The USC Trojans have had a renewed focus on special teams this season with the arrival of special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, and it paid off with a commitment from Bakersfield (Calif.) Frontier punter Matt Darr.
“Sunday evening I committed to USC and Coach Carroll,” Darr said. “I talked with my dad and my family and discussed everything and we decided that I would commit to USC.
“Sunday night Coach Carroll actually called me. It was the last time that they could call before the dead period, and I told him it was quite a coincidence because we were going to give you guys a call this weekend, and give you guys a verbal commitment.”
Darr had offers from Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, Purdue, LSU, Alabama, Baylor and UTEP, but picked the Trojans because of the location and his relationship with assistant coach Brian Schneider.
“A big part of it was the closeness to home and family support down there. Also, the new special teams coach, from everything that we have heard and seen, is unreal. Plus, Coach Carroll is the best around."
Darr got a chance to watch Coach Schneider in action during USC’s spring practices and was very impressed with his knowledge of the game.
“He has been very supportive and honest with me throughout recruiting which we really appreciate,” Darr said. “I got to go to two spring football practices down there and watching him coach, Schenider really knows his stuff. Everybody that I have talked to that knows special teams in the game of football completely agreed.”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect is the top-rated punter in the 2010 class by kicking guru Chris Sailer and averaged an impressive 46 yards per punt in his junior season at Frontier High School.
Pete Carroll is fond of bringing in big, athletic kickers/punters like David Buehler and Jacob Harfman, and Matt Darr certainly fits that mold. Along with being an elite punter he also recorded 93 tackles and 8 quarterback sacks while playing linebacker last season.
“I made All-League and All-Area in linebacker this year,” Darr said. “I think I will be playing linebacker again this year if all goes as planned. It was just fun to do.”
Darr can bench press 330 pounds, squat 440 pounds and will compete in the state track finals in the shot put and discus this weekend.
“I am coming into the meet as the leader in the shot put and second in discus,” he said.
USC now has eight commitments in the 2010 class.
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If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can reach Kevin Carden at kevin@scplaybook.com