USC attracted a marquee quarterback last month when Ventura St. Bonaventure High quarterback Ricky Town signed a financial-aid agreement.USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said Town has leadership qualities and a strong work ethic.

“This guy loves football,” Sarkisian said. “He studies the game of football, and he’s similar to Cody [Kessler] in that way - a real football junkie.”

Town, 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds, competed at Nike’s Elite 11 in July, an invitation-only event featuring 18 of the nation’s top high school quarterbacks.

ESPN NFL analyst and Elite 11 coach Trent Dilfer said Town struggled on Day One before a Day-Two standout performance. “He had so much confidence,” Dilfer told USA Today. “His personality started coming out, he had some sauce to him.”


Town ranked as the eighth-best quarterback in the Elite 11.

Town will enroll mid-year at USC.

He was committed to Alabama before switching his commitment to USC.

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