How Important Is This Recruiting Season For USC, Lane Kiffin?

Rich Barnes/US Presswire

With four star defensive end Jason Hatcher de-committing Tuesday, Lane Kiffin's star just became a little dimmer. The once promising young head coach is now seemingly on the hot seat after three seasons in Southern California. If it were one just one high school changing his mind this wouldn't mean anything. The problem is five star cornerback Jalen Ramsey has also de-committed from USC (now headed to Florida State). Kiffin has lost other recruits as well, most notably defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. Not to say USC isn't having success at all because they are. The Trojans still have the most stars on average per player according to most major football recruiting websites. Right now USC has only twelve committed players in its 2013 signing class with National Signing Day fast approaching.
Not many coaches get for not signing enough highly projected high school players. I doubt Kiffin will be fired for not doing well on National Signing  Day. He could, however, be fired for his second straight abysmal season. After going just 7-6 in 2012 at one of the most prestigious and powerful schools across the nation, the same result in 2013 could have Kiffin leaving SoCal with his tail tucked between his legs. The Trojans wouldn't think twice about it. With Chip Kelly leaving Oregon and Stanford looking to be known as a football power, it has to be do or die time for the Men of Troy. Besides comparing a list of available candidates to their current head coach is not something USC would need to do. They have the money and stature to just pick a coach from 95% of the programs. There could be NFL coaches with one eye on the situation at USC. For the record, I am not talking about Chip Kelly. (But I really am.)

The notion that Kiffin would be undone by a lack of depth in his recruiting class is almost asinine. The notion that Kiffin could be dismissed because he can't get his players to perform is spot on. His resumé isn't at all impressive. After being named head coach of the Oakland Raiders (which was a huge leap as he was USC's "co-offensive and passing game" coordinator), he was only a season and a half in. Then he seemingly miraculously landed the job at Tennesee. Now it's known that Tennessee isn't a destination of desire by major coaches. He left Tennessee after performing at a mediocre level to replace Pete Carroll at USC. The program hired Kiffin with the quickness because he knew the team and area. Another reason he was hired quickly is because the school wanted to get a head coach in place before the NCAA handed sanctions down stemming from recruiting violations. But guess what... USC is no longer on probation. Their proverbial hand are no longer tied. Mr. Lane Kiffin's leash is about one season long as of now.