RESERVE, La. - Southern California finished recruiting with a flourish.

Several blue chip prospects who entered signing day uncommitted ended it headed to USC as the two-time defending national champions continued to stockpile talent Wednesday.

Rivals.com has the Trojans’ class rated No. 1 in the nation, just like last year.

“It’s been a hallmark of ours, getting great classes and putting them together one after the other, which has allowed us to reach the level of success we have,” USC coach Pete Carroll said.

Unlike last year, the Trojans weren’t a consensus No. 1 among all the leading recruiting analysts — but they were close.

Max Emfinger had USC second behind Oklahoma. Allen Wallace of SuperPrep and Scout.com ranked USC No. 3, with Tennessee first and Michigan second. The Trojans were third behind Nebraska and Tennessee, according to Tom Lemming of ESPN.com and College Sports Television.

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USC landed two of the nation’s best linebackers (Brian Cushing from New Jersey and Luthur Brown from California) and two of the top defensive linemen (Walker Ashley from Minnesota and Kyle Moore from Georgia) on Wednesday. All four were uncommitted when the day started.

“It looked like it might not have been their year, but it turned on a dime,” Bobby Burton of Rivals.com said of the Trojans. “To have back-to-back No. 1-ranked recruiting classes is unheard of.”

Quarterback Mark Sanchez and linebacker Rey Maualuga from California and wide receiver Patrick Turner from Tennessee highlight the Trojans’ class.

Sanchez will have to sit behind Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, who decided to return for his senior season despite a chance at being the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

Carroll’s reputation for playing freshmen keeps the Trojans’ already loaded roster from scaring away the best high school players.

“We had players of the year from four states and others who are coming to do something special,” Carroll said. “They’re not concerned about depth charts, just about opportunity.”

Oklahoma’s 55-19 loss to USC in the Orange Bowl last month certainly didn’t hurt the Sooners in recruiting.

Signing Day Top classes The top 10 recruiting classes as rated by four of the top recruiting analysts: ME SP TL RC 1. Okla. Tenn. Neb. USC 2. USC Mich. Tenn. Okla. 3. Tenn. USC USC Tenn. 4. Fla. St. Fla. St. Mich. Fla. St. 5. Neb. Okla. Okla. Neb. 6. Tex A&M Neb. Iowa Mich. 7. Florida Georgia Tex A&M Miami 8. Georgia Florida Geor. Geor. 9. Miami Ohio St. Fla. St. Tex A&M 10. Mich. Iowa Va. Tech Cal ME: Max Emfinger; SP: SuperPrep/Scout.com; TL: Tom Lemming; RC: Rivals.com; Source: Associated Press

The Sooners’ two prized recruits were on the defensive side, where they could use some help.

Tackle DeMarcus Granger from Texas and linebacker Ryan Reynolds from Nevada were each considered among the very best defensive players in the country.

“This class met our needs, and I am especially happy about the quantity and quality of the linemen on both sides of the ball,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “We needed to do well there, and we did.”

In perhaps the most anticipated signing of the day, Ryan Perrilloux, considered one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation, spurned Texas to play at LSU.

Perrilloux had verbally committed to Texas, but signed a scholarship letter of intent with LSU.

Perrilloux completed 225 of 342 passes for 3,546 yards and 30 touchdowns last season and ran for 1,460 yards and 37 touchdowns. He ranks second in Louisiana high school history in total offense with 12,715 yards and fourth in passing yards with 9,025.

The Houston Chronicle reported as recently as Friday, Perrilloux said he was still “100 percent committed” to the Longhorns.

But Perrilloux, USA Today’s Offensive Player of the Year, apparently did not want to sit behind Texas junior-to-be Vince Young, who led the Longhorns to a dramatic 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl on January 1.

“(Young) had a real good year,” Perrilloux told The (Baton Rouge) Advocate.  “I didn’t want to go in and sit on the bench for two years.”

Instead, Perrilloux, who also was considering Mississippi State, will compete for playing time with LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who just completed an up-and-down redshirt freshman season and recently underwent elbow surgery.

“It was best for me and best for my family,” Perrilloux told College Sports TV.   “The quarterback situation is great and my family will be close.”

Perrilloux had become good friends with standout receiver Fred Rouse of Tallahassee, Florida.  They were rumored to be a package deal, but Rouse elected to sign with his hometown team, Florida State.

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