USC Football: Top 3 remaining targets for 2021 National Signing Day

National Signing Day is this week and USC football has some top targets left on the board. Who will the Trojans be hoping to land this week?

Clay Helton found himself on the hot seat to begin the 2020 season, but after making the Pac-12 title game in a shortened COVID-19-influenced year, his job is pretty safe — for now.

Everything was pointing towards him being out of a job following the 2020 season after a disappointing 2019 campaign and No. 64 ranked recruiting class in the nation. Now, USC is fresh off a title game appearance and the Trojans have the eighth-best recruiting class for 2021 and No. 2 in the Pac-12, according to 247Sports.

Who is still left on the board for the Trojans as National Signing Day approaches?

Right now, Ole Miss is the top contender to land four-star defensive tackle Tywone Malone from New Jersey, but Texas A&M, Florida State, Rutgers and Tennessee are also in the running. It’s pretty obvious he has plenty of potential suitors so this will be a tough one for USC.

Malone is one of the best uncommitted players in the entire country right now, ranked the No. 59 overall prospect and sixth-best defensive tackle, according to the composite. He’s also New Jersey’s No. 1 recruit.

At 6-foot-3.5 and 300 pounds, Malone has the size to be a disruptive force up front as he was throughout his high school career. There’s a reason he’s so highly coveted with signing day just a few days away. Sure, Ole Miss has the best odds to land him, but about 5-6 other teams feel they truly have a shot and USC is one of them.

Will they? I’m doubtful.