USC Trojan Football

Cumulative Spring Stats (all 4 Scrimmages)

2009-04-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

I attended the Trojan Huddle last Saturday and will provide a bit of commentary based on what I saw in the key competitions...

Quarterbacks:
Matt Barkley 43-of-66 (65.2%) for 562 yards, 4 TD, 5 INT
Aaron Corp 43-of-69 (62.3%) for 543 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Mitch Mustain 20-of-36 (55.6%) for 182 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT

Corp should be the starter if the Trojans had to play today but during the final scrimmage he threw 3 very bad passes that should have been intercepted (all three were dropped by DBs). Corp has very quick feet and doesn't hesitate to pull down a pass when a receiver is covered and gain 7 or 8 yards before the defense can react. My question is how will his lanky 6'4", 205 pound frame hold up when he gets hit by an Ohio State Buckeyes defensive player. Corp also did not look good throwing the ball down the field. He doesn't appear to have great arm strength.

Barkley clearly possesses great arm strength and a more sturdy frame (at about 6'3", 220 pounds). The young freshman needs to realize that he can't gun throws through defensive backs though. Its only a matter of time before Barkley is the starter at USC. The only way Corp will hold him off is to win early and win often.

Mustain reminds me of John David Booty (they are about the same size and appear to have the same mentality). I'm not sure I can clearly evaluate Mustain's play as he was throwing to third string receivers most of the scrimmage. Overall I'd say he is between Barkley and Corp in just about every way - arm strength, running ability, understanding of the offense. It seemed as if he lacked the same level of confidence displayed by Barkley and Corp though.

Running Backs:
Curtis McNeal 36 carries for 218 yards (6.1 ypc) and 2 TDs
Marc Tyler 27 carries for 121 yards (4.5 ypc) and 1 TD
Stafon Johnson 24 carries for 56 yards (2.3 ypc) and 1 TD
C.J. Gable 10 carries for 45 yards (4.5 ypc)
Stanley Havili 7 carries for 45 yards (6.4 ypc)
D.J. Shoemate 4 carries for 19 yards (4.8 ypc)

Stafon Johnson didn't play much during the final scrimmage and couldn't get a block when he did carry the ball. CJ Gable broke a 45-yard run for the only running highlight of the day. Coach Carroll said that Curtis McNeal may have been the offensive MVP of the spring going into the final scrimmage. But McNeal had a rough day, gaining just 7 yards on 8 carries. McNeal was slammed to the turf several times by the defensive and limped off the field at one point. Marc Tyler looked great running between the tackles and will be a threat if he gets much play time this fall. DJ Shoemate was, in my opinion, the offensive MVP of the final scrimmage. Shoemate had 17 yards rushing and 39 yards receiving while serving as the white team fullback.

Receivers:
Damian Williams 13 receptions for 218 yards (16.8 ypr) and 1 TD
Brice Butler 13 receptions for 155 yards (11.9 ypr)
Travon Patterson 11 receptions for 145 yards (13.2 ypr) and 1 TD
Ronald Johnson 9 receptions for 148 yards (16.4 ypr) and 1 TD
Jordan Cameron 8 receptions for 87 yards (10.9 ypr) and 2 TDs
David Ausberry 8 receptions for 82 yards (10.3 ypr) and 1 TD
Brandon Carswell 5 receptions for 49 yards (9.8 ypr)

Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson are the clear starters at receiver. I am very concerned that Coach Carroll lists David Ausberry as the #3 receiver though. Ausberry has been somewhat of a disappointment over the past couple of seasons. I think he plays like a finesse receiver when he should be using his 6'4", 235 pound frame to physically dominate DBs like former Trojan Mike Williams did. Ausberry couldn't get open during the scrimmage and dropped the one pass that was thrown to him. Redshirt freshman Brice Butler looks like a much better option. Butler is 6'3" and 215 pounds and consistently finds seams in the defense. Travon Patterson and Jordan Cameron also looked ready to contribute as back-ups.

Spring Decision

2009-04-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

Coach Carroll named Aaron Corp as the starting QB for this Saturday's Trojan Huddle scrimmage. Matt Barkley was second and Mitch Mustain third in the much publicized QB battle. The deciding factors in order of importance were third down efficiency (1-Barkley, 2-Corp, 3-Mustain), turnovers (1-Corp, 2-Mustain, 3-Barkley) and ability to run the offense via signals from the coaches on the sideline (1-Corp & Mustain tie, 3-Barkley). Coach Carroll acknowledged that if Barkley can progress on his understanding of the offensive signals, he will be able to directly challenge Corp in fall camp. Mustain says he has no plans to transfer and will continue to compete. While he kept silent on his discussions with new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, Mustain may feel he hasn't gotten the same opportunity with the first team offense as Corp and Barkley.

The 2009 USC Football poster features S Taylor Mays, RB Stafon Johnson, WR Damian Williams, OG Jeff Byers, DE Everson Griffen, S/CB Josh Pinkard and RB Joe McKnight. Mays is in the center position (not surprising). But what about RB C.J. Gable? Gable hasn't slipped behind Stafon Johnson or Joe McKnight on the depth chart, so why the snub? Is Gable still in the fumblitis doghouse?

Cumulative Stats from 3 Scrimmages

2009-04-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Quarterbacks:
Matt Barkley 31-of-46 (67.4%) for 438 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
Aaron Corp 29-of-46 (63.0%) for 386 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Mitch Mustain 13-of-24 (54.2%) for 97 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Running Backs:
Curtis McNeal 28 carries for 211 yards (7.5 ypc) and 2 TDs
Marc Tyler 20 carries for 77 yards (3.9 ypc)
Stafon Johnson 19 carries for 60 yards (3.2 ypc) and 1 TD
Stanley Havili 6 carries for 41 yards (6.8 ypc)
C.J. Gable 5 carries for -8 yards (-1.6 ypc)

Receivers:
Damian Williams 10 receptions for 180 yards (18.0 ypr) and 1 TD
Brice Butler 8 receptions for 105 yards (13.1 ypr)
David Ausberry 8 receptions for 82 yards (10.3 ypr) and 1 TD
Ronald Johnson 6 receptions for 113 yards (18.8 ypr) and 1 TD
Travon Patterson 4 receptions for 88 yards (22.0 ypr) and 1 TD
Jordan Cameron 4 receptions for 49 yards (12.3 ypr) and 1 TD
Brandon Carswell 2 receptions for 20 yards (10.0 ypr)

The Man in the Straw Hat

2009-04-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

Did you happen to catch the USA Today article featuring the Alabama spring football game this week? Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was quoted in the article as saying "We do nothing to promote it (the spring game). We don't advertise on the radio. I was in Georgia this past weekend and they advertised their spring game every other commercial on the radio, getting people to come. We don't do anything, they just come."

Oh really Coach Saban? Then why is the official title of your spring game "the Golden Flake A-Day Game at Alabama?" Why is your spring game also sponsored by Cook's Pest Control? Then why did USA Today run a full page story on your game? Why did you arrange for ESPN to televise the game live? Why did the University of Alabama pay for an advertisement to run several times during the ESPN telecast that featured Alabama football players with the theme "This is Alabama Football - at some places they play football but at Alabama we live it." The ad touted Alabama's 92 first team all-americans, 56 bowl appearances, 31 bowl victories, 21 SEC championships and 12 national championships.

And you say you don't promote the Alabama spring game Coach Saban? Really? It seems to me you did everything you could to make this a big time recruiting tool. Another reason why Saban is my least favorite college football coach. I really don't care if you promote your game, heck USC does the same thing, but don't deny that you do it! I guess this is to be expected from the guy that claimed he wouldn't leave LSU for the NFL and he wasn't interested in leaving the Miami Dolphins for the Alabama job.

In Austin Powers in Goldmember, actor Michael Caine says "Don't play the laughing boy. There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch."

The two things I hate in this world - the arrogance of LSU/SEC fans and Nick Saban.

Here's the link to the story:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/2009-04-16-alabama-spring-game_N.htm

Scrimmage Stats

2009-04-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the statistical roll-up after the first two spring scrimmages:

Quarterbacks:
Matt Barkley 16-of-25 (64.0%) for 252 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Aaron Corp 16-of-28 (57.1%) for 216 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Mitch Mustain 10-of-18 (55.6%) for 64 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Running Backs:
Curtis McNeal 18 carries for 149 yards (8.3 ypc) and 1 TD
Stafon Johnson 14 carries for 46 yards (3.3 ypc)
Marc Tyler 11 carries for 28 yards (2.5 ypc)
Stanley Havili 3 carries for 26 yards (8.7 ypc)
C.J. Gable 5 carries for -8 yards (-1.6 ypc)

Receivers:
Damian Williams 6 receptions for 51 yards (8.5 ypr) and 1 TD
Brice Butler 5 receptions for 74 yards (14.8 ypr)
David Ausberry 4 receptions for 38 yards (9.5 ypr) and 1 TD
Ronald Johnson 3 receptions for 84 yards (28.0 ypr) and 1 TD
Travon Patterson 3 receptions for 79 yards (26.3 ypr) and 1 TD
Brandon Carswell 2 receptions for 20 yards (10.0 ypr)

Spring Practice Day 9

2009-04-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Quarterbacks: Coach Carroll stated that while a starting QB will be named at the end of spring practice, the competition will still be open in the fall. Mitch Mustain took just 1 snap during 11-on-11 drills during Tuesday’s practice compared to Matt Barkley’s 20 and Aaron Corp’s 19. So the competition appears to be between Barkley and Corp. It is likely that Corp will be named the starter at the end of spring, but Barkley has a real chance to win the job this fall after a strong spring. Coach Carroll said: "It might take a little longer (to determine a starting QB) than usual. In all fairness, this competition could go a long time. If Matt (Barkley) gets a summer and another fall camp, he'll surely be better."

Running backs: C.J. Gable had an MRI on the hip he injured during Saturday's scrimmage. Marc Tyler sat out because of a minor hip injury.

Offensive Line: Sophomore Tyron Smith and redshirt freshman Matt Kalil took all the reps at right and left tackle on Tuesday with Charles Brown (groin), Butch Lewis (groin) and Nick Howell (hamstring) sitting out due to injuries.

Defensive Backs: CB Brian Baucham missed practice due to illness.

Special Teams: Joe Houston (4-for-4) and Jordan Congdon (2-for-2) made all of their FG attempts on a windy day.

Recruiting: DT Dakota Smith (6'7", 350) of Westchester H.S. in Los Angeles verbally committed to USC this week. Dak's father, Tody Smith, was a member of USC's original Wild Bunch. Smith hasn't been rated yet by the Rivals recruiting service so he would be considered a minor recruit at this point. Arizona, Hawaii and UCLA were also considered in the running for Smith.

Spring Practice Day 7

2009-04-10T14:02:00.001-07:00

Quarterbacks: Freshman QB Matt Barkley had his best performance of the spring on Thursday, completing almost every pass during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Barkley threw 3 TD passes, one to WR Damian Williams, one to WR Jordan Cameron and one to WR Travon Patterson. QB Mitch Mustain worked with the first team offense on Thursday but didn’t have an opportunity to throw the ball down the field. Mustain told reporters he feels that he is still in the race for the starting QB spot. But many reporters feel that Aaron Corp has pulled into a solid lead. With Barkley charging fast, Mustain will have to make some big plays, while not turning the ball over, over the next two weeks to have a chance. O.C. Register reporter Michael Lev reports that Mustain may have the edge over Corp and Barkley in leadership intangibles. According to Lev, Mustain appears to have assumed the role previously filled by Mark Sanchez of being the vocal encourager to the offense on and off the field. The funny thing is that I’ve seen plenty of Mustain (Springdale H.S., Arkansas and USC) and Barkley (Mater Dei H.S.) but I’ve only seen Aaron Corp throw the ball four times (twice at Virginia and twice at Ohio State). I never saw any footage of Corp playing high school football at Orange Lutheran.

Running Backs: RB Joe McKnight (dislocated toes) fielded punts and participated in some individual drills on Thursday. Even though he didn’t participate in scrimmages, his trash talking to the defense was loud enough to catch the attention of O.C. Register reporter Damian Calhoun.

Receivers: L.A. Daily News reporter Scott Wolf says that David Ausberry is the #3 WR and Brice Butler is the #4 WR. Travon Patterson and Jordan Cameron are the #5 and #6 WRs ahead of Brandon Carswell.

Offensive Line: Sophomore Tyron Smith may have wrapped up the starting RT spot with his performance this spring. Smith has played so well that Butch Lewis, who started 7 games at RT in 2008, has been moved to RG. The starting O-Line this fall will likely be LT Charles Brown, LG Jeff Byers, C Kris O’Dowd, RG Butch Lewis and RT Tyron Smith. The primary back-ups will be OT Nick Howell, OG Zack Heberer and OG Alex Parsons. Howell has missed several practices with a sore hamstring and Parsons has a cast on his injured hand. I haven’t heard much on the highly touted OT Matt Kalil this spring. OG Khaled Holmes and OG Martin Coleman are also trying to break into the rotation.

Linebackers: LB Luthur Brown (shoulder strain) will likely miss the rest of spring practice. Brown, a fifth year senior, has been plagued by injuries throughout his collegiate career. If Brown can’t play in 2009, and there is no indication that he’ll be able to stay healthy, the already thin LB corps can’t afford any more injuries. Michael Morgan, Chris Galippo and Malcolm Smith are solidly entrenched as the starting LBs but Galippo has also had the injury bug through the early stages of his USC career. The second team LBs will be Unoa Kavienga, Jordan Campbell and possibly Nick Garratt. The incoming freshmen LBs (Jarvis Jones, Frankie Telfort and Marquis Simmons) will have a good chance to play early in 2009!

The Trojans scrimmage at the Coliseum at 11:30am (PST) on Saturday April 11th.

Best 11

2009-04-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

I received the "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia" as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. I never got around to reading it as I've been on the move quite a bit since fall 2006. This past week I opened it up and was drawn to a section titled BEST 11. ESPN asked several prominent college football commentators for their "BEST 11" in various categories. Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Chris Fowler, Keith Jackson and Beano Cooke were just a few of the participants. I decided to put together a couple of BEST 11 lists of my own.

MY BEST 11 OVERALL PLAYERS (ONE FOR EACH POSITION). In this category I picked any player I had seen play a college football game live or on television since 1985. '85 is the year I first remember really paying attention to college football. Prior to that I'd been devoted to the NFL (the first NFL games I can remember were from the 1978 season). The quarterback position came down to four candidates: Peyton Manning (best passing QB), Michael Vick (best running QB), Tim Tebow (the best combination of passing and running and quite possibly the best leader I've seen in college football) and Matt Leinart (best under pressure). I ultimately selected Tebow for his leadership qualities. I picked Calvin Johnson as the WR by a very slim margin over Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss (all three are amazing athletes). Picking Marvin Jones as the best LB was also a tough choice. There were several great LBs since '85, but I remember Jones as being the one I would have been most intimidated by on the gridiron. I selected Charles Woodson at CB over Deion Sanders by a slight margin too. I will never forget how dazzling Woodson was during the 1997 season. And finally, I couldn't decide between Rocket Ismail and Desmond Howard as my all-purpose player (Reggie Bush was my third place AP player).

