On Signing Day, head coaches get to talk to the media, get to take most (if not all) of the credit for putting together their class and are judged by how their class turns out.
But hitting the road to find those future stars is a big job for the assistant coaches, and no one did a better job this year than USC recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, who’s track record nationally paid huge dividends for the Trojans.
It was that effort that landed Orgeron as Scout.com/FoxSports.com’s 2011 Recruiter of the Year.
Facing questions about their scholarship numbers, Orgeron and head coach Lane Kiffin crafted an outstanding class, the best in the Pac-12, and a top five class nationally.
Despite losing DeAnthony Thomas on Signing Day, the Trojans went into Kentucky to snag Lamar Dawson, Ohio to land Aundrey Walker and Florida for Buck Allen, while pulling in three more Scout 300 guys from Southern California in Marqise Lee, Christian Heyward and Junior Pomee.
Orgeron was a key reason for the Trojans’ run of talent in the last decade, which saw USC win a pair of national championships, and he continued his recruiting dominance in 2011.
Here are the 2011 Scout.com/FoxSports.com Conference Recruiters of the Year:
ACC: Sam Pittman, North Carolina
Big East: Jeff Hafley, Rutgers
Big Ten: Luke Fickell, Ohio State
Big Twelve: Robert Prunty, Texas Tech
Conference USA: Adrian Klemm, SMU
MAC: Jason Candle, Toledo
Mountain West: Justin Fuente, TCU
Pac-12: Tosh Lupoi, California
SEC: Tommy Thigpen, Auburn
Sun Belt: Eric Mathies, Western Kentucky
WAC: Keith Williams, Fresno State
Independents: Bob Diaco, Notre Dame