Take Two: Will it be USC for five-star DB Isaac Taylor-Stuart?

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

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Five-star cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart is a special prospect because of his mix of size, length and speed and that makes him one of the most-coveted recruits this cycle.

Where he ends up is still a mystery, but there are some schools that seem to be standing out to the San Diego (Calif.) Helix prospect.

The only official visit planned for Taylor-Stuart so far is to LSU sometime during the season and he’s spoken highly of his relationship with assistant coach Corey Raymond.

As for which programs are recruiting Taylor-Stuart the hardest, the five-star cornerback said Oregon and Alabama have been particularly aggressive. Texas A&M, Oregon and Alabama are expected to get officials before a decision is made.

And then there’s USC. The Trojans have long been considered a frontrunner for the San Diego Helix standout. He’s planning an unofficial visit there soon and the feeling – at least at this point – is that USC could be difficult to beat.

When all is said and done, and all the visits are taken, will Taylor-Stuart stay home and play for the Trojans, like many top five-star prospects before him? Or will he pull a surprise and head to the SEC or out of state to play his college ball?

“Taylor-Stuart’s family is very much rooted in Southern California and they’re also involved and interested in his football career. I believe that will play a big factor in Taylor-Stuart’s decision. He’s also looking to be a priority player for a school with a rich tradition. USC is the hometown school that offers tradition and a path to playing time. In fact, the Trojan coaches are even telling Taylor-Stuart he could play both ways for them. Most other schools are just recruiting him to be a cornerback.

“But there are other contenders to sign Taylor-Stuart, especially if USC disappoints this season. Alabama and Ohio State are both traditional powers with established coaches. Both those programs have expressed high interest in Taylor-Stuart. Alabama and Ohio State check a lot of boxes for most every recruit, including Taylor-Stuart. Two programs that are struggling in the SEC are also worth watching. LSU has issues right now but if the Tigers find a way to compete in the SEC West, watch out. LSU has a great tradition of developing cornerbacks and that’s important to Taylor-Stuart. He also expressed high interest in the Tigers earlier in the football season. Texas A&M has also been involved with Taylor-Stuart for a long time. If the Aggies start winning again, maybe they have a chance.”

“I would have to say he goes to USC just like Iman Marshall and Adoree’ Jackson and all those highly-talented guys who take visits and think about going away. In the end, he’ll end up choosing, not the safe route, but the local route and go to USC. They’ve had success with corners so he will continue that tradition.

“He’s big, he’s fast as heck, he’s very sudden, so he has the length and the size and the speed you want. He’s a bit raw, but he can cover a lot of ground. I’m trying to compare him to somebody, but it’s hard. He’s unique, the length and the speed really stand out.