QB - Tim Tebow (Florida)
RB – Marshall Faulk (San Diego State)
WR – Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech)
TE – Keith Jackson (Oklahoma)
OL – Orlando Pace (Ohio State)
DT – Warren Sapp (Miami)
DE – Julius Peppers (North Carolina)
LB – Marvin Jones (Florida State)
CB - Charles Woodson (Michigan)
S – Sean Taylor (Miami)
AP – Raghib Ismail (Notre Dame)
AP - Desmond Howard (Michigan)

MY BEST 11 NON-USC PLAYERS THAT I'VE SEEN PLAY LIVE SINCE 1991. This category was heavily biased to Pac-10 players since that's what I see the most in live games. Drew Bledsoe's arm strength and touch passes against USC in 1992 was amazing. Bledsoe threw for 358 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort (he also rushed for a TD). Marshall Faulk lit up USC's defense for 220 yards and 3 TDs in 1992 resulting in a 31-31 tie. Peter Warrick had 6 receptions for 112 yards and a TD to lead FSU to a 30-10 win over the Trojans in Tallahassee in 1998. Marcedes Lewis went 0-4 against his USC brethren from Long Beach Poly (Darnell Bing, Herschel Dennis, Winston Justice and Manuel Wright). Tedy Bruschi was the heart and soul of Arizona's "Desert Swarm" defense. Zach Thomas played his heart out only to watch Keyshawn Johnson run wild through the secondary against Texas Tech in the 1995 Cotton Bowl. Lawyer Milloy was as hard a hitter as there's been in the Pac-10. Maurice Drew would have been a superstar if he could have gotten out of the shadow of crosstown rival Reggie Bush.

QB – Drew Bledsoe (Washington State)
RB – Marshall Faulk (San Diego State)
WR – Peter Warrick (Florida State)
TE – Marcedes Lewis (UCLA)
OL – Jonathan Odgen (UCLA)
DT – Tedy Bruschi (Arizona)
DE – Terrell Suggs (Arizona State)
LB – Zach Thomas (Texas Tech)
CB – Antoine Cason (Arizona)
S – Lawyer Milloy (Washington)
AP – Maurice Drew (UCLA)

MY BEST 11 USC TROJANS SINCE MY FRESHMAN SEASON IN FALL 1991. Leinart beats out Carson Palmer because Palmer had one great season while Leinart had three great seasons. Mark Sanchez might have challenged Leinart if he would have stuck around for the 2009 season. Reggie Bush and LenDale White are the second best tandem of USC RBs to share a backfield behind Charles White and Marcus Allen. Keyshaun Johnson edges out the sensational Johnnie Morton, Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett. Fred Davis climbed out of Coach Carroll's doghouse all the way to winning the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. Tony Boselli edges out Sam Baker by the slightest of margins. Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson and Sedrick Ellis all deserve praise for their outstanding play, but it was Cody that is credited with being the key recruit in returning Troy to glory on the gridiron. Willie McGinest is slightly ahead of Keneche Udeze and Lawrence Jackson at the DE position. LB was another tough call as I loved Chris Claiborne, Zeke Moreno, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing. But Claiborne's play was the only real positive spot of the late 90's for the Trojans. While Daylon McCutcheon was probably the most talented USC CB since 1991, Brian Kelly was the biggest playmaker from the CB position. I don't think the Trojans have had a truly great CB in the 18 seasons I've been a Trojan. Maybe T.J. Bryant will change all that? Troy Polamalu wins the S spot, but I also loved Sammy Knight and Taylor Mays could be closing fast! Since Reggie already made the team as my RB, I selected Curtis Conway as my return specialist.

QB – Matt Leinart (USC)
RB – Reggie Bush (USC)
WR – Keyshawn Johnson (USC)
TE – Fred Davis (USC)
OL – Tony Boselli (USC)
DT – Shaun Cody (USC)
DE – Willie McGinest (USC)
LB – Chris Claiborne (USC)
CB – Brian Kelly (USC)
S – Troy Polamalu (USC)
AP – Curtis Conway (USC)

11 BEST FILL IN THE BLANKS ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL SINCE 1985. The 1995 Cornhuskers absolutely destroyed every team on their schedule. The only team that could stand a chance against them would have been the all-star Hurricanes of 2001. The USC Trojans of 2004 didn't qualify because they survived several close games. 2008 has to be the wildest season of college football I can remember as Georgia, USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Florida all spent time at #1. Four teams ended the 2008 season with a legitimate argument that they were the best team in the country (Florida, Texas, USC, and Utah). The 2005 USC victory over Notre Dame was the best game I've ever seen. Every star on both teams came up huge in that game! Why would I pick a game USC lost for the best bowl game? Because it was a back-and-forth duel between two offenses that just wouldn't quit. Some fans might point to the Oklahoma/Boise State Fiesta Bowl or the Miami/Ohio State Fiesta Bowl. Both games went into overtime and had spectacular finishes. But I think the Texas/USC slug fest was dramatic from start to finish while the other two contests just had fantastic finishes. I've been to many great college football venues over the years (the Big House, the House that Rockne Built, the Swamp, Between the Hedges, the Rose Bowl) but I can't ever get over the feeling of a sold out L.A. Coliseum when the Olympic torch is lit over the Peristyle at the start of the 4th quarter. The Michigan Wolverines uniform is a symbol of college football in itself. I also love Florida State and USC's uniforms. My favorite college football books are "Meat Market" by Bruce Feldman and "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis. I'd also recommend "Bowls, Polls and Tattered Souls" by Stewart Mandel and "The Trojan Ten" by Barry LeBrock.

BEST TEAM = Nebraska (1995)
BEST SEASON = 2008
BEST GAME = USC–34, Notre Dame–31 (2005)
BIGGEST UPSET = Stanford–24, USC–23 (2007)
BEST BOWL GAME = 2006 Rose Bowl (Texas–41, USC–38)
BEST STADIUM = L.A Coliseum
BEST FANS = Nebraska Cornhuskers
BEST UNIFORMS = Michigan Wolverines
BEST BOOK = “Meat Market” by Bruce Feldman
FAVORITE COACH = Pete Carroll, USC
FAVORITE PLAYER = Marshall Faulk, San Diego State

Spring Practice Day 6

2009-04-09T14:37:00.001-07:00

Offensive Notes: Coach Carroll said the first six spring practices featured “conservative” play calling but for the rest of spring the quarterbacks will be encouraged to “push the ball down the field.” During Tuesday’s practice, Mitch Mustain was the only QB to throw an interception. Mustain says he won’t play conservative just to try to make up ground on Aaron Corp. QB coach Jeremy Bates said that Mustain isn’t out of the running yet for the starting job and the fact that Mustain worked exclusively with the second team offense during last Sunday’s scrimmage was just an oversight.

Defensive Notes: Coach Carroll said that DT Averill Spicer is leading the competition to replace Fili MoalaS Will Harris intercepted the errant pass from Mustain.

Special Teams Notes: There is a renewed emphasis on special teams this season with new assistant coach Brian Schneider leading the effort. Practices begin with special teams work and it will be interesting to see if having a full time special teams coach makes a difference in 2009. PK Joe Houston was 3-for-3 on FGs and has built a clear lead over PK Jordan Congdon who was 2-of-3.

Injury Notes: RB Joe McKnight (dislocated toes) participated in limited drills Tuesday and is expected to be 100% on Thursday in order to play in Saturday’s scrimmage. TE Anthony McCoy (hamstring) missed his third consecutive practice but is expected to play on Thursday. OL Alex Parsons (hand) did not practice but is expected to participate in some drills on Thursday. DT Christian Tupou (shoulder) is out indefinitely which will give the coaches an opportunity to conduct a more thorough evaluation of Derrick Simmons and Jurrell Casey. LB Luthur Brown did not participate in drills due to a shoulder injury. CB Shareece Wright (neck) had the wind knocked out of him after colliding with CB/S Josh Pinkard. Wright is not participating in full contact drills while recovering from surgery. Walk-on C Abe Markowitz tore a ligament in one of his fingers and will be limited in practices for the rest of the spring.

Academic Notes: RB Curtis McNeal missed Tuesday’s practice to focus on academics although he did attend team meetings.

Recruiting Notes: HEAVY ON OFFENSE IN 2009 BUT VERY FEW 5.0-star recruits (maybe RB Malcolm Smith and TE Xavier Grimble)! One of the biggest recruits to attend last Sunday’s practice was 4.0-star WR Robert Woods (6’1”, 175) of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, CA. Woods has already received offers from Arizona State, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Washington, and Washington State.

Spring Practice Day 5

2009-04-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

The Trojans held a 63-play scrimmage Sunday, their first scrimmage of spring practice.

Offensive Notes: The first and second team offenses struggled throughout the scrimmage but this was somewhat expected as the Trojans had only one healthy center (Jeff Byers who is actually the starting LG) and one healthy tight end (Rhett Ellison). The reshuffled offensive line featured Byers at center and Butch Lewis at guard (Lewis typically plays tackle). Byers worked exclusively with the first team so the second and third team quarterbacks actually held the ball to start the play with no center snap. Walk-on center Abe Markowitz was not allowed to snap the ball during the scrimmage due to errant snaps during previous practices.

QB Aaron Corp was 8-of-13 passing (61.5%) for 70 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs (he was also sacked twice). Corp worked exclusively with the first team offense. QB Mitch Mustain was 3-of-8 passing (37.5%) for 22 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs but had three good passes dropped by receivers. Mustain worked exclusively with the second team offense. Two of Mustain’s drives were also cut short due to FB Adam Goodman and RB Marc Tyler fumbles. Freshman QB Matt Barkley was 6-of-12 passing (50.0%) for 57 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT. Barkley worked primarily with the third team offense but also saw a few reps with the first team. Barkley led two scoring drives (a TD and a FG) but also threw an INT on 1st and goal at the 2-yard line. Barkley tried to force a pass to Ellison in traffic and was picked off by CB Kevin Thomas. Coach Carroll said it was an important lesson for the freshman who should have thrown the ball away. Barkley also threw a pass out of bounds that knocked a young child out of a chair. In limited action with the second team offense, Garrett Green went 1-of-2 passing (50.0%) but his lone completion was a 6-yard TD pass to WR David Ausberry.

Ausberry and redshirt freshman Brice Butler were the standout receivers during the scrimmage. The two are battling to be the third option receiver behind Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson. Ausberry had 3 receptions for 31 yards (10.3 yards per reception average) including the TD. Butler had 2 receptions for 29 yards (14.5 yards per reception average).

RB Stafon Johnson looked solid with 7 carries for 41 yards (5.9 yards per carry average) while RB C.J. Gable struggled with 3 carries for -2 yards. RB Curtis McNeal appears to be winning the battle with RB Marc Tyler. McNeal is drawing comparisons to former Trojan and current Florida Gator RB Emmanuel Moody as he is small but very quick. McNeal had 5 carries for 48 yards (9.6 yards per carry average) including an 18-yard TD run. Tyler had 6 carries for 20 yards (3.3 yards per carry average) but also fumbled once.

Defensive Notes: S Shane Horton and CB Kevin Thomas led the defense with 5 tackles each. Thomas returned his end zone INT 56-yards before the Barkley could force him out of bounds. LB Malcolm Smith had 3 tackles and returned Goodman’s fumble 70-yards for a touchdown, running over Mustain in the process. DEs Everson Griffen and Malik Jackson had one sack each of Corp. Josh Pinkard played safety and finished with 2 tackles.

Special Teams Notes: PK Joe Houston connected on a 33 yard FG while PK Jordan Congdon missed a 37 yard FG.

Injury Notes: S Taylor Mays was dehydrated due to a stomach virus and saw limited action. S Drew McAllister, TE Anthony McCoy and OT Nick Howell have strained hamstrings. DE Malik Jackson suffered a back injury during the scrimmage. QB Garrett Green has a strained quadriceps. OG/C Alex Parsons did not practice due to a broken bone in his right hand. Also sitting out were RB Joe McKnight, RB Allen Bradford, C Kris O’Dowd, DT Christian Topou, OT Thomas Herring and TE Michael Reardon.

Visitors: Several freshmen joining the team this fall took in the scrimmage from the sidelines (DE James Boyd, OL Kevin Graf, DB Patrick Hall and DB Byron Moore).

Question: Is it just me or does Aaron Corp’s face mask look oversized? Is this an optical illusion? Is his head really small? Or does he wear a special face mask due to a former injury?

Recruiting Notes: According to L.A. Daily News reporter Scott Wolf, the Trojans have just three verbal commitments from class of 2010 prospects because the coaching staff is encouraging recruits wanting to commit to remain silent in order to avoid negative recruiting by other schools. Coach Carroll believes that several schools used negative recruiting tactics against USC on several 2009 verbal commitments.

Spring Practice Day 4

2009-04-05T05:21:00.001-07:00

Offensive Notes: The offense didn’t move the ball well on Friday but at least none of the quarterbacks threw interceptions. WRs Brice Butler and David Ausberry are in a heated battle for the #3 receiver spot according to the LA Times. WR Jordan Cameron is working with the TEs due to multiple injuries at the position.

Defensive Notes: The defensive line starred during Friday’s practice according to the LA Times. “We just ate up the O-Line,” said DE Everson Griffen. “Yum, Yum.” Griffen had two sacks and was the star of the day according to both the LA Times and OC Register. Overall there were nine sacks during the scrimmage. The defense was determined to keep QB Aaron Corp from scrambling and was able to accomplish this task as Corp only broke free once. Coach Carroll praised the D-Line and LB corp: “I know it's early in the spring and the offensive line takes longer to develop, but the defensive line is having a lot of success against a pretty experienced offensive line," Carroll said. "They're not struggling, and better than they were at the end of the season. Jurrell Casey, Armond Armstead and Everson Griffen are all playing hard and making an impression. Malcolm (Smith), Chris (Galippo) and Mike (Morgan) jumped right in there and have been playing fine and Luthur Brown and Jordan Campbell look the part and know the stuff."

Injury Notes: RB Stafon Johnson (knee) returned to practice after an MRI showed swelling but no serious damage to his injured knee. RB Joe McKnight (toes), RB Curtis McNeal (concussion), and FB D.J. Shoemate (concussion) did not practice. OL Alex Parsons suffered a broken right ring finger but isn’t expected to miss any practice time.

Spring Practice Day 3

2009-04-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Offensive Notes: It appears that Aaron Corp has a solid lead in the QB competition after the third practice of spring football. Corp improvised three long runs for first downs during 11-on-11 drills. He did however fumble the snap on the last play of practice after which Corp slammed his helmet into the turf. After practice, Coach Carroll told reporters that Corp had entered spring drills slightly ahead of the other QBs and was maintaining that lead. Mitch Mustain had his best practice of the spring so far avoiding turnovers and connected with WR Damian Williams on an underthrown ball in which Williams made an acrobatic catch over CB Brian Bauchum. Unfortunately for Mustain, it was Corp’s scrambles that stole the day. Matt Barkley had mixed success with a great fade pass to Ronald Johnson along the sideline but also having one of his 7-on-7 drill passes picked off by LB Malcolm Smith and several of his passes were tipped. Garrett Green did not take any snaps as a QB for the second straight practice.

RB C.J. Gable has been working with the WRs to improve his receiving ability. With Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight limited by injuries and Allen Bradford completely sidelined, Gable is obviously way ahead in the battle to win the starting RB job. Gable has gained muscle mass, weighing in at 212 pounds, and claims he hasn’t lost any speed. He broke two long TD runs and caught several passes yesterday.

