USC offers four-star LB
Derik Calhoun attended the recent USC junior day and did not get offered but the Trojans decided to offer on Wednesday and it's definitely another big one for the four-star linebacker from El Cerrito, Calif.
Days after attending the Rivals Camp Series by Under Armour in Los Angeles, Calhoun chatted with coach Lane Kiffin and the Trojans are now on board.
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"It was a surprise," Calhoun said. "I didn't think they were going to offer until later in my season. I thought they were going to look at my senior year. It came as a surprise to me.
"They called my coach and my coach called me down to the classroom. He was talking to one of the recruiters from SC and then he put the head coach on the phone. I talked to Kiffin for about 15 minutes.
"He was saying he likes me as a linebacker. He likes how after the first two quarters I don't give up. I come out in the third and fourth quarter and play my heart out. I go sideline to sideline and everything."
USC is a big offer for Calhoun, a 6-foot, 215-pound four-star recruit, but he's nowhere near making his decision. His sister, Deanna, plays basketball for the Trojans and that could be a factor but Calhoun admitted UCLA is still very high on his list.
"They stand pretty close," Calhoun said of USC. "At the junior day I was pretty disappointed that I didn't get an offer but now that I have the offer it puts them right back where I would like them.
"As far as them in general it puts them up. I had a lot of family go there and my sister goes there right now. She plays basketball for them right now so I sent her a text and she's really excited about that. She wants me to go there really bad."
UCLA is always going to play a factor for Calhoun, who said he likes a lot about the Bruins' program, the coaching staff and his comfort level in Westwood.
"At UCLA, it's like family over there," Calhoun said. "I know the coaches really well. I just love it over there. At USC I have to get to know them. They just got new coaches so I have to get to know them."
In total, Calhoun has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Cal, Nebraska, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington and Washington State.
The four-star said he plans to remain patient in his recruitment.
"I'm going to take my time for sure," Calhoun said.
"It's not one of those immediate things. (USC) is for sure a school I'm going to look at especially because of my sister because I always wanted to go to school with her. But then again it would be cool if I went to her rival school, too."