Breaking: Mater Dei QB JT Daniels Expected To Reclassify And Enroll Early At USC

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Mater Dei quarterback JT Daniels, the Gatorade national player of the year, is expected to reclassify and enroll at USC next month, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Full story here

132 thoughts on “Breaking: Mater Dei QB JT Daniels Expected To Reclassify And Enroll Early At USC”

  1. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes early. There has got to be some reason why SC is not going after another QB. Every team must have more than 2 scholarship QB’s. SC hasn’t made an attempt to get another QB. Maybe they know something that we don’t.

      • I didn’t know that the NCAA had anything to do with it. I thought it was just between him and Mater Dei. If the NCAA has anything to do with it then I’m not to encouraged.

  2. For those who care about player stars and team rankings, this ought to start the big boost in the 2018 class. Who knows…maybe we can even climb to a top 10 position when all is said and done? A typical Trojan comeback they would call it. Much better than winning ugly. This would just be winning the long way around.

    Remember when Helton said, “Sure,” when asked yesterday if he would like a QB with this class? Well, it sure as hell wasn’t gonna be some other guy to create even more of a logjam.

    • Color me surprised. Would love to have him in the redshirt scenario to learn from Sammy for one year. But he’s a huge talent. And let’s pull in his WR St. Brown while we’re at it!

    • I saw this coming, JB. I saw several recent interviews on Daniels, and he looked and sounded way too mature for a high school kid who was going to stay as one for another year.

      Hey, you might want to cut your saying “winning ugly” now, or you’ll irk those Helton Defending Squad in here and make them lose sleep. LOL!

      • This will always be USC’s year of Winning Ugly in my mind. But it was still one of my favorite USC seasons ever. We really broke some hearts (just killed TEXAS!) and exorcised some ghosts in 2017 – most notably STAN, big-time.

        And now we have a shot at our old rival OHIO ST in the Cotton and could climb back into the top 4 at the end. Things are looking up for USC football IMO and since I think Darnold’s a goner, Daniels a great get now.

        I sure hope we’ve got this talented kid Hufanga from Oregon. He’s something.

        • Yeah, it was quite a suspenseful thrill ride this season. There’s no question about that. And to me, winning the Pac-12 Championship by beating Stanford for the second time was the brightest highlight. But can we beat the Buckeyes next Friday? This one’s not easy to predict, JB, and I’ve watched quite a few football games in my life. I know many people are predicting a close game, but for some reason, I’m leaning toward a game that’s not so close, even a laugher. Hopefully, it’ll go our way.

          • I really doubt we’ll see the same OSU team in the Cotton Bowl that got their derriere kicked by Iowa. This is the biggest game of the year for them, so I’m sure they’ll get themselves ready with all the time in the world to prepare for it.

          • I agree. Think this will be smash mouth at times, mixed with big big plays. I see Sam and Barret lighting it up.Heck it could be like last year’s Rose Bowl

          • Yes, it has all the potential to be similar to the RB of last season because both teams are capable of big plays, and atypical for a Big-10 team, OSU does pass a lot much like many of the Pac-12 teams. Can’t wait to see how this one unfolds. partner!

          • Exciting, why I love College ball.You know 1 or 2 guys we don’t expect will thrill us with their play . The ole pain in the gut, followed by the estatic excitement. And that’s just coming out of the tunnel

          • OK was a big game for them at home and a mobile qb and the big wr’s killed them..we have a very good punchers chance in this, especially if Sam starts hot.

          • Barret will not be I a space to big for him. He is there X factor. His freshman performance is legendary. He is one of the few in the NCAA that is as competitive as Darnold and he refuses to lose. My prediction: Whoever has the ball last, wins. Game winning drive. Both these QB will be playing on Sunday.

          • Feels like that kind of game.
            word is in OSU country they don’t have much respect for our D.
            They play in a conference with very avg QB.
            Look at Pac12 .After Playing the Falks, Rosen’s ,Brownings, and so on .Comes out of nowhere a Khalil Tate…… Our defense will take care of Business.
            Barret will have his moments, like good QBS do. But Sam will have the Game like great QB’S do.

          • I don’t think it’ll be a laugher. I don’t have THAT much confidence in this team’s OL and CBs. Also, I think OHIO ST will come in fired up for us as an opponent and also because they got shunned from the POs.