Sophomore Tyron Smith was the starting RT over Butch Lewis yesterday as Coach Carroll continues to give young players chances to move into the starting line-up.

Defensive Notes: The starting DEs are Everson Griffen and Armond Armstead and the starting DTs are Christian Tupou and Averill Spicer. The second string DEs are Wes Horton and Malik Jackson and the second string DTs are Derek Simmons and Jurrell Casey. Rivals.com reported that CB T.J. Bryant was the defensive standout of day three and that Nick Perry is making some noise at DE.

Injury Notes: RB Joe McKnight was limited in his participation yesterday and told reporters he may need to sit out the rest of spring practice in order to let his injured toes heal. RB Stafon Johnson sat out yesterday while waiting on MRI results on his injured knee. Johnson told Carroll he plans to practice on Friday. The Trojans are severely depleted at TE with Blake Ayles already sitting out spring drills due to a knee injury. TE Anthony McCoy and TE Cooper Stephenson pulled hamstrings yesterday and TE Michael Reardon injured his shoulder. That leaves Rhett Ellison as the only healthy TE. CB Marshall Jones missed practice with a pulled hamstring.

Recruiting Notes: 4.0-star TE Randall Telfer (6’4”, 220 lbs.) of Rancho Cucamonga, CA verbally committed to USC this week, turning down offers from Arizona State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA and Washington. Telfer caught 42 passes for 678 yards (16.1 yards per reception average) and 5 TDs during his junior year of high school.

Cutler vs. McDaniels

2009-04-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

I'll preface this post by stating that I have been a die hard Broncos fan since 1978...

Many Broncos fans (to include former head coach Mike Shanahan) believed Jay Cutler had the potential to become the next John Elway. Cutler was the 11th overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft. Shanahan had traded away two of the Broncos' other draft picks in order to move up high enough to select Cutler. In three seasons with the Broncos, Cutler had a 17-20 record as a starter, completed 62.5%, and threw for 9,024 yards with 54 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. The poor record was considered a reflection of the Broncos poor defense and not of Cutler or the offense. He was selected for the 2008 Pro Bowl.

On May 2008, Cutler announced that he had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and required daily insulin shots. Cutler's announcement generated media and fan interest. Cutler began working with local charities such as Dedicated to Diabetes and the Mile High United Way’s Youth Success Initiative.

Cutler was a media darling during the summer of 2008 and first half of the 2008 season. NFL analysts were saying that he had more potential to become an elite quarterback then fellow 2006 NFL draft picks Vince Young and Matt Leinart (both picked ahead of Cutler). His likeness even appeared on the cartoon South Park (set in Colorado) in which two of the main characters tell him, "I mean, you kinda suck, but my dad says you might be good some day."

Then Mike Shanahan was fired and 32-year old Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, was hired. McDaniels immediately began working on a deal to trade Cutler and bring Patriots back-up Matt Cassell to Denver. According to Cutler, McDaniels initially denied he was working this trade when confronted only to later admit that he had lied. Media and fans initially sided with Cutler. NFL analysts said McDaniels' inexperience at dealing with these types of situations was to blame.

A month later, the winds of change have media and fans calling Cutler a "cry baby" that believes he is "entitled to star treatment." ESPN NFL analyst Trent Dilfer stated this week that Cutler doesn't have the intangible leadership traits necessary to be a great NFL quaterback. Jim Rome, host of ESPN's Rome is Burning, stated this week that "lying is part of the game" and that Cutler needs to "grow up and deal with it."

Um, excuse me Mr. Rome, how can you attack the integrity of the guy that didn't lie and defend the position of the guy that did lie? That just doesn't make sense. And Mr. Dilfer, weren't you and a host of other NFL analysts saying that Cutler was a potential Hall of Fame quarterback a few months ago? What the heck is going on here? How did Cutler go from being in the right to being in the wrong so quickly?

The answer as always - FOLLOW THE MONEY. As soon as Broncos owner Pat Bowlen weighed in and said that Cutler was refusing to answer phone calls, the media stopped defending Cutler and started attacking him. Far be it from the media to upset Bowlen and real power brokers of the NFL. And once the media starts attacking a player its only a matter of time before the fans join in.

Are the Broncos better off without Cutler? Only time will tell. Gaining a solid, if not spectacular quarterback in Kyle Orton and the Bears' first round draft picks in 2009 and 2010 doesn't hurt. Over the next two years the Broncos will use those picks to rebuild their defense and will likely pick up a young quarterback as well. But I don't believe Orton is a long term solution for the Broncos. You've got to have an elite quarterback if you plan to win Super Bowls.

McDaniels believes he is enough of an offensive guru to continue the Broncos offensive success without a star quarterback. But should we drink the Kool Aid just because McDaniels was tutored by New England Patriots football "genius" Bill Belichick? So far, Belichick's coaching tree has not produced as the Bill Walsh coaching tree did in the 1990s. Prior to 2009, four Belichick assistant coaches had gone on to be head coaches in the NFL. Three of them were fired (Al Groh with the Jets, Romeo Crennel with the Browns, Eric Mangini with the Jets) and one quit after two less then spectacular seasons (Nick Saban with the Dolphins). And Belichick's top protege Charlie Weis has struggled as head coach at Notre Dame over the past two seasons (Weis has an overall record of 29-21 with the Fighting Irish).

My belief is that the Broncos made a mistake in hiring McDaniels. Even if McDaniels is great with X's and O's, I firmly believe that he lacks integrity. One of the big problems with today is that success washes away ethical issues. If McDaniels wins fans will unfortunately forget about his less then ethical behavior. We've seen too much of this type of behavior from our politicians, businessmen and athletes of late. I'm not pleased that our society has begun to not only look the other way regarding this type of behavior, but actually reward individuals that succeeded in their endeavors while acting in this manner. I guess we have truly taken to heart the words of Niccolo Machiavelli, "...in the actions of men, and especially of princes, from which there is no appeal, the end justifies the means."

Spring Practice Day 2

2009-04-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Offensive Notes: After two practices the quarterback competition standings according to USCFootball.com: 1) Aaron Corp (137.43 rating), 2) Matt Barkley (122.61 rating), 3) Mitch Mustain (107.68 rating), 4) Garrett Green (96.09 rating). Corp appeared to have the best second day of practice as Barkley and Mustain both threw interceptions. QB coach Jeremey Bates said Corp’s arm strength exceeds his expectations. Mustain had several passes dropped by receivers according to the L.A. Times and was picked off by S Will Harris when a receiver slipped while running a route. Barkley was picked off twice by S Drew McAllister. Green did not see any reps at QB yesterday.

The starting offensive line consists of LT Charles Brown, LG Zack Heberer, C Jeff Byers, RG Alex Parsons and RT Butch Lewis. Byers will move back to LG when C Kris O’Dowd (shoulder injury) returns in fall camp. OL Martin Coleman missed the first spring practice after a trip to Tonga over spring break but was back in time for the second practice.

RBs Marc Tyler and Curtis McNeal are expected to get the bulk of the workload in the backfield this spring. RBs Allen Bradford and Joe McKnight are recovering from injury. C.J. Gable looked in top shape so far but Stafon Johnson sat out the latter portion of the second practice because of a problem with his right knee.

Defensive Notes: CB Shareece Wright (neck) has the green light from doctors to participate in everything except full contact drills.

Special Teams Notes: PKs Joe Houston and Jordan Congdon each missed field goal attempts again but were a combined 7-of-9 during the second practice.

Academic Notes: TE Anthony McCoy and DE Everson Griffen were back on the practice field after being disciplined on Saturday for academic and attendance issues.

Visitors to yesterday’s practice included add a host of NFL scouts checking out USC’s pro day. QB Mark Sanchez, LB Rey Maualuga, LB Brian Cushing and LB/DE Clay Matthews are expected to be first round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Sanchez may become an even hotter commodity as the Denver Broncos announced they will trade QB Jay Cutler.

Recruiting notes: 4.0-star LB/DB prospect Tony Jefferson (6’0”, 195 lbs) of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA told Rivals.com that he favors USC slightly over Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Penn State.

Quarterback Controversy

2009-03-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

Do it all senior Garrett Green (6'2", 210 lbs) may be the least expected player to win the starting quarterback spot in 2009, but one thing is for sure - he is the type of football player true fans love to watch. Just a 3.0-star rated recruit coming out of high school, I had Green rated #23 in USC's 2006 recruiting class, only beating out S Alfred Rowe and JC transfer S/PK David Buehler. My top rated player in that class was wide receiver Vidal Hazelton (what does that say about my track record rating incoming talent?). Maybe I should have taken into account the fact that Green posted a 38-2 record as a 4-year starting quarterback at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA. He's the type of player that could have accepted offers from Harvard, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, San Diego State or UCLA and actually had a great shot at being a starting quarterback. But he chose to sign with the Trojans and fight for playing time as a back-up safety in 2006, a back-up wide receiver in 2007 and a back-up quarterback in 2008. Green has eight total tackles on special teams in three seasons. His lone collegiate claim to fame is a spectacular trick play in which he threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to running back Desmond Reed in the 2008 Rose Bowl against Illinois. That also happens to be the only pass Green has thrown in a game in his Trojans career!

2009 looks to be redshirt junior Mitch Mustain's (6'3", 210 lbs) last chance to live up to the unbelievable hype that accompanied him after an amazing high school career in Springdale, Arkansas. Mustain was named the Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine High School Player-of-the-Year after leading Springdale H.S. to a 14-0 state championship in 2005. Mustain posted a 26-1 record as a starting high school quarterback, throwing for over 5,900 yards and 67 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions! He signed with Arkansas after flirting with Notre Dame in a much publicized recruiting story (the Razorbacks hired Mustain's high school coach to seal the deal with four Springdale prized prospects). In his first game as a true freshman, Mustain watched as the USC Trojans dismantled his Razorbacks 55-14. Entering the game late in the 4th quarter, Mustain led the Hogs on a long drive in which he scored a touchdown on a quarterback draw. The next week Mustain was named Arkansas' starting quarterback. He led the Hogs to eight consecutive wins before being benched in favor of Casey Dick. Arkansas lost three of their last five games with Dick at the helm and Mustain seeing sporadic playing time. A circus of controversy descended on Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt as the season disintegrated. Mustain's mother was one of several player's parents that verbal criticized Nutt in the media. Super freshman receiver Damian Williams (also a Springdale product) transferred to USC following the season. Mustain took some time to think about transferring in the spring but eventually followed Williams to Los Angeles. He then sat out the 2007 season due to NCAA transfer rules but was named USC's Service Team Offense Player-of-the-Year. Mustain was the primary back-up to Mark Sanchez in 2008. He is the most experienced Trojan quarterback starting eight games and serving as a back-up in four games while at Arkansas and playing in eight games as a back-up at USC. Combining his stats from Arkansas and USC he is 80-of-148 passing (54.1%) for 1,051 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions (plus the lone rushing touchdown he scored as a Razorback against USC in 2006). One need only google Mustain to see how he has been labeled a bust by Arkansas fans and SEC bloggers. Keep in mind that there was a huge debate back in fall 2006 as to which SEC freshman quarterback was the best - Florida's Tim Tebow, Georgia's Matthew Stafford or Mustain at Arkansas. Tebow has won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy with the Gators and Stafford is poised to be the NFL's #1 draft pick on April 25th.

Redshirt sophomore Aaron Corp (6'4", 195 lbs roster weight, with recent reports saying he has bulked up to at least 205 lbs) seems to be this year's fan favorite. Corp didn't have nearly the hype of Mustain or Matt Barkley coming out of high school mostly due to the fact that Jimmy Clausen of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, CA had taken the national and in-state spotlight (helped by Notre Dame homer Tom Lemming, a top national recruiting analyst that was touting Clausen as the best quarterback prospect in over a decade). Corp was 36-4 as a 3-year starter at Lutheran High School in Orange, CA. He three for 55 touchdowns and 21 interceptions during that time but was considered a dual-threat quarterback that was capable of using his feet to make huge plays. Corp has only seen brief action in five games during his USC career. He is 2-of-4 passing (50.0%) for 14 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and no rushing attempts. Corp battled back and forth with Mustain and Green last season for the back-up quarterback spot and actually was the #2 quarterback on the depth chart during the 2009 Rose Bowl against Penn State.

Entering the quarterback fray in spring 2009 is the latest super frosh, Matt Barkley (6'3", 220 lbs) of Santa Ana, CA, who graduated a semester early and enrolled at USC in order to have a better chance to play early. Barkley played football at Mater Dei, the same high school as USC Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Leinart. He was 34-12 as a 4-year starter and threw for 56 touchdowns and 23 interceptions during that time. Barkley was the first junior to win the Gatorade National High School Player-of-the-Year Award. He struggled early in his senior year due to a group of inexperienced wide receivers. This actually diminished some of the hype but Barkley finished with an MVP performance in the Under Armor High School All-American Game. He threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns against the nation's elite high school defenders. One note of interest, current Trojan running back Allen Bradford broke Barkley's collarbone during a high school playoff game between Colton and Mater Dei in 2005!

Coach Carroll has always named a starting quarterback at the end of spring practice. That gives Green, Mustain, Corp and Barkley 26 more days to make an impression on new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. Who do you think it will be? Most Trojan blogs have Corp as the clear favorite with Mustain as the back-up and Barkley redshirting. I've had a pretty good track record in predicting the Trojan quarterback over the years. In early spring 2003 I said it would be Leinart over Matt Cassel, Brandon Hance and John David Booty. There was a strong contingent of Trojan fans that was pushing for Booty that year (although most of them would deny it now). In spring 2006 I said it would be Booty over Mark Sanchez although the Trojan blogs seemed to all be declaring that it would be the other way around. In spring 2008 I said it would be Sanchez over Mustain and Corp although the Trojan blogs had been touting Mustain as Booty's heir apparent in early fall 2007. In retrospect, the 2006 and 2008 quarterback battles weren't all that hard to predict. But 2009 is very similar to 2003. None of the 2009 Trojan quarterbacks have a clear advantage.

I won't be surprised if Corp is named the starting quarterback on April 26th. But I'm not convinced that Corp will be able to run the ball with his lanky frame without getting injured at some point. I think Corp and Mustain will still be neck-and-neck during fall camp. I won't be surprised if the starting quarterback changes in the third game of the season (after playing at Ohio State). Corp has the wheels but not the experience and is questionable on durability. Mustain has the experience and the talent but needs to find the confidence. Barkley, probably the most physically gifted as far as comparing to a prototype NFL quarterback, has a long way to go in learning the offense. BUT I am banking that Barkley is under center sometime this season. Keep in mind that John David Booty beat out Matt Cassell and Brandon Hance for the back-up job in 2003 when Booty was a true freshman!

Spring Practice Day 1

2009-03-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Offensive Notes: WR Brice Butler changed his jersey number from #83 to #19. QBs Garrett Green, Mitch Mustain, Aaron Corp and Matt Barkley are taking turns with the first team offense under the watchful eye of new QBs coach Jeremy Bates.

