USC football coach Pete Carroll didn’t sign anybody. For all I know, he didn’t make a call or visit a kid or send a letter or an e-mail. Might not be able to right now, per NCAA rules.

But he and the Trojans certainly sent a message to every prize recruit in the country, over the weekend.

How?

By putting four guys into the first round of the NFL draft … three more into the second round … and 10 total in the seven-round draft.

Don’t think Pete won’t use those stats when he’s sitting in Super Prep’s living room? He most certainly will.

USC as a finishing school for the NFL will be even more deeply ingrained in kids’ minds. And all high school stars think of themselves as NFL material. All of them.

To recap:

No. 7 DT Sedrick Ellis.

No. 9 LB Keith Rivers.

No. 21 OT Sam Baker.

No. 28 DE Lawrence Jackson.

No. 39 OG Chilo Rachal.

No. 48 TE Fred Davis.

No. 63 CB Terrell Thomas.

All those guys are going to get some serious money in the coming weeks. Especially the first four.

And three more Trojans went on Day 2 of the draft — QB John David Booty and LB Thomas Williams in the fifth round, RB Chauncey Washington in the seventh. They may not stick, but they will have great chances to make The League.
Williams and Washington weren’t even every-down players. But they had their names called.

Such is the status of USC football. (And perhaps here is where we note that the poor little Bruins had only three guys’ names called, and none until Bruce Davis, late in the third round. Like, do you have to go school at UCLA? Can’t even plan on an NFL career?)

As if Pete Carroll can’t get most of the guys he wants … but now, it’s going to be even easier. Ten players, one draft. Wow.