USC's Lane Kiffin On Recruiting Silas Redd: 'It Was Pretty Easy'

2012 College Football Preseason Rankings: USC Sits At No. 3 Behind LSU, Alabama

With the return of Matt Barkley, Robert Woods and the addition of Silas Redd to the USC Trojans squad for the 2012-13 season, it's easy to see why they could be in the running for a national title. And with the release of the College football preseason rankings, the Trojans are seen at the third best school in the country, sitting behind only LSU and Alabama.

The Trojans received 19 first place votes, one more than LSU but one less than Alabama. They won't be the only Pac-12 school looking to make a title run though as the Oregon Ducks sit a few spots behind them at No. 5, while the Stanford Cardinal also cracked the top 25 with a No. 18 ranking.

The Washington Huskies got a number of votes but remain just outside the top 25 as the 26th best football program in the country heading into the season.

For more on the USC football program and all of USC athletics in general, please make sure to check out Conquest Chronicles.

USC Trojans Land Silas Redd, Penn State RB Transfer

Huge news for the USC Trojans football team and their hopes at a national championship. Silas Redd is moving cross-country from Happy Valley to Heritage Hall.

About to send out Silas Redd's text statement. Assuming will be only word from family. #PennState #USC

— Dave Ruden (@DaveRuden) July 31, 2012

Redd fills in USC's biggest fear at running back depth, as Curtis McNeal was the only known returning commodity. Redd will come in and backup McNeal, although you should figure on a sort of platoon lineup where both backs end up splitting the carries.

The USC offense now has a plethora of offensive weapons. They'll have a 3,500 yard passer at quarterback in Matt Barkley, two 1,000 yard receivers in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, and now two 1,000 yard rushers in McNeal and Redd. It's hard not to see the Trojans having the top offense in all of college football going into next season.

Talk about Redd and USC football by heading over to Conquest Chronicles, and talk about Redd with Penn State fans at Black Shoe Diaries.

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Penn State Transfers: Silas Redd Seriously Considering USC

As the Penn State football sanctions continue to ripple through the school, a number of players are looking at transfering from the Nitany Lions, including standout running back Silas Redd, who now is looking into the USC Trojans.

Here is ESPN's Joe Schad with more:

Redd, Penn State's leading rusher last season, is considering the Trojans because of the perceived opportunity to compete for a championship. USC is pointing to a high number of recent freshman All-Americans as evidence Redd can pick up the system quickly.

Staying at Penn State and then entering the NFL draft after one year is still an option for Redd, and the most likely one if he chooses against joining USC, sources said.

USC notified Penn State on Monday that it indeed had interested in Redd, according to a source close to the situation. Head coach Lane Kiffen didn't specifically mention Redd at Pac-12 media day, but did have this to say about their depth in the backfield:

"Our No. 1 concern is our running back depth," Kiffin said. "We really have to do a good job there developing depth."

Redd, the 5-foot-10, 209-pound junior, ran for 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2012-13 campaign. He still has two years of eligibility remaining.

For more on the Trojans, make sure that you check out Conquest Chronicles.