Defensive Notes: Two time All-American S Taylor Mays will practice at both FS and SS although his 38 career starts have all been at FS. Will Harris will be competing with Josh Pinkard for the spot not occupied by Mays. Harris looked good in his 5 starts last season while Kevin Ellison was injured. Pinkard has 1 career start at FS, 1 career start at SS and 17 career starts at CB. UNLV transfer Shane Horton is eligible to play in 2009 and will serve as a back-up at S during the spring. Former S Marshall Jones moves to CB this spring. Kevin Thomas (4 career starts) will likely start at CB. If Pinkard plays at either FS or SS, the other CB spot will be open to Jones, T.J. Bryant and Brian Baucham during the spring. CB Shareece Wright (3 career starts) is still recovering from a neck injury.

Special Teams Notes: Place kicking will be an issue throughout spring practice as JC Transfer P/PK Jake Harfman doesn’t arrive until fall practice. Harfman is expected to win at least one of the two jobs (P/PK) if not both. Non-scholarship kickers Joe Houston and Jordan Congdon had a rough first day of spring. Houston missed a field goal and had one blocked while Congdon missed two field goals.

Injury Notes: RB Allen Bradford (hip injury) was working out on the sidelines. RB Joe McKnight (dislocated toes) participated in individual drills and fielded punts but is expected to be 100% next week. LB Chris Galippo (mononucleosis) practiced and appears to be ready for the spring. CB Shareece Wright (neck injury) will see limited action in spring practices.

Academic Notes: TE Anthony McCoy and DE Everson Griffen missed yesterday’s practice due to academic issues. The Trojans are already short on TEs as Bake Ayles is recovering from surgery. Former OL Michael Reardon will practice as a TE this spring to make up for the lack of depth at the position. Griffen is expected to be one of the starting DE’s this season. Michael Lev, a writer for the Orange County Register, reported that Griffen “acted as if it wasn’t a big deal.” Griffen has apparently missed quite a few classes and tutoring sessions over the past couple of months.

Visitors to yesterday’s practice included former John Robinson, Chris Claiborne, Keary Colbert, Brian Cushing, Kevin Ellison, Matt Leinart, Deuce Lutui, Rey Maualuga, Chilo Rachal, Patrick Turner, and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini. 4.0-star recruit TE Xavier Grimble (6’5”, 245 lbs.) of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School was also on the sidelines watching practice. Grimble has scholarship offers from California, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, UCLA and USC.

USC Spring Previews

2009-03-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

Rivals.com:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=929080

L.A. Times:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-usc-football28-2009mar28,0,7786277.story
and
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-usc-quarterbacks27-2009mar27,0,6234157.story

Ready for Spring?

2009-03-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the official spring practice (begins Saturday March 28th) release:
http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032509aab.html

Here's an update on CB Shareece Wright's legal problems:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-spw-usc-shareece-wright25-2009mar25,0,4447324.story

Two stories on highly touted freshman QB Matt Barkley:
1) http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-spw-barkley-usc-quarterback26-2009mar26,0,4938259.story
2) http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-football/matt-barkley-learning-the-ropes-48149

LB Chris Galippo is feeling better after losing 8 pounds during a bout of mononucleosis:
http://usc.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=927950

TE Blake Ayles will miss spring ball due to a knee injury:
http://usc.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/25/usc-football-blake-ayles-to-miss-spring-practice/12151/

The Next Pac-10 Commissioner

2009-03-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Larry Scott, Chairman and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association, has been chosen to replace Tom Hansen as Pac-10 Commissioner beginning on July 1, 2009.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4012974

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-7-209/New-commish-Scott-energized-for-Pac-10-s-challenges.html

If you read the second link (a blog by ESPN.com's Ted Miller) the reference to Sisyphean means "a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeat the cycle of rolling a heavy rock up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again as it nears the top." I had to look it up in the dictionary.

If you choose to skip the links, what you really need to know is that L.A. Daily News Sportswriter Scott Wolf reports that Scott was the Pac-10's fourth choice and that Scott "...believe(s) the Pac-10's bowl arrangements and television contracts can be improved in terms of increasing revenue and exposure, particularly in football and basketball."

According to the ESPN story, the other reported candidates included Sandy Alderson, outgoing CEO of the San Diego Padres and former executive vice president for Major League Baseball operations; and Greg Shaheen, the NCAA's senior vice president of basketball and business strategies, who turned down the job in January, according to the Sports Business Journal. According to Scott Wolf, former Stanford athletic director Ted Leland, was at one time a front runner for the job.

2009 Talent Rankings

2009-03-23T20:04:00.001-07:00

Here is my take on the most talented teams in 2009 (using a combination of Rivals and Scout recruiting rankings for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009)... note that this does not account for playing experience...

Most talented 2-deep rosters:
1) USC Trojans
2) Florida Gators
3) Ohio State Buckeyes
4) LSU Tigers
5) Texas Longhorns
6) Georgia Bulldogs
7) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
8) Alabama Crimson Tide
9) Michigan Wolverines
10) Oklahoma Sooners

Most talented overall depth:
1) USC Trojans
2) Florida Gators
3) Texas Longhorns
4) LSU Tigers
5) Georgia Bulldogs
6) Ohio State Buckeyes
7) Alabama Crimson Tide
8) Michigan Wolverines
9) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10) Miami Hurricanes

I'm amazed to see how far Oklahoma has slipped down the talent rankings over the past couple of seasons. Bob Stoops sure hasn't let this 'slip' affect the Sooners performance on the field! I'll discuss this and more teams making moves up and down the talent rankings in my next couple of posts.

Middle Linebacker

2009-03-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

While the quarterback competition will certainly be the focus of media and fan attention during spring practice, the battle at middle linebacker could be more contested then first believed. Chris Galippo, considered by many to be the leading candidate to replace Rey Maualuga, was diagnosed with mononucleosis just over two weeks ago. Galippo will likely be limited during initial practices this spring, opening the door for the often injured senior Luthur Brown and sophomore Unoa Kaveinga. Kaveinga recently decided against interupting his time at USC to go on a 2-year Mormon mission according to USCFootball.com's Dan Woike.

Looking Forward to the Class of 2010

2009-03-17T14:46:00.001-07:00

Is it too early to start talking about 2010 recruiting??? NOPE!!! Rivals has released their initial class of 2010 Top 100 Prospects list. What schools have the early lead on verbal commits?
Mack Brown of Texas leads the way in early commits once again with six of Rivals’ top 100 prospects. All six Longhorn verbal commits are Texas high school players. It's a testament to how well UT dominates their home turf over the local competition from Oklahoma, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and TCU. It’s also not a big surprise as Mack Brown has a history of collecting a large number of early commitments.

In second place is the current czar of college football, Urban Meyer, with three commits out of the top 100. One of the Gators commits is from North Carolina so Meyer continues to show that he is the top force in the southern recruiting region (with the exceptions of the states of Alabama and Louisiana where Nick Saban and Les Miles control their respective home turf).

Jim Tressel and Ohio State have two commits from the top 100. Both Buckeye commits are from Ohio and it will be interesting to see if Tressel can pull the top players from Pennsylvania away from Penn State and Pittsburgh for the third consecutive year. In 2008 Tressel nabbed QB Terrelle Pryor out of Pennsylvania and in 2009 he nabbed two more 5-star prospects along with a 4-star prospect out of PA. The top rated prospect in Pennsylvania has all three of those schools on his list while the #2 rated player has already committed to Penn State.

And how are our mighty Trojans doing so far? Pete Carroll has two commitments to date from top 100 players - both running backs! Stafon Johnson is a senior and Pete may feel that C.J. Gable, Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford are considering jumping to the NFL after the 2009 season. D.J. Morgan (5'11", 175 lbs) of Woodland Hills is Rivals #17 rated player nationally while Dillion Baxter (5'11", 185) of San Diego is Rivals #28 rated player nationally. Both are initially ranked as 4-star players.

The top rated player in California is RB Malcolm Jones (6'0", 210) of Westlake Village. He is the younger brother of current USC safety Marshall Jones. Malcolm is looking at offers from several schools. Questions for Trojan fans include: How does Jones feel about his family ties to USC? How does he view the 2010 USC running back situation? Would he consider playing on the defensive side of the ball or would Morgan and/or Baxter consider doing the same? Jones comes in at #11 on Rivals initial national ranking.

Also of interest is Oakland 5-star linebacker Chris Martin's early commitment to Notre Dame. Charlie Weis has shown that he will take top commits right out of California. Martin (6'4", 225) is #12 on Rivals initial national ranking. If Martin ends up signing with the Irish, Weis will have signed the nation’s most sought after linebackers in 2009 (Manti Te’o) and 2010 (Martin). It’ll be interesting to see if Coach Carroll can change Martin’s mind over the next 10 months.

Moreno Valley "athlete" Ronald Powell (6'4", 240) will likely end up playing defensive end in college. He is Rivals #13 ranked player. Powell is considering several schools but offers from USC and Nebraska are at the top of his list right now.

#19 ranked Anthony Barr (6'4", 230) of Torrance is also considered an athlete since he rushed for 1,900 and 20 TDs as a junior. Barr will likley end up playing linebacker at the collegiate level though. Barr has scholarship offers from USC, UCLA and Notre Dame.

#26 Robert Woods (6'1", 180) of Gardena is a wide receiver also looking at several schools (including USC, UCLA and Notre Dame). Woods has received scholarship offers from USC, UCLA, Arizona State, California, Colorado and Oregon State. USC has also offered a scholarship to receiver Markeith Ambles out of Georgia. Ambles and Woods are obviously on the top of Coach Carroll’s WR board.

#42 Tony Jefferson (6'0", 195) of Chula Vista is listed as a linebacker but will need to put on some size if he's going to play that position in college. Jefferson has scholarship offers from USC, UCLA and Florida.

#49 Sean Parker (6'0", 185) of Harbor City is the top listed defensive back in the state. Parker has scholarship offers from USC and Penn State but don't count out UCLA just yet.

#57 Chritian Thomas (6'3", 235) of Palmdale is the top ranked tight end in the state. USC has offered a scholarship to Thomas. The Trojans are pushing hard for a TE after missing on Morrell Presley in 2009. USC has also offered tight end Randall Telfer (6'4", 215) of Rancho Cucamonga.
#89 running back Jordan James (5'10", 190) of Corona doesn't appear to be on USC's radar right now as the Trojans are focusing their efforts on Jones, Morgan and Baxter. Funny thing is that UCLA isn't hot on James either so the 4-star prospect could be a good pick-up for California, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona or Washington.

#91 Cecil Whiteside (6'3", 205) of Newport Beach could play receiver or defensive back. He is looking at both USC and UCLA among a few other schools.

#92 Pete Thomas (6'5", 200) of El Cajon is the top ranked quarterback in state in 2010. Thomas has USC and UCLA on his list but I doubt Pete Carroll makes much of an effort to land this kid. So far Thomas has received an offer from Boston College but not from the Trojans or Bruins.

Spring Is Near

2009-03-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try to start blogging again as I'm finally settled down and have some time to actually research and write about football again...

Trojan Notes 8/24/08

2008-08-24T06:42:00.001-07:00

Mark Sanchez was back at the helm of the 1st team offense yesterday. Sanchez will go full speed during Monday's practice and is expected to start next Saturday against Virginia if he stays healthy all week.

All indications are that redshirt freshman Aaron Corp beat sophomore transfer Mitch Mustain out for the back-up QB job. Coach Sark says he is not going to name the #2 QB so that both Corp and Mustain "stay on their toes." But if Sanchez doesn't start or if Sanchez is injured during the Virginia game, expect to see Corp out on the field first. Mustain made more mental mistakes during the head-to-head competition with Corp over the past couple of weeks. Also, Corp is the most mobile of the Trojan QBs, something that Coach Carroll obviously covets as he recruited both Florida's Tim Tebow and Washington's Jake Locker heavily.

The interesting question now is how will Mustain, a former 5-star national high school player of the year react to being third string? He started eight games as a true freshman at Arkansas (going 8-0) and decided to transfer after being benched the final four games of that season. Mustain's mother was very vocal in the press about her son being benched. What's going through her head right now?

Another question is how does Corp's emergence affect the verbal commitment of 5-star QB Matt Barkely? Barkley is currently rated as the nation's top high school recruit.

Highly touted frosh DE recruit Nick Perry (out of Michigan) hasn't been cleared academically by the NCAA yet. Apparently Perry failed an academic test that he took this week and will get one more chance to pass the test. Even if he passes the test he wouldn't be able to join the team until after September 15th. How will Perry react if he doesn't qualify for 2008? Will he go back and sign with Michigan in 2009? Will he stick with USC?

Which freshman is having the biggest impact so far? Sounds like TE Blake Ayles and S Drew McAllister will see immediate playing time. Ayles will be active in the tight end rotation with the first team. McAllister has secured a spot on the kickoff coverage team. We might also see WR D.J. Shoemate returning kickoffs alongside Ronald Johnson. DT Jurrell Casy and DE Malik Jackson have also been impressive in fall camp.

Back on the Air

2008-08-24T06:36:00.001-07:00

I apologize once again for being off the net so long... after returning from Iraq I had surgery on my knee followed by rehab and then moved from Georgia to Washington, D.C.

I was so busy during all that time that it was difficult to blog. Now that I'm settled and the season is here I'm ready to jump back into blogging...

2008 Ohio State Buckeyes Scouting Report

2008-06-27T06:06:00.001-07:00

2008 Ohio State Scouting Report

PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP HAS 18 OF LAST YEAR’S 22 STARTERS:

SE # 80 Brian Robiskie (6’3”, 199, SR, 13 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
LT # 75 Alex Boone (6’8”, 312, SR, 13 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
LG # 71 Steve Rehring (6’7”, 345, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
C # 64 Jim Cordle (6’4”, 297, JR, 13 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
RG # 63 Ben Person (6’3”, 323, SR, 13 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
RT # 70 Bryant Browning (6’4”, 312, SO, 0 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
TE # 88 Rory Nicol (6’5”, 252, SR, 12 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
FL # 9 Brian Hartline (6’2”, 186, JR, 12 starts, 3.5-star recruit)
QB # 17 Todd Boeckman (6’4”, 244, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
FB # 49 Ryan Lukens (6’0”, 238, SR, 0 starts, 1.0-star recruit)
TB # 28 Chris Wells (6’1”, 237, JR, 13 starts, 5.0-star recruit)

DE # 87 Lawrence Wilson (6’4”, 274, JR, 1 start, 4.0-star recruit)
DT # 84 Doug Worthington (6’6”, 276, JR, 12 starts, 4.5-star recruit)
DT # 92 Todd Denlinger (6’2”, 292, JR, 5 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
DE # 97 Cameron Heyward (6’6”, 287, SO, 8 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
SLB # 55 Curtis Terry (6’1”, 229, SR, 0 starts, 2.0-star recruit)
MLB # 33 James Laurinaitis (6’3”, 240, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
WLB # 1 Marcus Freeman (6’1”, 239, SR, 13 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
CB # 20 Donald Washington (6’0”, 194, JR, 13 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
SS # 4 Kurt Coleman (5’11”, 188, JR, 13 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
FS # 21 Anderson Russell (6’0”, 205, JR, 13 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
CB # 2 Malcolm Jenkins (6’1”, 201, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)

Ohio State average stars per projected 2008 starter = 3.43 stars
USC average stars per projected 2008 starter = 4.34 stars

Ohio State average 2007 starts per projected 2008 starter = 9.95 starts
USC average 2007 starts per projected 2008 starter = 6.50 starts

IMPACT RECRUITS: This was a national top five class for the Buckeyes. If you look at average rating per recruit, the only teams that even came close to recruiting with the Buckeyes in 2008 were Notre Dame and USC. The nation’s top prospect, 5.0-star QB Terrelle Pryor, could see playing time much like Florida’s Tim Tebow did during his freshman year. Pryor will undoubtedly play in the Buckeyes two warm-up games prior to coming out to the L.A. Coliseum but will he get on the field against the Trojans? This class also features 5.0-star recruits OL Mike Adams, OL Michael Brewster, WR DeVier Posey and 4.5-star recruits OL J.B. Shugarts, LB Etienne Sabino. All these standout players have a shot at seeing early playing time. There are five more 4.0-star recruits. The Buckeyes loaded up with talent in 2008!

