5:30 p.m.
The final major piece of the National Signing Day puzzle is in place.
Eddie Vanderdoes, the nation's No. 2 defensive tackle and No. 9 overall prospect, committed to Notre Dame late Wednesday, the last of the major recruits to make his choice.
Vanderdoes was seriously considering UCLA, as well, and his final decision was hotly debated right up until the announcement.
The strong lineman from Placer High School in Auburn, Calif., was a coveted recruit throughout the process. He was a longtime USC commit before backing off that pledge in December.
Alabama was also in the mix, though most of the Signing Day buzz centered on Notre Dame and UCLA.
Vanderdoes is the second five-star commit for Notre Dame, following linebacker No. 3 overall recruit Jaylon Smith.
Scout.com staff
3:10
USC announced that it had received national letters of intent from six players Wednesday.
They are:
Nico Falah, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound offensive lineman from Bellflower St. John Bosco High.
Khaliel Rodgers, a 6-2, 215-pound offensive lineman from Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Md.
Michael Hutchings, a 6-2, 215-pound linebacker from Concord De La Salle High.
Quinton Powell, a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker from Mainland High in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Steven Mitchell, a 5-10, 180-pound receiver from Mission Hills Alemany High.
Ty Isaac, a 6-3, 225-pound running back from Joliet Catholic High in Joliet, Ill.
Powell was the only player who had not previously committed to the Trojans.
The players join a class that already included quarterback Max Browne, running back Justin Davis, defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow and defensive backs Su'a Cravens, Chris Hawkins and Leon McQuay III.
-Gary Klein
9:50 a.m.
USC finally got some good news as linebacker Wednesday. Quinton Powell announced he would attend USC.
Powell, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, is from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Fla., the same school that produced Trojans defensive lineman Leonard Williams, a freshman All-American last season.
Powell said he was not affected by the wave of recruits who withdrew their commitments to USC.
"Every time I heard about it, I really just shook it off," Powell told ESPN in a television interview. "I was thinking about myself. Everybody decommitted because of the way they felt. I just wanted to commit based off my opinion on the school and things of that nature."
Powell's announcement came after Torrodney Prevot, a linebacker from Texas who decommitted from USC on Tuesday, reportedly announced that he would attend Oregon.
Earlier Wednesday, former Trojans commit Jalen Ramsey, a defensive back from Tennessee, announced he would attend Florida State.
USC fans are waiting on the 5 p.m. announcement of defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes, a former USC commit who was reportedly considering the Trojans, UCLA, Notre Dame and Alabama.
-Gary Klein
9:45 a.m.
Kylie Fitts, a defensive lineman from Redlands East Valley High who was once committed to USC, announced Tuesday night that he would attend UCLA, the final stab on a tumultuous day for Trojans Coach Lane Kiffin and his staff on the eve of national signing day.
Fitts' announcement came after three out-of-state recruits — defensive back Jalen Ramsey of Tennessee and defensive linemen Jason Hatcher of Kentucky and Torrodney Prevot of Texas — reportedly decommitted from USC.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Fitts graduated early with the intention of enrolling at USC in January. But a few days before he and other recruits were scheduled to arrive on campus, USC coaches informed Fitts that he had to wait until summer because a Trojans senior failed to graduate, leaving USC at its maximum of 75 players.
"I believe everything happened for a reason," Fitts said during a news conference at his high school. "When that whole incident happened, UCLA was the first coach to call. . . . I believe it's the greatest coaching staff in the nation right now and I believe UCLA is on the rise."
Last summer, USC had 18 oral commitments and its class was projected as the best in college football. But that was before a wave of decommitments.
Highly regarded quarterback Max Browne is among seven new players already enrolled, but Tuesday's defections are another hit to a program trying to recover from an embarrassing 7-6 season under the embattled Kiffin.
Fitts said he was shopping for dorm supplies with his mother when USC recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron called his father and told him Fitts would have to delay enrollment. Fitts said "my heart dropped" at the news.
"Coming in early was really big for me," he said, "to start spring ball and earn my respect right away."
Fitts reopened his recruitment and took trips to Notre Dame, UCLA and Utah. He met with Kiffin and Orgeron on Sunday at USC.
"I kind of knew right after that, that USC's a great place but UCLA is better," said Fitts, who will enroll in Westwood for the spring quarter and participate in spring practice.
Fitts said he would be motivated to play against USC the next four years.
"There's going to be that something inside me that's going to push me a little harder that game," he said.
USC, UCLA, Notre Dame and Alabama are among schools also vying for defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes, who also was once committed to USC.
"If we can get him and another couple guys [to UCLA]," Fitts said, "we'll be a top-five class in the nation."
-Gary Klein
8:35 a.m.
Michael Hutchings, a linebacker from Concord De La Salle High, tweeted Wednesday morning that he had sent his letter of intent to USC.
"Glad to be able to say I am OFFICIALLY A USC TROJAN!" read Hutchings' post. "Ready to start the journey. Thank you to my family friends and coaches."
USC has been waiting for some good news after a wave of players who had made oral commitments to the Trojans reopened their recruitment.
On Tuesday, three out-of-state players -- defensive back Jalen Ramsey of Florida and defensive linemen Jason Hatcher of Kentucky and Torrodney Prevot of Texas -- reportedly decommited from USC. Kylie Fitts, a defensive lineman from Redlands East Valley High, announced he would attend UCLA.
USC had hoped to sign linebacker Matthew Thomas of Florida, but he announced he would sign with Florida State.
-Gary Klein
