Junior fullback D.J. Shoemate announced Thursday he would transfer to UConn, taking advantage of the NCAA’s ruling that upperclassmen could leave USC to join other squads.

Others leaving the USC program since the NCAA handed down its ruling in June were defensive end Malik Jackson (Tennessee), defensive back Byron Moore (junior college) and linebackers Jordan Campbell (Louisville) and Jarvis Jones (Georgia).

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for the Trojans will be the loss of incoming offensive tackle recruit Seantrel Henderson. The top-ranked high school tackle in the nation according to ESPN, Henderson announced via Facebook that he would enroll at the University of Miami in the fall.

Henderson would likely have started at left tackle for the Trojans, who currently have just three other tackles on scholarship to fill two starting positions. He was granted his release by coach Lane Kiffin earlier this week.

Shoemate’s decision capped off a miserable Thursday for USC, as the head of the annual college football coach’s poll — which is one of two polls used to rank college football teams each year — announced USC would not be eligible for the rankings this season.

USC’s inability to appeal the NCAA ruling for this coming season disqualified the Trojans from the coach’s poll in addition to the 2010 postseason bowl calendar.