SPRING ANSWERS (from ESPN.com): 1. Line locked up: The Buckeyes filled the only hole on their offensive line this spring with sophomore right tackle Bryant Browning. The 6-4, 312-pound Browning seamlessly transitioned to the first team as he replaces All-Big Ten selection Kirk Barton. Acclaimed freshman Mike Adams could push Browning this summer, but the front five looks fairly set heading into the season. "He's very dependable," coach Jim Tressel said of Browning. "He's got power. He does some things that we think are going to be very, very special, and he works like crazy." 2. Welcome return: Defensive end Lawrence Wilson returned to the field this spring determined to make up for lost time. Sidelined last season after breaking his leg in the opener, Wilson moves into a primary pass-rushing role as Ohio State replaces superstar Vernon Gholston (14 sacks last fall). Wilson readjusted well from the injury, recording a sack in the spring game and reaffirming his spot with the first-team defense. 3. Not so average Joe: The competition to back up quarterback Todd Boeckman will undoubtedly be impacted by a certain incoming freshman from Jeannette, Pa., but Joe Bauserman made a strong case in the spring game. Bauserman, a former minor league pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, threw a 51-yard touchdown pass and had a 63-yard scoring strike called back on a holding penalty. Antonio Henton entered the spring as Ohio State's primary backup, but the 22-year-old Bauserman will remain in the mix this summer along with that Pryor guy.

FALL QUESTIONS (from ESPN.com): 1. The Pryor Effect: Ohio State's integration of acclaimed quarterback Terrelle Pryor will be one of the nation's top preseason story lines. Boeckman's starting job is safe, but the Buckeyes likely won't keep a player of Pryor's caliber on the sidelines for long. Will they follow Florida's lead and use Pryor like Tim Tebow, with Boeckman playing the role of Chris Leak? Pryor has the athleticism to play right away, but his ability to grasp the offense and improve as a passer will determine how quickly he sees the field. 2. On the mend: Nine starters return on each side of the ball, but a rash of injuries during spring practice places a greater emphasis on training-camp performance. The offensive line was banged up throughout the spring and must re-establish chemistry before the season. Running back Chris Wells was held out of contact drills this spring as he recovered from wrist surgery. The health of both Wells and top wide receiver Brian Robiskie (knee surgery) is a minor concern entering training camp. 3. Trio in trouble: The status of defensive backs Donald Washington, Jamario O'Neal and Eugene Clifford remains in doubt heading into the summer. Tressel never revealed why the three players were held out of some spring workouts or whether suspensions would be forthcoming. All three will be under close surveillance until the season. Washington is projected to start opposite standout Malcolm Jenkins, and both O'Neal and Clifford are expected to see time behind starters Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman.

2008 Virginia Cavaliers Scouting Report

2008-06-25T08:11:00.001-07:00

2008 Virginia Scouting Report

PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP HAS 10 OF LAST YEAR’S 22 STARTERS:
SE # 80 Maurice Covington (6’4”, 225, SR, 8 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
LT # 75 Eugene Monroe (6’6”, 315, SR, 10 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
LG # 76 Zak Stair (6’6”, 300, SR, 0 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
C # 64 Jack Shields (6’5”, 289, SO, 0 starts, 2.0-star recruit)
RG # 65 B.J. Cabbell (6’6”, 304, SO, 0 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
RT # 61 Will Barker (6’7”, 315, JR, 13 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
TE # 85 John Phillips (6’6”, 250, SR, 8 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
FL # 20 Kevin Ogletree (6’2”, 189, JR, 0 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
QB # 7 Peter Lalich (6’5”, 225, SO, 0 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
FB # 31 Rashawn Jackson (6’1”, 253, JR, 3 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
TB # 37 Cedric Peerman (5’10”, 208, SR, 6 starts, 3.0-star recruit)

DE # 93 Alex Field (6’7”, 270, SR, 0 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
DT # 98 Nate Collins (6’2”, 280, JR, 0 starts, 2.0-star recruit)
DE # 99 Sean Gottschalk (6’4”, 275, SO, 0 starts, 3.5-star recruit)
OLB # 51 Clint Sintim (6’3”, 254, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
MLB # 54 Jon Copper (6’0”, 230, SR, 13 starts, 1.0-star recruit)
MLB # 58 Antonio Appleby (6’4”, 250, SR, 13 starts, 3.5-star recruit)
OLB # 45 Denzel Burrell (6’4”, 230, SO, 0 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
CB # 4 Vic Hall (5’9”, 180, JR, 13 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
SS # 22 Byron Glaspy (5’11”, 206, SR, 13 starts, 1.0-star recruit)
FS # 43 Mike Parker (6’2”, 200, SO, 4 starts, 2.5-star recruit)
CB # 19 Ras-I Dowling (6’2”, 200, SO, 2 starts, 2.5-star recruit)

Virginia average stars per projected 2008 starter = 2.77 stars
USC average stars per projected 2008 starter = 4.34 stars

Virginia average 2007 starts per projected 2008 starter = 5.41 starts
USC average 2007 starts per projected 2008 starter = 6.50 starts

IMPACT RECRUITS: This was not a great recruiting class, especially since Virginia head coach Al Groh has been known as a solid recruiter. Rivals.com rated this class #61 in the nation while Scout.com rated it #62. That puts it at the bottom of the ACC along with Duke and Wake Forest! The standout talent of this group is 4.0-star RB Torrey Mack (6’0”, 195) out of Stratford, Connecticut. Mack was generally considered to be in the bottom half of the nation’s top 20 RB prospects. But with Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson sharing the workload at RB it is unlikely the Trojans will see Mack play on August 30^th. The other recruits of note include LB/TE Cameron Johnson, DT Klinton Ruff, DB Ausar Walcott, and DB Rodney McLeod, all of which are 3.0-star recruits. Johnson is likely the most ready to play (after Mack) at the D-I level come August.

SPRING ANSWERS (from ESPN.com): 1. Backers back: With three of four starting linebackers back -- all seniors -- there is still hope for the Cavaliers' defense, even without Chris Long. Jon Copper, who led the team in tackles as a sophomore and a junior, will be inside with Antonio Appleby while senior Clint Sintim returns to his outside post. Together they helped UVA allow just nine rushing touchdowns, the fifth-fewest in the nation. 2. Catching up: They might not know who will be throwing to them, but Virginia found a few players who can catch the ball this spring. Senior tight end John Phillips looked capable of helping offset the loss of Jonathan Stupar and Tom Santi, and receiver Kevin Ogletree finally returned after knee injury. Groh was also impressed with Kris Burd. "There were a lot of players who didn't get significant minutes last year who really progressed quite a bit," Groh said. 3. Peerman back: After missing the second half of the season with a torn ligament and broken bone in his right foot, Cedric Peerman was finally cleared to practice this spring. While Peerman was out, Mikell Simpson ran for 570 yards and eight touchdowns. If they stay healthy, this will be the first time in four seasons Groh won't have to replace his leading rusher.

FALL QUESTIONS (from ESPN.com): 1. Quarterback: Former starter Jameel Sewell won't be around because of academic issues, and Peter Lalich has the most game experience, but Al Groh is still waiting to name his starter. Lalich played in eight of 13 games last year, compared with fifth-year senior Scott Deke, who has played one game in the past four seasons, and sophomore Marc Verica, who hasn't played yet. 2. Long gone: Not only is Chris Long gone, but so is everyone else on the defensive line. Senior Alex Field and sophomore Sean Gottschalk are the two most experienced defensive ends -- where Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald must be replaced. Junior Jason Fuller is the only other player on the roster with any experience there, playing in five games over the past two seasons. 3. Kicker: Virginia has only one scholarship kicker on its roster -- redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein -- and he struggled with his accuracy and consistency this spring. The Cavaliers' punter will like be either John Thornton or incoming freshman Jimmy Howell.

2008 Scouting Reports

2008-06-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

I will post the scouting comparisons of USC's 2008 opponents over the next couple of weeks. I'll start with the breakdown of our beloved Trojans. I picked Stafon Johnson as the starting tailback even though C.J. Gable has the most starting experience and Joe McKnight seems to be the odds on favorite. I also made tough calls at DT and WLB, listing Averell Spicer over Christian Toupu and Kaluka Maiava over Luthur Brown.

The last time I did this sort of thing was prior to the 2006 season. How do the 2006 and 2008 squads compare? The 2006 squad averaged 3.89-stars per starter while the 2008 squad averages 4.34-stars per starter! The 2006 squad averaged 4.59-starts the previous season per 1st team player while the 2008 squad averages 6.50-starts! Simply put, the Trojans shouldn't be using inexperience as an excuse this year.

2008 USC Scouting Report

PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP INCLUDES 11 OF LAST YEAR’S 22 STARTERS:

SE # 1 Patrick Turner (6’5”, 220, SR, 10 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
LT # 71 Charles Brown (6’6”, 295, JR, 1 start, 3.5-star recruit)
LG # 53 Jeff Byers (6’4”, 285, SR, 13 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
C # 61 Kristofer O’Dowd (6’5”, 300, SO, 3 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
RG # 74 Zack Heberer (6’5”, 300, SO, 2 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
RT # 68 Butch Lewis (6’5”, 300, SO, 3 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
TE # 86 Anthony McCoy (6’5”, 255, JR, 0 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
FL # 7 Vidal Hazelton (6’2”, 210, JR, 9 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
QB # 6 Mark Sanchez (6’3”, 225, JR, 3 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
FB # 31 Stanley Havili (6’0”, 225, SO, 13 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
TB # 13 Stafon Johnson (5’11”, 215, JR, 0 starts, 5.0-star recruit)

DE # 93 Everson Griffen (6’3”, 265, SO, 2 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
DT # 75 Fili Moala (6’5”, 295, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
DT # 99 Averell Spicer (6’2”, 295, JR, 0 starts, 4.5-star recruit)
DE # 84 Kyle Moore (6’6”, 270, SR, 11 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
SLB # 10 Brian Cushing (6’3”, 255, SR, 8 starts, 4.5-star recruit)
MLB # 58 Rey Maualuga (6’2”, 260, SR, 12 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
WLB # 43 Kaluka Maiava (6’0”, 230, SR, 1 start, 4.0-star recruit)
CB # 7 Cary Harris (6’0”, 180, SR, 12 starts, 4.0-star recruit)
SS # 4 Kevin Ellison (6’1”, 230, SR, 13 starts, 3.0-star recruit)
FS # 2 Taylor Mays (6’3”, 230, JR, 13 starts, 5.0-star recruit)
CB # 24 Shareece Wright (6’0”, 180, JR, 1 start, 4.0-star recruit)

USC average stars per projected 2008 starter = 4.34 stars
USC average 2007 starts per projected 2008 starter = 6.50 starts

IMPACT RECRUITS: The Trojans pulled in another stellar recruiting class. It wasn’t rated quite as high nationally as we’ve become accustomed to over the past few years because it focused on linemen instead of skill players. The top rated recruits in this class are OL Matt Kalil, OL Tyron Smith, TE Blake Ayles and WR D.J. Shoemate. With the inexperience of the OL in 2008, the true frosh OL recruits such as Kalil, Smith, Khaled Holmes, Daniel Campbell and Matt Meyer (who participated in spring practice) will compete for playing time early. But the Trojans typically redshirt the majority of the linemen. That means that the true frosh most likely to see action early will be Ayles, CB T.J. Bryant and DE Nick Perry. Those three players will be competing at positions of limited depth and experience. The other highly touted recruits that will provide added depth in 2008 include WR Brice Butler, LB Unoa Kavienga and DT Armond Armstead.

SPRING ANSWERS (from ESPN.com): 1. Sanchez the man: As far as epic quarterback competitions, the touted showdown between Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain -- both former national prep players of the year -- didn't exactly go all "Ben-Hur." Sanchez seemed to have a huge head start from the beginning and never relinquished it, his significant experience running the Trojans offense last season when John David Booty was hurt giving him a decided edge. Of course, if Sanchez falters, Mustain will be there waiting -- unless the Arkansas transfer opts to hit the road again. 2. Trojans own a Firstary: It's hard to imagine any team owning a better secondary than the Trojans, with safeties Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison, both All-American candidates, and corners Cary Harris and Shareece Wright. This physical crew gave up only nine touchdown passes a year ago -- the second-best total in the conference was 17. 3. Linebacker U: Of course, the linebackers might be even better than the secondary. Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing are both leading Butkus Award candidates, while Luthur Brown or Kaluka Maiava will capably man the weakside linebacker spot. Also, senior Clay Matthews was impressive this spring manning the hybrid "Elephant" position, which allows him to either rush from an outside position or drop into coverage. Maualuga's backup, sophomore Chris Galippo, by the way, is phenomenal talent. It's hard to imagine him not seeing some playing time.

FALL QUESTIONS (from ESPN.com): 1. Trojans go hog hunting: Four new starters are needed on the offensive line -- including replacements for NFL first- and second-round draft picks. Guard Jeff Byers is the only true returning starter, but last year's talented crew was drubbed by injuries, so many of the names on the depth chart saw action in 2007. Leading that list is center Kristofer O'Dowd, who was surprisingly poised as a true freshman starting three games before going down with an injury. Sophomore Butch Lewis and Charles Brown both started games at tackle last year, as did sophomore Zack Heberer. Still, this will be a very young crew. 2. Who's ready for their close-up?: The offensive depth chart is laden with prep All-Americans, but who will become the go-to playmakers at tailback and receiver? Which receiver will make Sanchez a star: Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, David Ausberry or newcomer Damian Williams? Who's the money tailback(s) among Joe McKnight, C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford or Broderick Green? There needs to be a pecking order. Someone needs to step up. 3. Championship or bust?: Does anyone really believe USC won't win an unprecedented seventh consecutive Pac-10 title? In fact, doesn't it seem like, despite welcoming back just 13 starters, the Trojans' season won't be successful without another national title? After all, it's going on four whole years since they won one. And, finally, doesn't it feel like the winner of the USC-Ohio State game on Sept. 13 instantly becomes a front-runner to play in the BCS title game?

June 21st Post

2008-06-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the input everyone! Please have patience with me... I intend to get back to the point where I can post nearly every day soon... the combination of returning from the 15-month tour in Iraq, recovering from my June 4th knee surgery and basically being out of college football for the entire 2007 season is making it a slower process to get my head back in the game then I thought... I don't like to post unless I have good topics and accurate data... right now I'm still trying to absorb as much college football information as possible but unfortunately June-July is usually the worst time of year for college football information flow!

