Seantrel Henderson

As USC Coach Lane Kiffin and his staff blazed the recruiting trail the last couple of weeks, players and parents questioned them about the specter of possible NCAA sanctions against the Trojans football program. "Obviously, it was something that came up at times," Kiffin said. According to several players, coaches told them that they expected the program to be fine, that USC might forfeit some games from previous seasons or, perhaps, lose a few scholarships if sanctions were imposed.

For Jeremy Galten, it's a dream come true. Same for David Garness. Neither offensive lineman attracted a single scholarship offer while in high school. Now both are key components to USC's spring practice ? and perhaps the 2011 season. They are among three junior college transfers that signed with the Trojans in December and enrolled in January. Galten, Garness and linebacker Dallas Kelley are participating in workouts; a fourth player, defensive back Isiah Wiley, is scheduled to arrive this summer.

For Jeremy Galten, it's a dream come true. Same for David Garness. Neither offensive lineman attracted a single scholarship offer while in high school. Now both are key components to USC's spring practice ? and perhaps the 2011 season. They are among three junior college transfers that signed with the Trojans in December and enrolled in January. Galten, Garness and linebacker Dallas Kelley are participating in workouts; a fourth player, defensive back Isiah Wiley, is scheduled to arrive this summer.

It took nearly a month and more than 25 practices, but USC on Monday finally achieved a milestone of sorts when its projected starting offensive line finally practiced together for an extended period. The line, and how it will react to game conditions, is one of the Trojans' biggest mysteries heading into Thursday's opener at Hawaii. To stave off injuries, USC conducted full-contact tackling drills only once early in training camp. So offensive linemen have not practiced cut blocking or played at full speed.

The UCLA-USC football rivalry is definitely alive and flourishing -- in recruiting, at least. Each school emerged from Wednesday, the first day high school football seniors could sign letters of intent, with prospect classes ranked in the national top 10. "We're very close [to USC], and we'll go past them very soon," UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel predicted. The departure of USC Coach Pete Carroll to the NFL seemed to energize Neuheisel, who showed a closer mentality. Four top defensive recruits all announced in the middle of the day that they had signed with UCLA -- defensive backs Dietrich Riley of La Cañada St. Francis and Anthony Jefferson of Los Angeles Cathedral, linebacker Josh Shirley of Fontana Kaiser and defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa from Portland, Ore. New USC Coach Lane Kiffin ended the day by landing the biggest and best offensive line prospect in the nation, 6-foot-8, 330-pound tackle Seantrel Henderson from St. Paul, Minn.

New Coach Lane Kiffin will hold his first practice Tuesday as the USC football team opens spring workouts at Howard Jones field on campus. The Trojans, 9-4 in 2009, will practice 15 times over the next five weeks, concluding with the annual Trojan Huddle game at the Coliseum on May 1. Times staff writer Gary Klein identifies five areas to watch between now and then: Leading off Matt Barkley was USC's quarterback as a freshman last...

It took nearly a month and more than 25 practices, but USC on Monday finally achieved a milestone of sorts when its projected starting offensive line finally practiced together for an extended period. The line, and how it will react to game conditions, is one of the Trojans' biggest mysteries heading into Thursday's opener at Hawaii. To stave off injuries, USC conducted full-contact tackling drills only once early in training camp. So offensive linemen have not practiced cut blocking or played at full speed.

The first day of full pads, bringing the first head-to-headbutt confrontation at UCLA's practice Friday. Freshman defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa lined up across from freshman tackle Chris Ward in the "Oklahoma drill," a one-on-one test. Moments later the 318-pound Ward was being pushed backward. So when Bruins coaches start talking about Odighizuwa having the chance to contribute this season, it's not just traditional coach pitter-patter to say something nice about every player.

Seantrel Henderson, USC's top football recruit and a player many experts considered the No. 1 college prospect in the nation, was released from his scholarship by the Trojans on Tuesday. Henderson, a 6-foot-8 offensive tackle from St. Paul, Minn., could not be reached for comment but it is clear he requested his release. He verbally committed to USC in February but waited until March to sign his letter of intent because he was concerned about the NCAA's investigation into the Trojans' football program.

