Poston commits to USC

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Darryl Poston’s initial choice, although challenged last month by a

few coaching changes, was confirmed Wednesday as he committed to play

football at University of Southern California.

The Edison High senior running back, the Independent’s Player of the

Year for the 2000 season, had tabbed USC as his first choice late last

year, then reconsidered when the Trojans fired head coach Paul Hackett.

While USC continued its lengthy search for a new head coach, Poston took

recruiting trips to two other Pacific 10 Conference schools, reigning

champion Washington and Arizona State.

“I had to rethink the whole thing once Coach Hackett was let go,”

Poston said. “I still really liked USC, but I took a few other trips and

also was big on Washington. It was neck-and-neck between those two

schools.”

What cemented the 17-year-old’s choice was that Washington running

back coach Wayne Moses left his position with the Huskies and joined new

head coach Pete Carroll’s coaching staff at USC.

Moses previously was an assistant coach under Carroll at North

Carolina State in 1980.

“I really like Coach Moses, the way he cares about you as a person,”

said the 5-foot-11, 185 Poston, who rushed for 1,593 yards and 19

touchdowns as a senior. “I like his philosophies and look forward to

having him coach me.”

Poston also said that his decision was cemented last weekend, after a

visit to his home by members of the Trojan coaching staff.

“Coach Carroll and his staff are really working hard to change ‘SC

football. They aren’t messing around, and they made it clear the

direction they want to go,” he added. “I’m excited to be a part of their

program.”

Poston, who says he likes math and computers and plans to study

computer science, will make his first visit to the USC campus this

weekend.

The national signing day for letters of intent is Feb. 7.