            They’re a lot like us I think. Very imperfect, but very dangerous too. Each with a horrible slaughter-loss.

            We’ve won ugly all year and I’m afraid we’ll be tortured again. I think it’s gonna be gut check city, but I hope you’re right because these tight games are wearing me out!

          • Let’s hope it won’t be a laugher the other way around like that ND game that’s still haunting me. Another one is the Alabama game a year prior to it. Our team under Helton has shown that they not only are capable of winning ugly, but also losing even uglier at times. It sure won’t be a pleasant off-season if we get blown out in this game.

          • I’m pretty confident we won’t be blown out. We have ND to thank for that. Our players won’t let that happen again this season. It was just too brutal and I think they were fully humiliated, as were the coaches. I know Swann had a big talk with CH afterwards.

            We’ll be ready. I think OHIO ST will too. I’m predicting a nail biter, but any win will do. Sure would be a great shot in the arm for Helton to beat Meyer. Might even get some people off his back for a week or two!

          • Any win will do is right, JB. I’ll take a win in any shape or form in this one. Like you said, Helton beating the Buckeyes coached by Meyer would be quite an addition to his resume. In fact, it’ll be the biggest win in his coaching career. But can he do it? The answer’s only a week away now.

          • Jack, I don’t want to make excuses but it rankles my asz that these people keep talking about bama loss like they expected anything else.. it was the first game for a new staff on both sides of the ball, and they had to face the top program in the country out of the chute. On top of that, the opposing staff included our last two head coaches who were very acquainted with our roster and playbook.
            What team would have overcome that? Remember the Super Bowl when Grudin beat the Raiders, he hit them in the head with their own playbook. SMH

          • Leinhart took his Trojans and beat Auburn in Auburn, not Dallas. He set the bar high. Before the Auburn game I had no idea we were gonna rip them like that. That’s how many felt before the Ala game. The tide didn’t run the table and get promoted to the NFL last year, we had a shot but started the wrong QB, needed heavier bodies on the line and don’t waste energy doing the Dog Pound before kick off. The coaches let the game get to big for the players. Keep it the same, game to game, it’s about you not them. Make practice harder than games and your set.

          • Some good points, but I still maintain sark and kif had more to do with winning the game than saban and the inexperience of the coaches with this team didn’t help.. Auburn wasn’t PC’s first game, nor that of his offensive coordinator comparing the two is like comparing oil paintings to a photograph, they may be the same subject but there’s no other similarities.
            The dog pound thing was as offensive to me as to you, but just showed the lack of senior leadership and immaturity of the team, Juju’s still doing it in the nfl.

          • Darnold played and did not make a difference. We competed for a half, Max a couple good throws and a coiole bad throws that gave away points. Darnold got a series or 2 and was not ready for Alabama. Ju ju I don’t think had a single catch. Looking back that may have been the best outcome. It was a big reality check and like the previous poster said it’s much easier when you know the personnel, formations etc of the other team.

          • Those two games were on too big of stage for the Trojans and their coaches at that time. Even Carroll got caught up in the South Bend misteek and lost his first trip there. He learned and it made him a better coach. Let’s hope the experiences of losing those two games on the big stage as galvanized this Trojan team not to let the game become bigger than it is.

        • I heard a Bosco parent complain after MD beat them about how old JT is. Can’t imagine him coming back and doing that again to HS kids.

        • That was my thought. But I heard yesterday that Darnold’s decision has nothing to do with Daniels’ decision. And Darnold is better than 50/50 to stay.

          • So he would compete with Fink and Sears at the first opportunity, rather than try to unseat a starter next year if Sam goes

          • He’d be better served staying at Mater Dei if Sam were staying and he ended up not playing a down.

          • Personally I agree. But the kid has the brass, and feels he’ll be better served getting the playbook and running the scout team. Long as he’s a happy Trojan, I’m good.

          • So he has no Rosen delusions of starting as a true freshman? That’s what I am afraid of, I’ve seen other teams have quarterbacks coming in and getting a bad ‘tude if they are 4th on the depth chart.

          • My thoughts exactly. But that is what I was told. He wants to come out. We might need to remember that he is age appropriate probable. Going on my experience, almost all players in the Trinity League are held back a year so I am assuming Daniels was. He would normally be coming anyway. Maybe he wants to do that. It also gets him to the NFL a year earlier possibly.

