Redd puts off decision until Tuesday
Silas Redd won't be making his announcement Monday according to The Hour in Connecticut.
Redd's decision was expected to come Monday, but will likely be delayed until late Tuesday according to the report.
The Penn State tailback has spent the weekend in Los Angeles visiting USC. Sunday, he was rumored to be at a Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles with USC head coach Lane Kiffin and members of the USC football team.
However, indulging in one of L.A.’s most popular delicacies isn’t enough to make Redd utter a decision. At least not publicly, anyway.
He's expected to return to his Norwalk, Connecticut home Monday and use most of Tuesday to ponder his decision.
Redd's visit to USC comes on the heels of a Lane Kiffin visit to Redd and his family in Connecticut last week. It was, reportedly, a three-hour meeting in which Kiffin showed a PowerPoint presentation and tried to convey how the Penn State running back would fit into the Trojans offense. Kiffin also assured him he would be accepted by his new teammates if he chose to be a Trojan.
There are plenty of links to Redd on the current USC football team. Like Redd, four members of the Trojans were a part of the 2010 Army All American Game - D.J. Morgan, Christian Thomas, Robert Woods and Demetrius Wright. Redd also grew up and played Pop Warner football with USC backup quarterback Max Wittek. Because of public comments made by Wittek, the Trojans are thought to have committed a secondary NCAA violation in their recruitment of Redd. In that regard, transfers are treated the same as recruits, meaning coaches and players aren't allowed to comment publicly about them.
In the process of recruiting Redd, the Trojans have received a commitment from Alief Taylor (Texas) High School defensive end Torrodney Prevot –which puts them at their limit for the 2013 class – projected starting defensive end Devon Kennard confirmed a torn pectoral muscle which could have him miss the season.
If Redd decides to become a Trojan, there are still some logistics that need to be worked out. USC is already at their 75 scholarship maximum and are not allowed to go over that to take any players from Penn State, unlike other sanction-free NCAA programs. They are still waiting to see if incoming wide receiver Darreus Rogers will be cleared academically.
A yes from Redd will give the Trojans two 1,000-yard rushers in the backfield with Redd teaming up with Curtis McNeal. That tandem will team up with, arguably, the best wide receiving duo in the nation –Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. They both had over 1,000 receiving yards last season as well. Matt Barkley surpassed the 3,500-yard plateau last season and threw a school record 39 touchdown passes. Barkley is a front runner for the Heisman Trophy.
A no from Redd still leaves the Trojans as a national title contender despite being razor thin at the running back position. If USC is able to have as much success with bubble screens as they did last season, it could make up for the lack of depth at running back.
Meanwhile, Happy Valley and Los Angeles wait. Will he or won’t he be a Trojan next season?
It should all be cleared within the next 24 hours.