USC lands two big-time offensive linemen

Nico Falah shined at The Opening then committed to USC. (CBSSports.com)

When Sammamish (Wash.) quarterback Max Browne was at The Opening this past week, he was one of several USC commits who mentioned recruiting several offensive linemen to the class over the coming weeks. Turns out, the centerpiece of the Trojans' recruiting efforts over the past few months didn't have to wait long as the program added Elkton (Md.) offensive guard Khaliel Rodgers and Bellflower (Calif.) offensive tackle Nico Falah, right, within hours of each other on Wednesday.

"USC is one of the top academic institutions in the country. USC is tops in a lot of things," Rodgers told USCFootball.com. "It's a great place and they have what I want to study, which is business. My dad has two businesses, so that's something I'm interested in."

The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Rodgers is rated as the 10th interior lineman in the country and picked USC over his other finalist Auburn. He is teammates with 2013 Trojans commit Kenny Bigelow and 2015 quarterback pledge David Sills and will join Falah in Los Angeles next fall.

"With USC, it's SC football and all the tradition," Falah, a 6-foot-4, 267-pounder who picked the school over rival UCLA, said at The Opening over the weekend. "I could be a great player there and play for a great coach. I love my potential there, and I think I can be the best player I can be."

The pair gives the Trojans 13 commitments for the class of 2013, which should wind up with 18 total players by Signing Day when factoring in early enrollees.