There's a lot of factors for picking the top 10 or top 25. How tough the schedule is, who the coach is, what key players return, how a team finished last season, recruiting. But for picking the No. 1 team, difficulty of schedule is more important because you are trying to pick the team with the best chance of reaching the national championship.

Still no offer for Max Tuoti-Mariner. Definitely feels like a wait-and-see who else commits situation. And right now I haven't heard a word about offering Vaughn Dotsy.

Darrell Scott has been on USC's radar for several years, I just wonder if he will come if Joe McKnight, etc, establish themselves early next year or bolt to his native Florida.

Will juniors be more realisitic about turning pro early? No. Every player thinks he is good enough to make it in his own right. I don't think Rey Maualuga or Brian Cushing will care about what's happened with Dwayne Jarrett. They might just as easily point to Lofa Tatupu's success.

Hershel Dennis is third or fourth on the spring depth chart, which is essentially worthless because Moody, Bradford and Stafon Johnson were downgraded because they were injured and the freshman were not included.

USC is close on several players for commitments but we'll have to wait and see.

Mitch Mustain is not enrolled for summer school yet, but he is in the process of enrolling for fall. He can still enroll for summer school, either the early or late session, because it's not too late yet. Some coaches are getting anxious to get him started here, from what I hear.

I don't anticipate Ronald Johnson making the starting lineup, at least early. The receivers were fine in spring practice but not special. USC's usually been special (Mike Williams, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith) lately.

If the season started today, Chauncey Washington would probably start with Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton (and David Ausberry) the first three recievers.

I realize there is a lot of trash talk in the comments section, but I'd suggest you ignore people who bother you. There's a certain lack of creativity of posts that just list the score of a game, anyways. I will ask our site monitor to be on the lookout for racial comments from any USC, UCLA or whoever else fans, however, and ban those posters.

USC is finalizing a deal with Boston College, nothing with Miami yet.

Marc Tyler keeps saying his leg is fine. I will wait until training camp to pass any judgment.

Mitch Mustain brings quite a bit of talent, a good arm and poise. He will push Mark Sanchez, who finally grasps what he needs to do but just has to make sure not to try to do too much (like in the spring scrimmage at the Coliseum). Aaron Corp, who might be the most gifted although he is still skinny and needs to redshirt to become stronger.

Most freshman are told what number to wear. However, and it is a big however, the bigger recruits often demand a number (remember the Whitney Lewis fiasco) or in an extreme case awarded a retired number (the backfired Mike Garrett-Darnell Bing situation). It just depends on what numbers are available. Pete Carroll's solved a problem by allowing offensive and defensive players to wear the same number.
A common case is C.J. Gable. He had to wear 25 because his favored number (2) was worn by Steve Smith. But when Smith left, Gable got No. 2, which he will share with Taylor Mays, who also wanted the number this year.

Players are in the process of learning grades. Matt Spanos found out he is OK. I already mentioned another key player who is forced to take 3 summer classes. That means he needs to pass them or else he is ineligible.

Other schools are not allowed to contact players until they get their transfer release. However, contact often happens under the table, if you know what I mean and through third parties.

The photos are from the UCLA Library because UCLA obtained a large collection of photos from the old Los Angeles Daily News and Los Angeles Times from 1920-90.

I have high expectations for Fred Davis, provided he gets opportunities. He is more talented than Dominique Byrd and a better blocker.

I'm not sure who pays when Dwayne Jarrett flies home. A better question is how did he and Matt Leinart afford their luxury penthouse apartment. Davon Jefferson is expected to academically qualify although he must eventually go through the NCAA Clearinghouse.

I was unaware of the Larry Johnson-Broderick Green connection. As for Bush-McKnight, I remember telling Pete Carroll how overblown some media made that situation and today it's nearly forgotten.

I haven't heard of Pete Arbogast getting a job but I haven't really paid attention the past 14 months. Unless doing voiceovers in the fall for USC football games on the Internet is considered a job because USC is adding that feature for those who want to pay extra.

Alas, English safety Michael Igbokwe of London was cut from the team. Much to my chagrin. European imports? Hmmm. I'll defer to the posters for that answers. Technically, wide receiver Frank Candela, an early Pete Carroll recruit, was from Italy, although he didn't really play after failing NCAA drug tests.