          • My ‘favorite’ had to be Clausen. He was held back in Kindergarten. Then, later, when his dad realized his birthday was 5 days prior to the cutoff, he kept his son back repeating the 6th grade (I think), too. But Clausen was held back two times. That is why the OLU QB Aaron Corp that year moved ahead of him in the rankings. Corp was 2 years younger, and I thought a better QB. I figured his upside was a lot higher. My mistake was that I thought Corp would fill out but he never did.

          • Well Clausen never did that much to impress me.. that being said he was a D1 qb so that in itself should be considered impressive.

          • Why would you redshirt a kid with his talent. Even if Darnold comes back you should get Daniels playing time. I don’t think there will be as many close games in 2018 if Sam returns. If Darnold goes to the NFL now, USC loses a year from him, because he redshirted. Same could happen with Daniels. It’s three years and out for the best college players now.

    • Jack he’s our first 6* right..?

      Heard a Dan Webber interview, he said Helton winked. He knew they had something under there sleeve.

      • He did kind of have a weird grin and Helton never answers questions with one word. I thought that gave it away IMO. It’s been a strong rumor for awhile.

        Great get, don’t you think!

        • Absolutely. .one gets that happy fuzzy feeling. He he .
          We started our momentum last year and it just continues.
          This will give a push to the unsigned players. St. Brown is a lock now.The MD lb.and so on.Would be nice if Sewell flipped now.It’s great.

          • This IS great timing. I’m glad it’s popping now. Maybe even a couple of guys might cave and sign tomorrow. Doubt it, but with this JT development, it could be a pretty big deal for those kids who might be worrying about room to jump aboard.

          • I just popped over to rein of troy.They were calculating how many open we have. As of today 1 !! Now this will change with declares, transferring and some fifth year quys dropping their rides. But we could only have 14-16 total

          • That’s as of today. With leaving seniors. Now the juniors and others who declare,transfers, Alien abduction ( Maravich)
            Couple 5 years who don’t play. So the think is we will have 16-18 -total spots.

          • I told you two days ago. And my source was good on McClain too. Remember they were hinting at a secret commit when Ziskin was tweeting the ✌️.
            I’ve watched this kid play 20+ games the last 3 yrs, and he’ll be a good one, maybe very good, we’ll see. But what really struck me this year was his running the ball!! He has multiple runs of 25+ yds on the season, and remember that’s against some of the best teams in the country. When asked why he didn’t show his running abilities last year he told people that Rolo didn’t want him hurt so he forbade it.

            Savior, not so sure…darn good, yup.

          • Yup. It makes sense, I think. Why would a kid ‘announce’ next week? I forget the reason but that is what I heard. I’m not involved much anymore but the source is good.

          • In past years, before the ESD, players would sign financial papers with the school prior to their LOI. It was how many of the kids would be announced by the school, so that’s a possibility too. Either way I’ll take em.

          • Yes, especially when enrolling early. BTW, Daniels would make it 5 early enrollees. That is another feather in Helton’s cap. I haven’t been a Helton fan. Didn’t like the hire at all. Last year thought the jury was still out. Still think it’s out. But I do like some of the things he has/is doing. I like his recruiting. He has gotten talented, tough players of good character. I think he played the ESD perfectly. I hadn’t realized that our rides were so low this year. I heard that they expect about 18.

          • I’m a homer, all the way. I’m for the team and nothing else matters to me..college football is just a tiny nugget that comes and goes and if you blink you’ve missed it. I also don’t like to get into the team politics so I don’t comment much on coaches etc during the season especially. And truth be told, if we’re winning I’m happy!
            I read an article (it was free) on Scott Schrader’s site and it was a discussion with Peneii Sewell about why he put the Trojans into his top 3, and what he said about Helton and the team was quite enlightening. At the end of the day, I believe that college athletics are different from pros, and there is an underlying mission that universities should be ascribed to..apparently most here don’t agree with me..
            Fight On, my friend.

          • Happy Holidays ,Merry Christmas to you and yours my friend…..
            As you so appropriately said College football is a tiny Nugget that comes and goes in a blind of an eye. I come from an Era where being a Homer is spice of Life.
            An era where pride and Character count. Tradition of Excellence is passed from generation to generation.
            As for that little nugget ,its like a comet that returns each year.You know its coming,and what I seem to remember before it arrives is how much it means to me each visit.
            Gosh you just have to enjoy it when its here.
            You know its going to leave again,already you can’t wait for its return.
            Fight on !

