Green goes Cardinal Gold
Little Rock (Ark.) Pulaski running back Broderick Green is breaking new ground today.
While USC has always been a recruiting power outside the state lines of California, the Trojans rarely take verbal commitments from out of state recruits before January.
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In town for an unofficial visit this weekend, Green decided to make his commitment to USC public.
Green and his older brother, Stephen, flew into Los Angeles Friday, and while this is their first trip to Southern California, it won't be their last.
"Yesterday, when we got on campus the coaches showed us around and I met a lot of the players on the team," said Green. "I had a chance to see how the coaches got along with the team, and I just loved the atmosphere.
"I got along with everybody, and that was big. I've been talking with coach McNair for a while, and when I met him, I felt like I'd known him forever. After practice we went up to coach Carroll's office with my bother. That's when I told everyone that I was committing to USC."
The news didn't surprise his brother. Just a few years ago, Stephen Green signed with North Carolina as a defensive back. Friday's events brought back old memories for Stephen.
"We were sitting in the players' lounge, and I asked him, 'are you about to commit because I can tell'," laughed Stephen. "I had the same feeling when I was going to commit, so I knew. He kept asking, 'yeah, but I don't know'.
"I just told him, 'it's your decision and you're the one who's going to the school, nobody else'. I could tell he was going to make his decision though. I could feel it because he loves SC.
"I was on the phone with my mom, and Broderick went into the office with coach Carroll," continued Stephen. "He came out and coach Carroll gave him a big hug. Then he came over and gave me a hug! I was like, whoa, what's going on?' Everyone was celebrating, so I kind of knew what happened."
Apparently, so did mom.
"My mom had a feeling he might commit," said Stephen. "USC is such a great school and it was at the top of his list. She knows how far it is, but I when I committed to North Carolina it was far too. I came back home, but we're not letting Broderick back home."
Playing college football away from home has become a tradition in the Green family, but not at the expense of a good education. While Broderick's excited about playing football for the Trojans, his mother is just as excited about the education he'll receive from USC.
"My mom has talked to Pete Carroll and Brennan Carroll several times," explained Broderick. "They explained the distance issues as well as how the academics work at USC. She is very excited about that.
"They let her know that USC wasn't just about football, and that they would take good care of me. She knows that after football, I'd get a good education from USC. If football doesn't work out, I'd still be able to get a great job with my degree."
For Broderick, another facet of the visit stood out even more than education.
"The energy at USC stuck out to me the most," said Green. "Everyone is excited about the program, and there's just energy everywhere you go. I think that's what really got me to commit."
Interestingly, making an early commitment is something Green pondered, but never decided on until Friday night. While he stays in Los Angeles for the weekend, Broderick will enjoy his new home away from home.
"I always thought about it, but I couldn't really make up my mind if I wanted to commit early or not," said Green. "Once I got here, I felt so comfortable, I decided that USC was the place for me."
But USC may not be the only school the 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back visits. With signing day 11 months away, Green wants to make sure his decision is the right one.
"I've talked to the coaches about taking official visits still, but I'm not sure how that will go," said Green. "I'd still like to see other schools and make sure I'm satisfied with my decision. I want to be 100-percent sure."
And while he may be verbally committed to USC, schools in the Southeastern Conference will undoubtedly continue to recruit Green. According to his brother, their efforts may be futile.
"He's ready for that, but it doesn't get better than Southern California," said Stephen. "Those schools will still recruit him, but it's up to him if he wants to listen to what they say. I think it's better to commit early because now he's at the head of the class."
USCFootball.com will have more from Broderick Green throughout the year.
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