Recruiting Rumblings: New USC coaches utilizing past connections

USC's new defensive staff has created plenty of buzz on the recruiting trail, fueling optimism that the Trojans will be able to rebound in this 2021 cycle and beyond.

A spate of new offers went out coast to coast this week, but for a few of those prospects USC already somewhat of a head start.

Take, for instance, 2022 safety and LSU commit Bryce Anderson (West Brook High School/Beaumont, Texas), who was offered by new Trojans safeties coach Craig Naivar on Monday.

"I'm very excited to receive an offer from them. Me and Coach Naivar have become pretty close over the past year," Anderson told TrojanSports.com "He told me he was going somewhere special when he left Texas and he was coming to get me -- that's exactly what he did."

Anderson committed to LSU on Sept. 1, but he's intrigued enough by the USC offer that he plans to take a visit out this way at some point.

"I love the city out there. It's beautiful, I haven't been on campus but will soon," he said. "I don't have any planned visits, but I know I'll be down there soon."

As for LSU, Anderson said: "I'm still committed there, but my recruitment is still 100 percent open."

Defensive back recruiting will be an area of emphasis in USC's 2021 and 2022 efforts after the Trojans were unable to sign any DBs in their small, 13-person 2020 class.

Anderson is a versatile DB who believes he could end up at any spot in the secondary.

"I feel that I have lots of range and I have the ability to play anywhere on the field," he said. "I can go to corner, nickel and guard the best player on the field. I am a versatile player and I have the ability to hit the big backs."