I do have all the 2008 college football preseason publications (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele, The Sporting News, etc.). I'm still trying to sort through all the SEC hype (Tim Tebow and Knowshon Moreno) in those magazines. I'm also highly disturbed that many of the predictions call for an 11-1 Ohio State team to be right back in the BCS Championship Game at the conclusion of the 2008 season. Is it just me or do the preseason magazines hit shelves earlier with each new year? I can remember when they would hit shelves in early August. Then it was early July. Now its late May and early June! It won't be long before the preseason magazines are coming out in mid-January!

From your comments:
1) Jordan Campbell is indeed listed as a LB instead of a FB on the current USC roster. This switch has me perplexed. I know that Campbell has stated all along that he'd rather be playing LB then FB but the Trojans are paper thin at FB. What is the deal with players not wanting to be a FB? Allen Bradford flat out refuses to play FB. These guys would get on the field so much more at the FB position! I know its not a glamor position but c'mon, take one for the team, and get yourself in the game! The only FBs on the roster are Stanley Havili, Adam Goodman and Matt Hillier. Havili has shown flashes of greatness but also been injury prone. Goodman is a former walk-on that has impressed the coaches enough to earn a scholarship. Hillier is a senior walk-on. Havili is a redshirt sophomore this season and will be redshirt junior in 2009. One of the comments said he will be a redshirt freshman this year but that is incorrect. Goodman is a redshirt junior and will likely still be with the team as a senior in 2009.

2) I did not list a year group for incoming JUCO transfer DT Hebron Fangupo. According to WeAreSC.com Fangupo will "enroll at USC in January 2009 and have three years to play two." I take that to mean that he can either play in 2009 & 2010 OR redshirt in 2009 and play in 2010 & 2011.

3) It was pointed out that FB/S Alfred Rowe has been dismissed from USC due to academic issues. Rowe joins former Long Beach Poly teammate CB Vincent Joseph in that regards. Another reason why recruiting a FB and some DB's in the class of 2009 is essential.

4) The latest verbal commitment for the class of 2009 is 4.0-star WR Alshon Jeffery (6'3", 205+) out of St. Matthews, SC. I'm sure the Ol' Ball Coach, better known as Steve Spurrier, isn't happy about this commitment. I wouldn't count Jeffery as a sure thing though. Bobby Petrino was able to successfully lure hometown hero Joe Adams to Arkansas and away from his commitment to USC this year. The comment about Jeffery being another Mike Williams type receiver doesn't do much for me. Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton and David Ausberry are all big receivers but none of them have developed into a dominant player like Mike Williams or Dwayne Jarrett (yet).

5) And now for the big question... and I love to talk about quarterback controversies, what football fan doesn't? The question was asked: "What do you think will happen with the QB situation?" This question was referring to the upcoming Mustain-Corp-Barkley battle in 2010 and beyond. First, let me tell you how I've seen the past quarterback competitions...

In 2003 the battle was between Leinart-Hance-Cassel-Booty. Coach Carroll named former Mater Dei star Matt Leinart as Carson Palmer's replacement at the end of spring practice in 2003. Brandon Hance had starting experience at Purdue before transferring to USC. Matt Cassel had served as Palmer's back-up in 2000 & 2001 and was the only one of the bunch to actually throw a pass in a game while wearing a Trojan uniform. John David Booty was the latest high school phenom that had actually skipped his entire senior year of high school to join the Trojans early. The vast majority of Trojan internet fans were calling for Booty to take the reigns. At the time I argued for Leinart. I had seen both Hance and Cassel play and hadn't been particularly impressed with either. I hadn't seen Leinart or Booty play other then in high school highlight video. But I thought that Booty was too young and not ready to go a full season as the Trojans' starting quarterback. I argued that Booty should redshirt, after all Hance and Cassel both had experience and would likely serve as solid back-ups. Leinart won the job, Booty moved all the way up to become the #2 QB. Booty ended up redshirting in 2004 due to a back injury.

In 2006 the vast majority of Trojan internet fans were calling for Mark Sanchez, the latest high school phenom, to take the reigns as the Trojans starting QB. Many argued that Booty's arm strength was weaker then Sanchez' arm strength. I found that amusing because that is exactly the same argument many used to tout Booty over Leinart in 2003! Once again, I found myself arguing that the younger Sanchez needed more time to mature and that the veteran Booty was more prepared to be the starter. While few would argue that Leinart supporters in 2003 were right, some might argue that Sanchez would have performed better then Booty in 2006 and 2007. It's difficult to say. We are probably all guilty of over criticizing Booty these last couple of seasons. What was JDB's major crime? No national championship game. If he had a minor crime it was the number of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage (especially at key times in close losses). Can we blame him for being a competitor during the Stanford loss and not letting the coaches know how badly his finger was injured? I say no. The coaching staff should have pulled him after the second interception. The blame for the Stanford loss should rest more on the coaching staff then on the players in my opinion. But I would still argue that Booty was an excellent QB for the Trojans. He had a 20-3 record as a starting QB and holds the record for most touchdown passes in the history of the Rose Bowl. He won't go down as a truly great QB because he didn't get the Trojans to the national championship game.

In fall 2007 the vast majority of Trojan internet fans were already calling for Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain to take the reigns as the Trojans starting QB in 2008. The argument was that Sanchez hadn't developed enough during his time as a back-up. I again had to laugh! Where were they coming up with this stuff? Sanchez was named the offensive scout team player of the year in 2005. What exactly had he done to warrant being passed over in favor of Mustain? Coach Carroll's philosophy is all about competition. I think Sanchez has proven to be both a great competitor and a solid leader. Yes he had an off the field incident but that never ended up amounting to much. I once again found myself defending the longer established Trojan QB over the incoming phenom. Then Booty went down with the finger injury. Sanchez stepped in and showed both flashes of greatness and inexperience. Suddenly Trojan fans stopped talking about Mustain. I think they saw a fire in Sanchez that they hadn't seen in Booty. I believe that if Sanchez would have replaced Booty early in the 4th quarter of the Stanford game that the Trojans would have played Ohio State in the BCS Championship Game and that LSU fans would still be whining and crying about it today! So Sanchez has now been named the starting QB for the 2008 season and those fans that were touting Mustain have remained quiet.

So I still haven't gotten to the question... first, I want to say that the Sanchez-Mustain-Corp competition is far from over. You might be asking didn't he just defend the Sanchez decision? Yes but... anything can happen in college football as we were reminded of so well during the crazy 2007 season. I believe that Sanchez will not only play well but that he will be a superstar. I think he may throw a few more interceptions then Booty or Leinart, but that he will make many, many more big plays then either of his two predecessors. The big question to me is - will Coach Carroll put Mustain in the Virginia or Ohio State games if Sanchez isn't getting the offense in the end zone enough to keep the Trojans in the lead? If Sanchez survives the first two games and the Trojans are 2-0, the job is his for as long as he wants it and can stay healthy. If the Trojan offense stumbles out of the gate in either of those games, Mustain will likely get a chance to prove himself.

So finally to the question at hand - what do I think will happen in the 2010 & 2011 quarterback competitions? Assuming Sanchez holds the job in 2008 & 2009, I think Mustain will win the job in 2010. Once again I find myself arguing for the more experienced kid. Mustain was a 5.0-star blue chip recruit. He was impressive as a true freshman starting QB at Arkansas leading his team to an 8-0 record against SEC opponents. He was the 2007 offensive scout team player of the year. From what I've read he was very impressive during spring 2008 scrimmages. I think Mustain will see more playing time in 2008 & 2009 then we've seen any other Trojan back-up QB during the Pete Carroll era. And I think that means that the question for 2011 comes down to can Aaron Corp beat out Matt Barkley?

After reading all this you'll probably be mad at my answer... PATIENCE. I don't think any of us have enough information on Corp or Barkley yet. Corp still needs to put on some muscle. He is supposedly a very talented runner but doesn't have the body yet to sustain a beating week after week. From what I've read, Corp was impressive in spring 2008 drills. The reason he wasn't as big of a recruit as Booty, Sanchez or Mustain is that he didn't have an off-the-charts junior season of high school like the others did. That's how the hype machine gets started for all these blue chippers (its actually more like you need to have a stellar sophomore year of high school nowadays). So Corp is still a developing kid. Barkley is just starting his senior year of high school. Yes he was the first ever junior to be named the Gatorade National High School Player-of-the-Year but he is also still a developing kid.

I would be surprised if Corp decides to transfer once he's made it through the 2009 season in a Trojan uniform. He's already used his redshirt year. If he transfers to another D-I school he'll have to sit out another season! So if he is to transfer he should do it sooner rather then later (or to a D-II school if he decides to do it later).

One thing is for sure - the vast majority of Trojan internet fans will be calling for Barkley to take the reigns in 2010 (even over Mustain).

2009 Roster Projection

2008-06-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

Question from Matt: Looking ahead to the recruits verbally committed to the 2009 class so far, do you see any number issues when they arrive?

Here's how the Trojans should look in 2009 if the verbal commits sign with USC... keep in mind 1) this doesn't include about 9-10 other recruits that will likely sign with the Trojans, 2) that I've projected which of the 2008 true freshmen will redshirt, 3) and that I'm guessing S Taylor Mays is the only underclassmen that jumps to the NFL early.

QB: Mark Sanchez (rSR), Mitch Mustain (rJR), Aaron Corp (rSO), Matt Barkley (FR)

RB: Stafon Johnson (SR), Allen Bradford (SR), C.J. Gable (rJR), Joe McKnight (JR), Marc Tyler (rSO), Broderick Green (rSO), Curtis McNeal (rFR)

FB: Stanley Havili (rJR), Jordan Campbell (rJR), Alfred Rowe (rJR)

OL: Charles Brown (rSR), Thomas Herring (rSR), Nick Howell (rSR), Alex Parsons (SR), Butch Lewis (rJR), Zack Heberer (rJR), Kristopher O'Dowd (JR), Martin Coleman (rSO), Michael Reardon (rSO), Matt Kalil (SO), Matt Meyer (SO), Tyron Smith (rFR), Daniel Campbell (rFR), Khaled Holmes (rFR), Kevin Graf (FR)

TE: Anthony McCoy (SR), Rhett Ellison (rSO), Blake Ayles (SO), Morell Presley (FR)

WR: Vidal Hazelton (SR), Garrett Green (SR), David Ausberry (rJR), Damian Williams (rJR), Travon Patterson (rJR), Ronald Johnson (JR), Brandon Carswell (rSO), D.J. Shoemate (SO), Brice Butler (SO), Randall Carroll (FR), De'Von Flournoy (FR)

DT: Averell Spicer (rSR), Derrick Simmons (rJR), Christian Toupu (JR), Da'John Harris (rSO), Armond Armstead (SO), Jurrell Casey (rFR), Hebron Fangupo (JUCO transfer)

DE: Everson Griffen (JR), Trey Henderson (rSO), Nick Perry (SO), Wes Horton (rFR), Malik Jackson (rFR)

LB: Luthur Brown (rSR), Michael Morgan (rJR), Malcolm Smith (JR), Chris Galippo (rSO), Unoa Kavienga (SO), Maurice Simmons (rFR), Vontaze Burfict (FR), Marquis Simmons (FR)

CB: Kevin Thomas (rSR), Shareece Wright (SR), T.J. Bryant (SO), Brian Baucham (rFR)

S: Will Harris (rSR), Marshall Jones (JR), Shane Horton (rSO), Drew McAllister (rFR), Patrick Hall (FR), T.J. McDonald (FR), Chris Metcalf (FR)

PK: ???

P: ???

This totals 75 scholarship players. The Trojans need a PK and P in 2009. The Trojans also need to recruit defensive backs! They have some verbals from Patrick Hall, T.J. McDonald and Chris Metcalf, but could use a few more. The Trojans don't need more RB, OL or WR commits in 2009.

2008 Frosh Jersey Assignments

2008-06-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

The jersey assignments for the incoming freshmen were announced last week:

# 1 CB T.J. Bryant (shared with WR Patrick Turner)
# 8 DE Nick Perry (shared with WR Ronald Johnson)
#10 WR D.J. Shoemate (shared with LB Brian Cushing)
#19 S Drew McAllister
#22 RB Curtis McNeal
#23 S Shane Horton
#30 CB Brian Baucham
#35 LB Unoa Kavienga
#51 LB Maurice Simmons
#66 OL Matt Meyers (who participated in spring practice)
#69 OL Daniel Campbell
#70 OL Tyron Smith
#75 OL Matt Kalil
#78 OL Khaled Holmes
#83 WR Brice Butler
#89 TE Blake Ayles
#91 DT Jurrell Casey
#94 DT Armond Armstead
#96 DE Wes Horton
#97 DE Malik Jackson

I found it interesting that Coach Carroll allowed Nick Perry to wear his high school number (#8) as a defensive end. The last time Coach Carroll allowed something like that was with 2003 recruit Chris Barrett (also a defensive end) who was allowed to initially wear his high school #9. Barrett wore #9 in 2003 and 2004 but switched to #91 in 2005.

Home at Long Last

2008-06-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back from a grueling 15-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. I watched the 2007 Trojan football season via the internet. Most of the games were broadcast in the middle of the night in Iraq (between 2am and 7am). A number of Trojan alumni (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) stationed on Camp Victory got together to watch the Rose Bowl. This was the first time in my 16-years as a Trojan that I wasn't able to make it to at least one USC football during during the season!

I wonder how many bloggers/readers still come to check out my site periodically??? I hope there are a few of you left out there. I plan to gradually write more as the summer progresses. I just had surgery on my right knee to fix an injury I suffered while in Iraq. The surgery went well and I'll have about a month of recovery time to do nothing but catch-up with the state of NCAA and USC football.

For my first post I'll start out with something easy. Here are the national talent rankings for the 2008 season based on a compilation of numerous recruiting rankings (Rivals, Scout, ESPN, etc.) from 2005-2008:
1) USC
2) Florida
3) Georgia
4) Michigan
5) Miami
6) Texas
7) Ohio State
8) Oklahoma
9) tie - Auburn & LSU
11) Florida State
12) Alabama
13) Notre Dame
14) Tennessee
15) Clemson
16) California
17) tie - Nebraska & South Carolina
19) Texas A&M
20) Virginia Tech
21) Penn State
22) Pittsburgh
23) UCLA
24) Ole Miss
25) Oregon

Other Pac-10 team rankings: #29 Arizona State, #31 Arizona, #34 Washington, #50 Stanford, #51 Oregon State, #60 Washington State

Last Post

2007-03-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm wheels up on Monday March 12th after a month of intensive training so I've got time for one more post and I want to cover a wide range of topics for those of you still checking in...

1) An anonymous Nebraska Cornhuskers fan added this comment to my last post: "i hope you fans enjoy being #1 during the summer when it counts about as much as a peso. herbie husker and the husker nation are going to blast you outta memorial stadium and your number one class!! tell snoop to bring his dawg pound too!! 'skerz 28 tommy trojan 21." To which I say - I heard that same thing from a lot of Husker fans and players last year! Result? Trojans 28, Cornhuskers 10. We'll see if the Huskers can do a better job of walking the walk then talking the talk this year. When was the last time Nebraska was ranked #1? 2001?

