It seems that USC head coach Paul Hackett certainly won't have a shortage of talented, young arms to call on over the next few years. The Trojans have secured themselves yet another highly regarded quarterback from the Southern California area.

Mater Dei High (Santa Ana, Calif.) senior signal-caller Matt Leinart has decided to bring an end to his recruiting process before the high school football season hits full-swing and has orally committed to play for Hackett's Trojans next fall.

USC might not have enough playbooks and clipboards to go around, however. Sophomore Carson Palmer, formerly of Santa Margarita High (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and the Trojans' starting quarterback this fall, still has four years of eligibility remaining - he was allowed to redshirt last year after breaking his collarbone in the third game of the season. USC can also put true freshman and prep All-American Matt Cassell of Chatsworth High (Calif.) under center and have already accepted an oral commitment from Mission Viejo High (Calif.) QB Billy Hart for the 2001 season as well.

Leinart, who had reportedly been very close to committing to Michigan, instead decided that USC, despite it's multitude of quarterbacks, was the school and location where he felt most comfortable.

"It's a place where my family could see me a lot," Leinart told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm really excited."

"I know Carson pretty well and he's a great guy," he also told the Times. "If he stays there, I think that will benefit me. If I [get] a chance to start as a freshman, that will be great, but if I redshirt, that will be great too. That will help me prepare for [the 2002 season]."

According to the Times, Leinart heavily based his decision on his relationship with the USC coaches, most notably Hackett, running backs coach Kennedy Pola, a Mater Dei grad, and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. The decision also means that Leinart will be reunited with 2000 Mater Dei grad Matt Grootegood, a backup safety for the Trojans.

Leinart, a burly 6-foot-5, 210-pound field general who also sports an impressive 3.4 GPA, helped lead Mater Dei to a share of the CIF Southern Section Division I title last fall. He completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,273 yards and 15 touchdowns and was named MVP of the Sierra League.

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Rick Clausen, who will step into the shoes of his brother, 2000 Taft High (Woodland Hills, Calif.) graduate Casey Clausen, as the Toreadors' quarterback this fall, has also made his decision as to where he will be playing college ball.

The younger Clausen, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior who has worked hard this summer to work his way into the national spotlight, has committed to play at LSU in 2001. Casey Clausen is a freshman QB at Tennessee this fall.