BEAVERTON, Ore. -- USC's already impressive 2016 recruiting class received more good news, as ESPN 300 prospect C.J. Pollard and Trevon Sidney both pledged to the Trojans this week.
Pollard, the nation's No. 264 overall prospect and No. 16 safety, is the son of former USC football player Marvin Pollard, and has been viewed as a longtime lean to the Trojans. Arizona State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and Utah all put together strong pushes for the 6-foot-1, 182-pound prospect, who took unofficial visits to see the Wolverines, Ducks and Fighting Irish in the final weeks before making his decision in a televised announcement on ESPNU on Thursday.
He is a much-needed addition to this USC class as the first commitment for the Trojans secondary, and he continues their strong presence at powerhouse high school Gardena (Calif.) Serra.
Sidney, who committed Friday in an announcement on ESPNU, was another prospect that was long thought to be leaning toward the Trojans, but said his decision became finalized within the past week. Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and USC made the final cut for the nation's No. 136 overall prospect.
Though listed as an athlete, Sidney worked hard this past offseason to prove to college coaches that he could play wide receiver full time at the next level. He said early this week that he'd accomplished his goal, adding that every school was recruiting him at wide receiver, though the Trojans and Bruins said he could work on playing both ways.
Sidney's commitment gives USC four wide receivers in the 2016 class, as he joins fellow ESPN 300 prospects Josh Imatorbhebhe and Michael Pittman and four-star Velus Jones. While four appeared to be the number of receivers that the Trojans were shooting for, the fact that several of them could wind up at other positions allows Trojans coaches to continue recruiting the position -- with local prospects such as Javon McKinley and Tyler Vaughns still on the board.
With the two commitments, the Trojans are likely to continue their climb up the class rankings. USC entered the event with the No. 7 class in the nation, though these two commits could keep them moving toward a second-consecutive top-three finish.