With NCAA sanctions under appeal, USC didn't have to reduce the size of its 2011 recruiting class.

For all that has gone wrong for the Trojans in the past year -- coach Pete Carroll leaving, Lane Kiffin arriving to a muted response, the NCAA penalties that included a postseason ban and an uninspiring 8-5 record -- the program can still bring in the recruits. Big time.

USC is still likely to face some sort of scholarship reductions down the road, but Kiffin and company brought in nine players at the semester break and 21 on signing day. That boosted the team's overall lagging scholarship numbers and will help Kiffin establish a foundation that can weather future reductions.

USC, if it loses its appeal, will lose 30 scholarships over the next three years.

"This may be the most critical class that ever signed at USC," Kiffin said. "It was imperative that we address a number of position and depth issues with this class, and we were able to do that by signing, as of now, 25 quality high school players and four junior college players."

The door wasn't completely shut on adding a few more players.

The quantity was there, as was the quality with a class ranked No. 4 by Rivals.com, No. 5 by Scout.com and No. 6 by 247sports.com. As has become the norm, the Trojans ranked first in the Pac-10 ... now the Pac-12. Ten of the high school players were rated on ESPNU's top 150 list.

That is exactly the kind of momentum Kiffin needed.

"It's not me," he said about the highly rated recruiting class. "For all these kids to still choose USC ... I just think it speaks volumes for USC."

TOP OF THE CLASS

WR George Farmer (Serra High, Gardena, Calif.) -- He had about every honor imaginable, including being ranked the No. 1 receiver in the nation. As a senior, the 6-foot-1 Farmer caught 65 passes for 1,514 yards and 14 touchdowns. He ran for two scores, had five touchdowns in the return game and intercepted three passes.

OL Cyrus Hobbi (Saguaro High, Scottsdale, Ariz.) -- Offensive line was a big area of need for the Trojans, who landed Hobbi, rated the No. 1 guard in the country. Hobbi, a Parade All-American, is one of six offensive linemen in USC's class, including two midyear junior college transfers.

QB Max Wittek (Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.) -- The only quarterback in the class, and he enrolled early to get a jump start on his career. He has a chance to back up Matt Barkley -- also from Mater Dei -- in 2011. Wittek completed 153 of 282 passes for 2,252 yards with 24 TDs and 15 interceptions as a senior. He is rated the No. 3 pro-style quarterback, according to Rivals.com.

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