The USC Trojans have wasted no time diving into running back recruiting for the class of 2013. Head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff have sent out scholarship offers to many of the country's top backs, and the position history at USC as well as the lure of immediate playing time could make it an attractive location to national standouts such as Ty Isaac (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic), Greg Bryant (Delray Beach, Fla./American Heritage) and Derrick Green (Richmond, Va./Hermitage).
As was the case in the last recruiting class, the Southern California area hasn't produced a tailback who has earned an early offer from the Trojans. Unlike last year, this crop of juniors offers several intriguing prospects whom the Trojans already have targeted. Tailbacks such as Craig Lee (Redlands, Calif./Redlands), Zachary Green (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure) and DaVonte Young (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) have received interest from the Trojans and offers from other Pac-12 schools. But a back to keep an eye on should be Terrell Newby Jr. (West Hills, Calif./Chaminade).
It would be tough to find a more productive back in the area than Newby, a solidly built 5-foot-10 tailback who rushed for 2,117 yards and 34 touchdowns on 303 carries during his junior season. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in 10 games and ran past the 200-yard barrier four times, setting a season-high with 282 yards on the ground against San Luis Obispo.