LOS ANGELES - Much to Joe Paterno’s dismay, Vidal Hazelton will be playing football for Southern California next season.

Three weeks after Signing Day, Hazelton, a star wide receiver from New York who played for Virginia’s Hargrave Military Academy, has signed a letter of intent with the Trojans, USC coach Pete Carroll announced Friday.

The 6-3, 200-pound Hazelton had faxed in his signed pledge on Signing Day on February 1, but his father did not sign the letter, nullifying it.  His father said he wanted his son to have more time to think about the decision, though many experts felt he was trying to steer him to Penn State.

“All along, we counted on Vidal being a big factor in the strength of our recruiting class,” said Carroll, who landed perhaps the top class in the nation. “It’s taken a while for everyone to come together on this decision, but we’re pleased for him and his family that it is finalized. We expect him to play a big role on our team and to compete for playing time right away.”

Considered by experts to be one of the finest high school receiver in the nation, the 6-3, 200-pound Hazelton had 41 receptions for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2005 for Hargrave.

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