Tashon Smallwood is an imposing figure who should terrorize many a Pac-12 offensive lineman in the upcoming four seasons. The Fresno (Calif.) Central East defensive tackle made an early commitment in the 2014 recruiting cycle to the USC Trojans on February 24th.
Smallwood stands at 6'1 and weighs approximately 280 pounds. A consensus three-star prospect, 247Sports places Smallwood as the 39th best defensive tackle and the 50th best California recruit. The scouting service singled out his motor as his biggest asset, but Smallwood also earned high praise for his strength, point of attack, first step, hand quickness and athleticism. Rivals ranks Smallwood as the 22nd best defensive tackle while Scout positions him 12th overall.
As of mid-May, Smallwood also holds offers from schools like Arizona State, Oklahoma, UCLA, and Wisconsin, but it might take quite a bit to sway the central California defensive presence to switch from Ed Orgeron's unit.
You can watch Smallwood's highlights on Hudl and follow him on Twitter at @tsmallwood54.