach), OL Makai Saina (Arlington, TX/ Martin),
And 3-star Texans RB Bryan Jackson (McKinney, TX/McKinney) and LB Tyanthony Smith, (Jasper, TX/Jasper).
The Trojans are hoping to get a commitment from powerful Mater Dei offensive lineman after the weekend of June 15-18.
(Photo above by Chad Simmons/On3)
The Obvious: June 20-24, the Trojans’ coaching staff will have nearly a full week of checking out a mixture of “future” Trojans.
The Not So Obvious: So, the month comes close to the end with a full week of camping activities beginning Tuesday, June 20, with the “Trojans in Training Middle School Camp followed by Wednesday, June 21, with the Future Trojan Youth Camp/Special Teams Academy, to be followed on Thursday, June 22, Future Trojan Youth Camp ll/ Skills Academy. Heading into the weekend on Friday, June 23, it’s the last High School Elite Camp 3, and then Saturday, June 24, it all wraps up with the Lineman Academy (OL/DL).
The Obvious: June 23-26 presents a window that brings us three big-time recruits to conclude the month.
The Not So Obvious: Checking on to campus will be 4-star products such as linebacker Jordan Lockhart (Bellflower, CA/St. John Bosco), OT Kevin Heywood (Royersford, PA/ Pope John Paul ll), and QB Elijah Brown (Santa Ana, CA/ Mater Dei).
The Trojans are coming on strong for St. John Bosco linebacker Jordan Lockhart, who will be visiting Troy June 23-25.
(Photo above by Chad Simmons/On3)
The Obvious: And finally, if June looks busy for the coaching staff, it’s because it is, and it’s the final roundup of events before a short “break” in the action.
The Not So Obvious: Looking ahead to July, it could be an early calm before the storm when you consider the hush-hush of athletic director candidates, Pac-12 Media Day in Las Vegas on July 27, and the expected opening of “fall” training camp on July 28 give or take a day. However, one never knows in the world of the cardinal and gold, and, BTW, when is Salute to Troy? In June?
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