USC lands diamond in rough

USC received yet another commitment from the California junior college ranks when it picked up Grossmont defensive back Mozique McCurtis last week. McCurtis was a freshman last year at Grossmont and is expected to compete for playing time right away at USC.

"They've been telling me that their idea is to bring me in to play right away," said McCurtis. "Apparently they've got some holes and some problems in the secondary and they want me to come in and compete right away."

McCurtis was a qualifier out of St Augustine High School in San Diego but went un-recruited due to a knee injury that claimed his senior season. He grey-shirted at Grossmont during the 2003 season and was a mainstay in the starting lineup for the Griffins during the second half of the 2004 campaign. He was recruited by Arizona, Colorado State and Oregon State before the injury in high school.

McCurtis is 6-foot-1, 220 lbs and was recently clocked around 4.35 (hand held) in the 40-yard dash by USC coaches. He played strong safety and free safety at Grossmont in '04 and was recruited to play corner at USC. He will have four years left to play three years of football for the Trojans.

McCurtis looks forward to playing for USC, and commented on the changes in his life in the last week.

"It's pretty crazy," said McCurtis. "It's all happened so fast, I'm just excited."

McCurtis gave a verbal to USC last Monday and is in the process of having his transcripts sent up the coast. He will enroll in the second semester of summer school at USC and will likely sign next week.

Colorado, Washington State, San Diego State, Kansas State and Arizona had all shown interest in recent weeks.