USC Already Blew it With Retaining Clay Helton After Disastrous Early Signing Period
By Scott Rogust
The USC football program has been in shambles under Clay Helton almost precisely since he was hired as the Trojans' head coach in 2016. Numerous alumni have agitated to push Helton out the door, but new Trojans athletic director Mike Bohn opted to stick with Helton for at least one more season.
It was already a widely derided decision, critics received more fuel on Wednesday.
To open this year's early signing period for 2020 recruits, the Trojans' recruiting team completely dropped the ball, as they ended up ranking DEAD-LAST in the Pac-12 in the consensus class rankings after day one.
That outstanding recruiting class Clay Helton claimed to be putting the "finishing touches" on is rated 74th, 78th or 85th in the nation, depending upon who you ask. It's a consensus dead last in the Pac-12. pic.twitter.com/yMsi3f0t4I
— USC Football News (@USCFootballNews) December 18, 2019
That's right, the Trojans ranked behind such programs as the Oregon State Beavers, Colorado Buffaloes, and the crosstown UCLA Bruins. In fact, USC ranks 78th in the nation behind the lieks of Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (65th) and Bowling Green Falcons (No. 77). This is truly telling sign of just how much top high school players have turned against the Cardinal and Gold under Helton's watch.
Perhaps the most pivotal recruits for a program to land are the ones in their respective states. Yet, the Trojans can't even get California's best to sign on the dotted line anymore.
Already under fire for retaining Clay Helton, USC left Wednesday's signing day with the worst-ranked class in the Pac-12. @LakenLitman on a disaster in Southern Californiahttps://t.co/He2XlN6ft3
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) December 18, 2019
The top Golden State prospect, linebacker Justin Flowe, opted against playing locally, instead joining the Oregon Ducks, the reigning Pac-12 champions. To add to Trojans fans' misery, the program failed to land any of the top 25 recruits in the state of California.
That's just absurd.
In total, Helton and Co. could only muster up 11 signings on Wednesday, which also ranks dead-last in the conference.
Justin Flowe choosing Oregon over #USC is the death knell to the Trojans’ 2020 recruiting class and simply a reminder that Mike Bohn made the wrong decision in retaining Clay Helton.
— Trent Goodrich (@Tgood_4) December 18, 2019
I mean how many reasons do you need?
By giving Clay Helton one more chance, the USC Trojans football program only harmed itself. As long as Helton's in charge on the sidelines, enjoy top-tier prospects joining your competition.
Sure, the early signing period isn't over. But the coach has a hell of a hole to dig himself out of the rest of the week.