          • That is (I think) the perfect philosophy to have. I was very involved for quite awhile and will tell you that the view from the outside is almost always wrong. For instance, the reason Carmen didn’t choose SC was not because of the OL C. It was pretty much a logistics and time issue. He wanted more ‘good’ feeling than we could give being so far away. Nothing against Helton or Carmen. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. We have had a ton of injuries this year. With the WSU scenario just being a Twilight Zone episode. I mean, 4 players that are perfectly healthy Wednesday night can’t play on Friday night??? It might (and is most probably) just one of those injury riddled years. Merry Christmas and Fight on!

          • I think about that Friday night quite a bit, drives me CRAZY to think that was the difference in making the playoffs this year, three o-linemen, freakish..

            Merry Christmas!!

          • The ones that got me was the player basically sitting in traffic getting hit hard enough to have to go through concussion protocol, the player with staff infection, and then Iasofa and Greene running into each other in pre-game and both being sat for concussion protocol. Aren’t you supposed to just go back to bed on those days???

          • As our Head coach so wisely said.
            In ten years one will remember 2017 Trojans
            Pac 12 CHAMPs………lets put victory over favored OSU Cotton Bowl to that time cap.

          • all kids talk and attend camp together I would not be surprised if we end up with some of the top kids left on board.

      • The recruiting services have him above all qbs in this class, which include the top two ranked players…he doesn’t show yet, I’ll be interested where he comes in after he’s reclassified.

    • Many people have known this but the family didn’t want this out until they where sure it could be accomplished. This is not a done deal in terms of NCAA approval.

    • Jack,we all know star ratings are a huge part of ranking recruiting classes (flaws and all—-hype and all). Right now USC is low in the rankings, but that is a result of having only 11 players signed. Most other classes have at minimum 17. The avg. star ranking of USC recruits is 4.0—-top 2 or 3 in the country. When the rest of the class is signed it will be top 10. Whether or not the rankings matter is another discussion—while we have a few cold ones. The addition of Daniels would only add to the luster of the class. Jack, I have appreciated your opinions this year. Merry Christmas . I hope you have a healthy and safe New Year.

    • Class rating are quantitative, not qualitative. Look at some of the teams ahead of us with 23 3-stars, 247 composite average of 8500. Signing a class of 14-17 will not get us into the top 10 unless we sign 17 5-stars.

      • And I discount stars more than most. So many 3-stars are under-rated and 5-stars are over-rated.

        USC’s putting together a very nice class, but I’m not all in until we bring in more talented OLs and CBs.

        We’re losing a lot of OLs in 2018 and need to get ready for that now, not later. USC also needs more talent at OT, in particular, than we’ve been signing over the last several years. Lobendahn looks bad at OT much of the time, but he shouldn’t be at OT in the first place.

        Same at the CB position for USC. Grabby wouldn’t have the same derogatory nickname he does if he was really suited to man-on-man, which Pendergast runs a lot. Technique can only make up for so much and Grabby insists playing a position that exposes his lack of flexibility and hip stiffness every game.

        • The 19 class has the better OL and DL prospect from what I was told by a USC recruiting expert.

        • I am not concerned about talent or depth at CB. we can have 4 of the best but if Bradford and Pendergast continue handling them as they did this season, it won’t matter.

          Ross, Cook and Johnson and even Jones can do the job, especially if Bolden plays as expected. Godfrey looks decent and has great size.We do need another for losses after 2018. I hope cook doesn’t bolt.

          OL need lots of help. Penei is the only reasonable hope. Anything else in 2018 would rate a near miracle.

  6. Just curious, does anyone know how old he is? A typical junior doesn’t turn 18 until 1/2 or more through his senior year. Did he do a “redshirt” year in school and is older than expected, or would he be a 17 year-old freshman playing next year?

    • On 09FEB2017, BSPN writer Mitch Sherman says he is 16 in his article titled:
      “The next great QB prospect might just be J.T. Daniels”
      He writes:
      “Daniels, 16, received his first scholarship offer — from Cal — in October 2015 as a freshman.”