Seantrel Henderson, the nation's biggest — and by many ratings, the best — major-college football recruit, didn't show up for summer school classes at USC this week. Instead, he remained at home in Minnesota, igniting renewed speculation that he might ask to be released from his scholarship and prompting Trojans coaches to make their second trip to see him in just the last few weeks. Henderson, a 6-foot-8 offensive tackle who weighs in at well over 300 pounds, is vacillating about his decision and perhaps considering playing for Miami or Ohio State, according to various reports, though neither he nor his father has been quoted saying much more than no comment.

The first day of full pads, bringing the first head-to-headbutt confrontation at UCLA's practice Friday. Freshman defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa lined up across from freshman tackle Chris Ward in the "Oklahoma drill," a one-on-one test. Moments later the 318-pound Ward was being pushed backward. So when Bruins coaches start talking about Odighizuwa having the chance to contribute this season, it's not just traditional coach pitter-patter to say something nice about every player.

Seantrel Henderson, USC's top football recruit and a player many experts considered the No. 1 college prospect in the nation, was released from his scholarship by the Trojans on Tuesday. Henderson, a 6-foot-8 offensive tackle from St. Paul, Minn., could not be reached for comment but it is clear he requested his release. He verbally committed to USC in February but waited until March to sign his letter of intent because he was concerned about the NCAA's investigation into the Trojans' football program.

Seantrel Henderson, the nation's biggest — and by many ratings, the best — major-college football recruit, didn't show up for summer school classes at USC this week. Instead, he remained at home in Minnesota, igniting renewed speculation that he might ask to be released from his scholarship and prompting Trojans coaches to make their second trip to see him in just the last few weeks. Henderson, a 6-foot-8 offensive tackle who weighs in at well over 300 pounds, is vacillating about his decision and perhaps considering playing for Miami or Ohio State, according to various reports, though neither he nor his father has been quoted saying much more than no comment.

New Coach Lane Kiffin will hold his first practice Tuesday as the USC football team opens spring workouts at Howard Jones field on campus. The Trojans, 9-4 in 2009, will practice 15 times over the next five weeks, concluding with the annual Trojan Huddle game at the Coliseum on May 1. Times staff writer Gary Klein identifies five areas to watch between now and then: Leading off Matt Barkley was USC's quarterback as a freshman last...

As USC Coach Lane Kiffin and his staff blazed the recruiting trail the last couple of weeks, players and parents questioned them about the specter of possible NCAA sanctions against the Trojans football program. "Obviously, it was something that came up at times," Kiffin said. According to several players, coaches told them that they expected the program to be fine, that USC might forfeit some games from previous seasons or, perhaps, lose a few scholarships if sanctions were imposed.

The UCLA-USC football rivalry is definitely alive and flourishing -- in recruiting, at least. Each school emerged from Wednesday, the first day high school football seniors could sign letters of intent, with prospect classes ranked in the national top 10. "We're very close [to USC], and we'll go past them very soon," UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel predicted. The departure of USC Coach Pete Carroll to the NFL seemed to energize Neuheisel, who showed a closer mentality. Four top defensive recruits all announced in the middle of the day that they had signed with UCLA -- defensive backs Dietrich Riley of La Cañada St. Francis and Anthony Jefferson of Los Angeles Cathedral, linebacker Josh Shirley of Fontana Kaiser and defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa from Portland, Ore. New USC Coach Lane Kiffin ended the day by landing the biggest and best offensive line prospect in the nation, 6-foot-8, 330-pound tackle Seantrel Henderson from St. Paul, Minn.

USC football signings Player High school Ht., Wt. Pos. Markeith Ambles McDonough (Ga.) Henry County 6-2, 215 WR Dion Bailey Lakewood 6-1, 195 DB Dillon Baxter San Diego Mission Bay 6-0, 205 RB Anthony Brown Fontana Kaiser 6-0, 185 DB Giovanni Di Poalo Ventura St. Bonaventure 6-6, 295 OL Xavier Grimble Las Vegas Bishop Gorman 6-6, 245 TE Patrick Hall Ventura St. Bonaventure 6-1, 185 DB Seantrel Henderson.