2) Another anonymous poster had this question: "I need help in finding a player named Alvin Robinson. If someone has or could check the roster between 91-95 I would really appreaciate it." Well, I've checked all my media guides from 1991-1995 and there's no mention of an Alvin Robinson. Alvin Robinson never received a varsity letter in the history of USC football either. So if Mr. Robinson is telling you he played varsity football at USC he was likely a walk-on.

3) The Trojans have jumped out to a very early start in recruiting for the class of 2008. Coach Carroll has received six verbal commitments from nineteen offers he's extended so far. Does this mean that Coach Carroll is changing his recruiting habits by offering more players earlier or are top players just committing earlier? Could this be a sign the Coach Carroll is looking more long term and has finally decided to give up on returning to the NFL? Here's a look at the players that have verbally committed and the players that have received offers from USC:

Commits:
WR D.J. Shoemate (6'0", 210) of Anaheim, CA is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100 and is leading the way by recruiting other top players for the Trojans
OL Matt Kalil (6'7", 280) of Anaheim, CA is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100 and is the younger brother of former Trojan C Ryan Kalil
OL Matt Meyer (6'7", 280) of Stockton, CA is in the Scout Top 100
LB/S Maurice Simmons (6'6", 235) of Compton, CA is in the Scout Top 100 and is the younger brother of former Trojan LB Melvin Simmons
DE Wes Horton (6'6", 235) of Sherman Oaks, CA is in the Rivals Top 100
WR/CB Chris Polk (5'11", 195) of Redlands, CA

Offered:
TE Blake Ayles (6'4", 235) of Orange, CA is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100 and I think is at the top of Coach Carroll's target list
OL Michael Brewster (6'6", 305) of Orlando, FL is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100
CB T.J. Bryant (6'0", 175) of Tallahassee, FL is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100
WR Michael Floyd (6'3", 195) of St. Paul, MN is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100
CB/S Rahim Moore (6'1", 185) of Los Angeles, CA is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100
RB Darrell Scott (6'0", 210) of Ventura, CA is in both the Scout & Rivals Top 100
OL Tyron Smith (6'4", 255) of Moreno Valley, CA is in the Rivals Top 100
TE Kavario Middleton (6'6", 245) of Lakewood, WA is in the Rivals Top 100
OL Brandon Washington (6'4", 310) of Miami, FL
RB Curtis McNeal (5'8", 175) of Los Angeles, CA
DE Datone Jones (6'4", 235) of Compton, CA
DT Jurrell Casey (6'1", 255) of Long Beach, CA
CB Xavier Brewer (5'10", 175) of Jacksonville, FL

4) Right now it looks like former 5-star QB prospect Mitch Mustain will transfer from Arkansas to USC at the end of the spring semester (following his high school and Arkansas teammate WR Damian Williams who is already enrolled at USC). Mustain was 8-0 as the starting QB for the Razorbacks this season but was benched late in the year. His mother made several statements, along with other parents of Arkansas players from Springdale High School, voicing dissatisfaction with Razorbacks head coach Houston Nutt's handling of the offensive play calling. My question is do we really want Mustain? Is he value added to the team chemistry? Will he be able to compete mentally with the higher competition at USC? I am convinced that after two years with the Trojans former 5-star prospect and current USC back-up QB Mark Sanchez is ready and able to compete both mentally and physically with Mustain. My opinion is that Sanchez will take the reigns from Booty when all is said and done even if Mustain becomes a Trojan. I also wouldn't doubt that incoming freshman QB Aaron Corp proves to be more than adequate competition for Mustain.

5) How many consensus 5-star recruiting prospects project to be on the USC roster in 2007? EIGHTEEN! QB John David Booty, QB Mark Sanchez, RB C.J. Gable, RB Allen Bradford, RB Stafon Johnson, RB Joe McKnight, RB Marc Tyler, TE Fred Davis, WR Patrick Turner, WR Vidal Hazelton, OL Jeff Byers, OL Kristopher O'Dowd, DE Everson Griffen, LB Keith Rivers, LB Rey Maualuga, LB Chris Galippo, S Taylor Mays and CB/WR Ronald Johnson. There are many that were 4/5-star recruits too such as LB/DE Brian Cushing and WR David Ausberry just to name two.

6) Which games are the Trojans most likely to lose in 2007? I'd say the California game represents the biggest challenge with Nebraska a close second. Both teams have plenty of talent and will bring loud home field crowds. Don't count out Oregon either. After that it's Notre Dame (a rebuilding year for the Irish), Arizona State (Dennis Erickson will turn this program around but may need a few years to do it), UCLA (although I think the Trojans will be ready this time), Oregon State (a sleeper ready to make some noise in the Pac-10 this year). Bob Stoops (Arizona) and Ty Willingham (Washington) are still rebuilding their respective programs but are on the rise. My (very early) predictions for 2007:

IDAHO W 56-3 1-0
at Nebraska W 17-13 2-0
WASHINGTON STATE W 38-7 3-0
at Washington W 42-14 4-0
STANFORD W 56-10 5-0
ARIZONA W 27-13 6-0
at Notre Dame W 38-24 7-0
at Oregon W 31-28 8-0
OREGON STATE W 35-17 9-0
at California L 20-23 9-1
at Arizona State W 42-7 10-1
UCLA W 56-17 11-1

Of course, the 2007 Trojans have the most talent in the nation and should go 12-0 with this schedule. But I'm skeptical about this team's focus after the Oregon State and UCLA games in 2006. I see a 12-0 or 11-1 season as being most likely. I would be shocked and disappointed if the Trojans ended up with two or more losses. An early season loss at Nebraska would be better than a late season loss to California, but I have much more respect for Jeff Tedford then for Bill Callahan. Would an 11-1 record land the Trojans in the BCS Championship Game? That depends on how many teams go undefeated and on the timing of the Trojans loss.

7) Spring practice runs from March 20 through April 14 with the annual "Trojan Huddle" scrimmage and BBQ on April 7. What is your vote for most intriguing story of the spring? The battle for the starting tailback spot? The contenders include Chauncey Washington, C.J. Gable, Emmanuel Moody, Allen Bradford and Stafon Johnson. Desmond Reed is always in the mix but more likely as a utility player than as a starting tailback. And what is the status of Herschel Dennis? How about which receivers will emerge at the top of the depth chart? The contenders are Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, David Ausberry, Travon Patterson and Jamere Holland. Damain Williams will be competing but ineligible to play in 2007 games due to NCAA transfer rules. How about is Jeff Byers healthy and ready to join the starting O-Line? Who will replace C Ryan Kalil and RT Kyle Williams? Byers, Alatini Malu, Charles Brown, Matt Spanos (if eligible), Nick Howell, Butch Lewis, Thomas Herring, Zack Heberer and newcomer Martin Coleman are all in the mix for playing time. The defense appears much more settled but Kyle Moore has a lot to prove this spring if he's going to hold off incoming freshman Everson Griffen for a starting DE spot this fall. How will Josh Pinkard fit into the secondary? Will Pinkard play at S or CB and will he be able to win back a starting job? How will David Buehler perform as the only placekicker on the roster?

8) Jersey changes: RB C.J. Gable has switched from #25 to #2; S Taylor Mays has also switched from #29 to #2; WR David Ausberry switched from #19 to #9. Newcomer OL Martin Coleman is wearing #72. This fall I'm expecting newcomers RB Joe McKnight to wear #4 (also worn by S Kevin Ellison), QB Aaron Corp to wear #8 (the only open QB type number), S Marshall Jones to wear #27 (also worn by FB Michael Coleman), RB Broderick Green to wear #29 and FB/LB Jordan Campbell to wear #37. I'm not sure about CB/WR Ronald Johnson, RB Marc Tyler, LB Malcolm Smith, LB Chris Galippo or DE Everson Griffen. Their high school jerseys are taken (or retired in Griffen's case).

Again, thanks for reading this blog! I will try my best to make time to post while I'm in Iraq, but the quality and quantity of posts won't be as high as they have been for the past couple of years.

My Second To Last Post

2007-02-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

My current situation: I was Army ROTC at USC and have been on active duty now for 12 years. My unit was scheduled to deploy for a 1-year tour in Iraq in late June 2007 (this will be my second tour in Iraq). We received orders about 10-days ago moving our deployment date up to mid-March. We're busy trying to get everything ready so that we can make the new timeline. I probably won't be posting much after this and likely won't be able to post over the next 18-months (as our deployment will now likely run through September 2008). I've had a great time blogging! Thanks to each and every one of this blog's readers! FIGHT ON! Please make some noise for me at the games during the 2007 season since I won't be able to attend any of them.

A by the numbers look at this year's recruiting class (after averaging the ESPN, Rivals and Scout rankings)...

OVERALL TOP 2007 RECRUITING CLASSES:
1) Florida (the Gators averaged the #4 recruiting class from 2003-2006... Urban Meyer's three classes have been ranked #14, #2 and now #1).
2) USC (the Trojans bring in another stellar class and were only beaten out by Florida because the Gators had more scholarships to give... Coach Carroll's classes averaged the #1 spot from 2003-2006)
3) Texas (the Longhorns have improved in recruiting over the past three classes going from #20 to #4 to #3)
4) Tennessee (the Vols usually rank in the top ten but had atypically low class in 2006... Coach Fulmer got Tennessee back on target with a class that could be just as good as the top three)
5) LSU (Coach Miles has improved each year in recruiting ranking from #24, #9 and now #5)
6) South Carolina (probably the best recruiting class in the Gamecocks history)
7) Auburn (Coach Tuberville has improved each year in recruiting ranking over the past four seasons from #19 to #13 to #10 to #7... now how will he match-up with Nick Saban over the next four years?)
8) Notre Dame (wow is all I can say because the early word was that Charlie Weis would have the nation's #1 class in 2007... the Fighting Irish lost a couple key verbal commitments on signing day and slipped down to #8)
9) Michigan (the Wolverines are right on target as they averaged the #8 spot in recruiting from 2003-2006)
10) Georgia (Coach Richt recruits amazing talent each year but seems to do it "under the radar"... the Bulldogs averaged the #2 spot from 2003-2006 and this is their lowest ranked class since 2001 but it is still a great class)
11) Miami (Randy Shannon prevented what initially looked like a disaster in recruiting for the Hurricanes... Miami averaged the #5 class from 2003-2006 so this one is good for having a bad season and a coaching change)
12) North Carolina (the Tar Heels hadn't broken the top 20 in recruiting since 2003 so new Coach Butch Davis did a great job)
13) Oregon (the Ducks had a very poor recruiting class in 2006 but bounced back with what could be Coach Belotti's best class ever)
14) Alabama (the Crimson Tide averaged the #16 recruiting class from 2003-2006 so Saban did very well with little time in the job and should get Alabama back in the top ten in 2008)
15) Georgia Tech (could be the best class the Yellow Jackets have ever had!)
16) Illinois (Ron Zook can recruit... that's about all I can say...)
17) Ohio State (why is the Buckeye's class so low? they finished the season ranked #2 and have a bunch of openings at key positions? they averaged the #11 recruiting class from 2003-2006... a good class but not a great class)
18) Pittsburgh (the Panthers are on the rise with a former NFL head coach... watch out West Virginia, Louisville and Rutgers)
19) Nebraska (the Cornhuskers averaged the #15 class from 2003-2006 so this a pretty typical class for them... Coach Callahan had a stellar class in 2005 but hasn't been able to replicate it the past two years)
20) California (Tedford has the Bears on a steady course)
21) Clemson
22) Penn State (the Nittany Lions have put four straight solid recruiting classes together even though they missed out on Vidal Hazelton and Broderick Green to USC the past two years)
23) Virginia Tech
24) Oklahoma (an off class for the Sooners who have averaged the #3 recruiting class from 2003-2006... Stoops rocketed to the top and has tapered off a bit of late)
25) Florida State (way off for Bobby Bowden who had averaged the #6 recruiting class from 2003-2006... here's how the Seminoles have been ranked in recruiting from 2000-present: #3, #1, #5, #16, #4, #2, #7, #25)

OTHER PAC-10 SCHOOLS RANKED IN THE TOP 50:
#33 Washington
#38 UCLA (Coach Dorrell had the Bruins climbing in recruiting the past four years from #35 to #33 to #26 to #19 so this is his first misstep)
#40 Arizona State
#42 Oregon State
#45 Arizona
#46 Stanford

MOST TALENTED TEAMS IN 2007 (an average of the recruiting rankings from 2004-2007):
1) USC
2) Florida
3) Georgia
4) Michigan
5) Miami
6 tie) Florida State and Texas
8) LSU
9) Tennessee
10) Oklahoma
11) Auburn
12) Ohio State
13) Alabama
14) Penn State
15) Nebraska
16) California
17) Texas A&M
18) Notre Dame
19) South Carolina
20) Maryland
21) Ole Miss
22) Oregon
23) Arkansas
24) Clemson
25) Virginia Tech

Busy at Work

2007-02-10T03:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted much this past week... I've been absolutely swamped at work (averaging about 15 hours of work per day 7 days per week right now)... I'll get a wrap up editorial on signing day posted in the next few days... I'm extremely happy with the class Coach Carroll & staff signed!!! FIGHT ON!

Signing Day!

2007-02-07T03:12:00.000-08:00

3.5-star DE Christian Tupou (6'2", 260) of Sacramento, CA and 3.0-star TE Rhett Ellison (6'5", 225) of Mountain View, CA have committed to USC.

According to multiple recruiting sources 5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA and 4.0-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL will sign with the Trojans today! I've got my fingers crossed!

The other interesting story is to see which school signs 4.0-star RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) of Little Rock, AR.

Walker Lee Ashley Status

2007-02-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

WeAreSC.com reported that DT Walker Lee Ashley has left USC is will enroll at the University of Minnesota in the summer.

More Recruiting News

2007-02-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

2.5-star TE/DE Trey Henderson (6'3", 265) of Vancouver, BC dropped Washington State and committed to USC today.

3.0-star QB Samson Szakacsy (6'4", 190) of Camarillo, CA dropped USC and committed to Arizona State today.

Ronald Johnson is a Trojan!

2007-02-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

The Michigan Wolverines stole 5.0-star CB Donovan Warren right out of our backyard earlier this week so its only fair that we stole 5.0-star CB/WR Ronald Johnson (6'0", 180) right out of their backyard today! Johnson announced his verbal commitment to USC over Florida, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State at 4 p.m. eastern time today. Rivals.com rates Johnson as the #8 overall prospect in the nation and the #1 receiver. Scout.com rates Johnson as the #13 overall prospect in the nation and the #2 cornerback. ESPN.com rates Johnson as the #47 overall prospect and the #3 cornerback. Does Coach Carroll see Johnson playing WR or CB for the Trojans?

Here's what ESPN.com says about how the uncommitted recruits are ranking their finalists:
RB Joe McKnight: 1) LSU, 2) USC, 3) Ole Miss
DT Marvin Austin: 1) Florida State, 2) North Carolina, 3) USC, 4) Tennessee
WR Deonte Thompson: 1) USC, 2) Ohio State, 3) Florida, 4) Miami
WR Ahmad Paige: 1) Florida, 2) Tennessee, 3) USC
OL Kevin Bryant: 1) Ole Miss, 2) USC, 3) Oklahoma, 4) Georgia, 5) Ohio State

Trojan Update 2/3

2007-02-02T23:46:00.000-08:00

5.0-star CB/WR Ronald Johnson (6'0", 180) of Muskegon, MI will announce his commitment on Sunday according to the Muskegon Chronicle. Johnson's final four are Florida, Michigan, Ohio State and USC.