      Of course, BSPN isn’t exactly Rosie O’Donnell when it comes to facts. No, wait: Actually, they are…

  8. Very good news. JT is sold on USC even if Sam stays on another year. It is a win/win for Helton.

  9. When will Sears decide to transfer? Will Helton throw Daniels in there to start if Sam leaves? If Sam stays does Daniels redshirt? Guess kids don’t have as much fun their senior year as we used to.

    • It will be a matter like Town’s transfer, I would imagine.
      Just because JT is getting all the raves and Sears is looking like the odd man out, so the pecking order was assumed with Browne, Town and Darnold.

      Who didn’t have Browne as #1, Town as #2 and Darnold #3 in December, 2015?

    • Not enough yet. Missed out on a JC transfer that we apparently couldn’t admit. Wanted to be a Bruin but now a Longhorn.

  11. Interesting. My opinion is he should stay another year in high school. It would help him physically and mentally. I remember Booty did the same thing, and it didn’t help him pass up Mark Sanchez.
    It’s not like he’s giving up a million dollar pay day.

  12. It’s wrongheaded to say Clay “lacked the courage” to start Darnold. It was more a function of Clay being loyal to Max Browne, a good kid and loyal soldier who had been through a lot and stuck with the program. He deserved a shot at the gig, no? Clay eventually got it right….

  13. Update on graduating SRs:

    I believe RS SR Boormeester still counts against the roster of 85.
    Tucker and Lockett took redshirts and will return, according to Alicia de Artola at RoT.

    Ultimately, we are only adding to the 2018 class against future attrition (NFL EEs, Transfers, etc.)

    It’s a shame the USC official web site can’t post such “official” information.

      • That’s why I reference my sources. I have yet to see Alicia screw the pooch with printed “facts.” She didn’t say “I expect them to RS,” she said they did:

        “Lockett and Tucker took redshirts this season and are coming back for 2018.”

        RSs are an official NCAA status, requiring paperwork. The school must, at some point, know.

        • I’ve heard other places that they’ve filed but not received approval for the medical redshirt, but that’s neither here nor there as I expect locket ack for sure, and that’s a good thing. As far as the other, I’m not sure it matters much.

          • Yeah. Tucker hasn’t been outstanding, but not necessarily a disappointment either. Came in as a composite 8871 competing with 9500s. (By those numbers, Nwosu at 8306 is a monster rock star!)

  14. 247 confirms JT reclassification and AGE:

    “I’m only 17, I even have my birthday on my twitter bio,” Daniels said. “People have been saying I’m 19 or 20 for years now and just laugh it off.

    Who has twitter and want to post JT’s birthday and settle this age thing?

    I went there but could only find his height and weight: 6’3″ 319!!! (LMAO) at
    http://www.hudl DOT com/profile/2505201/jt-daniels/about

    • I’m happy with the LB.

      I think Stepp can become a big back. He went up to 205 from 190. I saw a listing for him at 6, 228lb now which would be terrific. If he isn’t, can he hit 230 and be a big bruising back with speed? Think Lendale. I dunno. Bama got Harris 6-3, 230lbs, coming out of high school (in CA no less). Kid is going to be a bruiser that makes LBs think twice and secondary guys run for cover and he blocks like a Tight End.

      We also need to have a RB who can catch and has serious speed as well and is a willing blocker and can catch. Carr is odd in that he’s a tweener, not fast but he can catch at least. Aca’cedrick Ware is fast but he’s got catching problems and isn’t much of a willing blocker.

      And we still need that fullback that can block, catch and run. And I’m not seeing the big WR whose a post up nightmare, a 6’5 guy with great hands who wins. I’m still waiting on that Tight End or two that can catch and block.

      We’ve not got the guys in the trenches yet, even as raw material guys, you know, the 240 TEs with athleticism but can’t catch but can pick up 60 lbs the right way.

      USC has some of its best athletes on the bench. Dominic Davis should have already been at corner and TJ Brock, who SC football is not hot on using because he’s a sprinter would have went a long way. But we love Biggie has a speed problem, it’s obvious.

      We made the blueprint, and now it looks like we’ve forgotten it. We keep trying to become a 7 on 7 all star league while teams elsewhere are looking more and more like SC during the Pete/Chow era. It’s crazy.

  17. wolfman, just viewed the tape on this kid and he has some serious issues with mechanics and release point….Terrell Pryor comes to mind.

    wolfman, his only hope is if you personally work with him to straighten out that atrocious throwing motion.

    #WaxOnWaxOff

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