Everyone knows about Taft. You just don’t know.

Next time you’re in the Los Angeles region, take a close look into the sky beyond the haze of smog that blankets much of the area some days. If you look closely, what appears to be a bridge has slowly begun to form above the path from William Howard Taft High School to the University of Southern California campus.

The lists for preseason Heisman candidates are in full circulation. The process of eliminating candidates has already begun, thus we have assembled the “CLA Sports Preseason Heisman Top 5 List.”

Watch this CLA Sports exclusive video interview featuring University of Oregon pre-season Heisman Trophy candidate De'Anthony Thomas & USC linebacker Hayes Pullard while they starred at Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, CA). Check out the post game interview, as well as highlights from the game vs. undefeated Culver City High School.

Watch this CLA Sports exclusive video coverage of Hayes Pullard while at Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, CA). Pullard led the Cougars to a record of 14-1 as a senior. High school teammates De'anthony Thomas and Marcus Martin also went on to play at the college level, with Martin joining Pullard at USC, and Thomas electrifying the world of college football at the University of Oregon.

Check out this video interview featuring current USC Trojans Jesse Scroggins (QB/2011), Dion Bailey (DB/2011) and Notre Dame defensive end turned linebacker Justin Utupo (DE/2011). CLA asked Bailey if he felt like he would be able to contribute early in his career at USC, and without hesitation, Dion outperformed all expectations after being named Pac-12 Defensive Freshmen of the Year in 2011. Bailey, along another LA area prep in Hayes Pullard (LB/2011), led the Trojans in tackles this season registering 81 total stops. Watch the video interview below:

After redshirting last season, former Serra High star quarterback Conner Preston is primed to make a big impact for the SMU Mustangs in 2012. With J..J. McDermott graduating and Kyle Padron transferring, the starting quarterback position is Preston’s for the taking. The expected arrival of former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert in June should raise the competition but we anticipate Preston seizing the reigns under center.

The USC Trojans are looking to capitalize on a fresh start coming into the 2012 NCAA college football season. Southern Cal returns two potential Heisman Trophy candidates as they enter into the first year of the post-sanction era. Led by Head Coach Lane Kiffin, USC is looking to shake off the rust of not being able to compete in BCS post-season play for the past two consecutive seasons. The Trojans have a lot to be thankful for in 2012.