Vainuku changes visit schedule
Soma Vainuku has cancelled his official visit to Oregon State this weekend and instead will visit Southern Cal where an offer might be on the way, setting up a big decision for the Eureka, Calif., four-star prospect between the Trojans and Arizona State.
Vainuku, being recruited as a linebacker by both of his finalists, said USC assistant coach Rocky Seto visited his school last Wednesday and that Todd McNair, the running backs coach, is expected to see him today.
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An offer has not been extended yet but Vainuku, whose first cousin is former USC standout Rey Maualuga, said he has been told first-year coach Lane Kiffin wants to formally do it during his official visit this weekend.
"I've always liked SC, they've always been one of the top schools I wanted to go to," Vainuku said. "The trip Rocky Seto came up here and presented to me and my family, we decided it would be better, it would be a wise choice to take this trip to USC before signing day.
"He said they really want me to come down there. Unfortunately, my parents and I made the decision to cancel OSU this weekend to make the trip to USC. We thought this could be one of the places I could see myself playing for the next four years."
Vainuku, rated as the nation's best fullback by Rivals.com, rushed for 2,202 yards and 38 touchdowns in his senior season but didn't play much linebacker after the first few games. Still, Southern Cal and Arizona State want him for defense.
He said an offer from the Trojans would be "huge" and it could possibly set up a commitment although he said he's "teetering" between the two Pac-10 programs at this point.
"It would definitely make things a lot harder for me to choose," Vainuku said. "I really like Arizona State but my background with my cousin being there, experiencing the stuff I've seen there, going to watch games would make things a lot harder to make a decision before signing day.
"When Rocky called the night before he came, he said he was coming up the next day, I knew things were getting a lot more serious, and the running backs coach is coming up here (Wednesday).
"They're showing how serious they want me and how much I can benefit their football team if they're doing all this traveling to come see me. I believe I'm one of their top prospects."
Rivals.com rates Vainuku, a 6-foot-1, 251-pound recruit, as the No. 42 prospect in the California state rankings. In his junior season, he rushed for 1,000 yards and had 60 tackles. As a sophomore, Vainuku finished with 1,500 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.