5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA received in-home visits from Les Miles of LSU and Coach Carroll on Thursday according to the News Star (Northeast Louisiana newspaper).

Trojan Update 2/1

2007-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

5.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA verbally committed to Michigan over USC.

Scott Wolf reported that the Trojan coaching staff may now shift its effort towards 4.0-star CB Omar Bolden (5'11", 180, 4.4) of Ontario, CA. Bolden has been considering Arizona State, Nebraska, Oregon State, UNLV, Utah, UTEP, Washington and Washington State.

5.0-star S Chad Jones (6'2", 225) of Baton Rouge, LA has crossed USC of his list according to the Times-Picayune (a newspaper out of New Orleans). Jones is now down to Florida, Florida State and LSU. He is considered to be leaning towards LSU at this point.

4.0-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL has crossed LSU off his list of possibilities according to the Times-Picayune. Thompson is now down to Florida, Miami, Ohio State and USC. He is considered to be leaning towards USC at this point.

Coach Carroll will pay one last visit to 4.0-star RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) this week. Rumors have been circulating all season that Green will not honor his verbal commitment to USC on signing day. The current rumor is that Green will sign with Penn State.

The Trojan coaching staff appears to be doing some last minute recruiting of 4.0-star RB Reggie Dunn (5'8", 160, 4.3) of Los Angeles, CA. Dunn is considering Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA and Washington.

This year's recruiting class for the Trojans has a strange feeling to me compared with the classes of the past few seasons. First, it's a smaller class than we've seen in some time (unless there are a flurry of commits over this last week). Second, Coach Carroll is usually a very strong closer, picking up a bunch of bigtime recruits in the last month but this year most of the big recruits committed prior to the Army All-American Bowl (and there were NO commits to USC during that game this year). The loss of Warren, considered a USC "lock" for almost a year now, seems to epitomize this recruiting season. Hopefully Coach Carroll's long road trip this past week can work some last minute magic. USC appears to have a good chance of signing RB Joe McKnight, CB/WR Ronald Johnson, WR Deonte Thompson, OL Kevin Bryant, CB Omar Bolden, CB Anthony Gildon and DE Chrisitian Tupou.

Trojan Update 2/1

2007-02-01T03:44:00.000-08:00

Donovan Warren decision day!

Here's Scout.com's predictions for the top uncommitted prospects:
RB Joe McKnight = USC
DT Marvin Austin = Florida State
WR Terrance Tolliver = Florida
S Chad Jones = LSU
CB Ronald Johnson = Florida (take that Brent Musberger!)
RB Noel Devine = West Virginia or Florida State
CB Donovan Warren = USC
WR Deonte Thompson = Florida
DT John Brown = Florida
DE/LB Allen Bailey = Miami
WR Ahmad Paige = Florida
RB Lennon Creer = Tennessee
S Stefoin Francois = LSU
WR Rashod Mason = North Carolina
WR Dwight Jones = Clemson
S Christian Scott = Oklahoma
LB Brandon Hicks = Florida
DE Sidell Corley = Alabama
LB Josh Bynes = Auburn
TE Weslye Saunders = North Carolina
DT Kaniela Tuipulotu = Hawaii
CB Brandon Paul = Florida State
CB Omar Bolden = Oregon State
RB Broderick Green = Penn State

Again, my question is HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS DOES FLORIDA HAVE TO GIVE??? According to Scout.com they currently have 25 verbal commitments. Then add the six on this list and they have a freshmen class of 31 or more?

Trojan Update 1/31

2007-01-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

ESPN.com's Tom Luginbill reported that 5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA has decided not to visit Alabama, Miami, Florida State or Arkansas. McKnight will make his decision between LSU, Ole Miss and USC public on signing day.

Today's headline story on USCFootball.com indicates that the Trojans are now after 4.0-star DT Kaniela Tuipulotu (6'1", 270) of Kahuku, HI. Tuipulotu was previously being recruited by Arizona, Boise State, BYU, Hawaii, New Mexico State, Oregon State and Utah. Another sign that Marvin Austin has crossed the Trojans off his list?

Scott Wolf reported that 5.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA officially crossed UCLA off his list today and will commit to either Michigan or USC tomorrow.

Wolf also reported that Coach Carroll is visiting 5.0-star OL James Wilson (6'4", 305) of St. Augustine, FL and 4.0-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL today.

Trojan Update 1/30

2007-01-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

4.0-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL is set to visit USC this weekend along with 3.5-star DE Christian Tupou (6'2", 260) of Sacramento, CA and 2.5-star TE/DE Trey Henderson (6'3", 265) of Vancouver, BC. Paige, a former commit to Florida State, now lists Florida, Tennessee and USC as his final three. "I really don't know what to expect (of USC)," Paige told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I've never been there. I plan to hang out with the players some."

News from Scott Wolf's blog:

1) Coach Carroll is on the east coast this week visiting 5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) and 4.0-star TE Mike Ragone (6'5", 230) of Cherry Hill, NJ. Austin's final four are Florida State, North Carolina, Tennessee and USC. Ragone has long been committed to Notre Dame. Some of the other east coast guys Coach Carroll could be looking in on include 4.5-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL, 4.0-star OL Kevin Bryant (6'6", 375) of Lauderdale Lakes, FL, and the aforementioned Ahmad Paige.

2) 4.5-star OL Martin Coleman is enrolled and taking classes at USC already and will participate in spring practice. Coleman was listed by most recruiting services as being about 290 pounds but officially weighed in at 312 pounds upon arrival at USC!

3) FB Brandon Hancock may be leaning towards ending his football career due to injury even though the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility. Either way, Hancock was going to pay for the fall semester himself, so the Trojans have another scholarship to recruit with.

4) S Kevin Ellison probably won't be ready for spring practice due to his January 2nd knee surgery.

Trojan Update 1/29

2007-01-29T15:58:00.000-08:00

The Trojans offered two more scholarships to defensive linemen this week. Does this mean that Coach Carroll knows the battle for 5.0-star DT Marvin Austin is lost? 3.5-star DE Christian Tupou (6'2", 260) of Sacramento, CA took official visits to BYU, Fresno State, California and Nebraska. Tupou was also considering an offer from Arizona but now appears to be leaning towards USC. 2.5-star TE/DE Trey Henderson (6'3", 265) of Vancouver, BC verbally committed to Washington State but with the offer from USC has decided to take an official visit to Los Angeles this weekend. Henderson's next biggest offer was from Kentucky. Why did the Trojans give up on 4.0-star DE Kenny Rowe (6'2", 215) of Long Beach Poly midway through the 2006 season? Rowe recently committed to Oregon, turning down offers from Arizona, California, Fresno State and Ole Miss. Rowe is undersized for a college DE but the Trojans were seriously recruiting him in spring 2006. I'd like to know why Coach Carroll and staff backed off. Rowe's brother Alfred is a safety on the current USC roster.

Internet rumors say that 4.0-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL postponed his official visit to USC to take his family on a second trip to Florida. Looks like Urban Meyer has been Pete Carroll's biggest nemesis this season with Charlie Weis a distant second. It's likely that 3.5-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) will be the only addition at receiver in this class. It's likely that the top WR's see too much talent at USC even with the departure of Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith. Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, David Ausberry, Travon Patterson and Jamere Holland will all have a shot at starting jobs in 2007.

So where do the uncommitted star recruits appear to be headed with a week to go?
5.0-star RB Joe McKnight = either LSU or USC (outside chance Alabama)
5.0-star DT Marvin Austin = Florida State or North Carolina (outside chance Tennessee)
5.0-star CB/WR Ronald Johnson = Michigan
5.0-star CB Donovan Warren = USC (outside chance UCLA)
5.0-star S Chad Jones = LSU (outside chance Alabama, Florida)
4.5-star WR Deonte Thompson = Miami (outside chance Florida)
4.5-star S Major Wright = Ohio State (outside chance Florida, Miami)
4.0-star OL Kevin Bryant = USC (outside chance Louisville, Ole Miss)

10 Days To Go!!!

2007-01-28T15:43:00.000-08:00

There are ten days left until national college football signing day... I've averaged the current recruiting standings by Rivals, Scout and ESPN and here's how things are shaping up with a few big name prospects still uncommitted:

1) Florida (1.7 average in the recruiting polls)
2) USC (3.7)
3) Texas (4.7)
4) Notre Dame (5.7)
5) tie - LSU & Tennessee (6.0)
7) South Carolina (6.3)
8) Georgia (8.7)
9) Auburn (12.0)
10) Oregon (14.7)
11) Michigan (15.0)
12) Penn State (15.3)
13) Illinois (16.0)
14) Georgia Tech (16.7)
15) tie - Nebraska & Ohio State (17.0)
17) Pittsburgh (19.0)
18) Miami (19.7)
19) Clemson (20.0)
20) Alabama (20.3)
21) Virginia Tech (20.7)
22) Ole Miss (22.0)
23) tie - California & Oklahoma (25.7)
25) West Virginia (26.7)

Other Pac-10 notables include UCLA at #26, Arizona at #31 and Washington at #39.

The good news surprises include South Carolina (Steve Spurrier is starting to come on in his third season), Oregon (rebounding from an atypically poor recruiting class last year), Illinois (Ron Zook is a great recruiter but will he ever be able to coach his way into a BCS game?) and Rutgers (sitting at #34, the Scarlet Knights are taking advantage of their first bowl win).

The bad news surprises include Florida State all the way down at #35 (it could be the 'Noles worst recruiting class in 20 years), Ohio State (down for a year in which they were in the BCS Championship Game and had a ton of underclassmen depart for the NFL), Miami (although new head coach Randy Shannon is making a late run) and Oklahoma (a down recruiting year for Bob Stoops).

Rivals Recruiting Article

2007-01-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=634554

Trojan Update 1/27

2007-01-27T08:17:00.000-08:00

Off-season surgeries: RB Stafon Johnson (shoulder), OT Sam Baker (knee), long snapper Will Collins (knee), DE Lawrence Jackson (ankle), CB Cary Harris (hand), CB Kevin Thomas (shoulder) and S Kevin Ellison (knee).

4.0-star LB/ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA verbally committed to USC over California and Notre Dame yesterday. "I'm letting everyone know that I've decided to attend the University of Southern California for the next four years," he said. "USC was just in my heart and basically, that's what this decision came down to. Honestly I didn't know where I was going until this week. I was torn between 'SC and Notre Dame, so this was not an easy decision to make. Notre Dame has a great tradition and offers a great education and excellent athletics. Cal was right there too. I thought about holding off on my commitment but now I'm excited to let everyone know that I'm a Trojan. My brother (Steve Smith) told me how things really were. He gave me an idea of what to expect and an idea of what was going to be expected of me." Smith plans to major in civil engineering and will start out as an WLB for the Trojans.

5.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA is scheduled to announce his decision between California, Michigan, UCLA and USC on February 1st.

Trojan Update 1/25

2007-01-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

FB Brandon Hancock received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. He underwent medical tests earlier this week to determine whether he will be physically able to play in 2007. Hancock said he will undergo additional tests to "see what kind of possible long-term effects there would be for me to play."

Former Nebraska kicker Jordan Congdon may walk-on at USC this year. "He's deciding about transferring and giving us strong consideration," Coach Carroll said after meeting with Congdon. "He's trying to get into school as a walk-on. Congdon, originally from San Diego, left the Cornhuskers to be closer to family. He was 24-of-30 while playing two seasons at Nebraska and was a 1st team freshman All-American in 2005.

JUCO CB Woodny Turenne (6'1", 185), rated as a 5-star recruit by Rivals and 4-star recruit by Scout, verbally committed to Louisville today over California, Florida, Iowa State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, USC, Washington State and Wisconsin.

Trojan Update 1/23

2007-01-23T17:40:00.001-08:00

With Lane Kiffin moving on to become the head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders, who do you think will be the next offensive coordinator for the Trojans? According to Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News Steve Sarkisian is already set to take complete control of the offense. Will Sarkisian also retain his current duties as assistant head coach? Who will replace Kiffin as the recruiting coordinator? USC's current full-time coaching staff includes Pete Carroll (head coach), Steve Sarkisian (assistant head coach/quarterbacks), Nick Holt (defensive coordinator/defensive line), Brennan Carroll (tight ends), Todd McNair (running backs/special teams), Ken Norton Jr. (linebackers), Pat Ruel (offensive line), Rocky Seto (secondary) and David Watson (defensive line). There are also two current graduate assistants: Sam Anno (special teams) and Demetrice Martin (secondary). Will the Trojans hire a coach from outside the program or promote one of the graduate assistants? Coach Carroll also needs to find a new wide receivers coach to deal with Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, David Ausberry, Travon Patterson, Jamere Holland and Damian Williams (I think coaches would be fighting to get a shot to coach that kind of talent).

Tom Lemming reported yesterday on CSTV.com that "...from all indications USC is set to land Donovan Warren."

Scott Wolf also reported that the Florida Gators promised OL James Wilson that he will start and that Gators QB Tim Tebow, a former high school teammate of Wilson, played a big role in the commitment change.

Winter Workout Photos

2007-01-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to Rivals.com's photos of the Trojans winter workouts:
http://usc.rivals.com/ffeature.asp?SID=995&fid=15580

DE Walker Lee Ashley is pictured in the above link so I guess he decided to stick it out at USC.

Trojan Update 1/21

2007-01-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that "Ole Miss and Southern Cal have the inside track in the scramble" for 4.0-star OL Kevin Bryant (6'6", 375) of Lauderdale Lakes, FL. Bryant is on an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend and will visit USC next weekend. Butch Davis and North Carolina are making a late push for Bryant's services. "Davis came to my house on Tuesday," said Bryant. "He let me know they were on my tail, and they are going to schedule a visit for me real soon." He is also considering offers from Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

Trojan Update 1/20

2007-01-20T00:15:00.000-08:00

Assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian was rumored (by ESPN) to be the next head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders but Sarkisian has removed himself from consideration for the job according to the L.A. Times. "I was presented with a tremendous opportunity and experience of interviewing with Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders for their head coach position," he said. "I thank them for their interest in me. While the job was never offered me, at this time in my career I've told them I want to stay at USC. I strongly believe that the Raiders job is a great opportunity for whomever their next head coach is going to be. Our timetables are not lined up the same way with what they want to get done and what I want to get done, where I see my career and what I want to do with college football. Going to the NFL right now is not what I need to do. My goal is to be a head football coach in college and USC is the best place for me to attain that goal. I'm extremely fortunate to work at such a great university for a head coach in Pete Carroll who allows me to strive and achieve at the highest level."

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen was also interviewed by the Raiders on Thursday (but that was likely for the offensive coordinator job and not the head coaching job).

The Trojans changed the dates for a couple of the 2007 games: the game at Arizona State has been moved to Thursday November 22nd (Thanksgiving day) and the home game versus UCLA has been moved to Saturday December 1st. The ASU game will be shown live on ESPN. The UCLA game will be shown live on ABC.

DE Jeff Schweiger transferred to San Jose State.

Walk-on/back-up P Taylor Odegard will not return for the 2007 season according to Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News.

5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ is in Los Angeles this weekend on an UNofficial visit to help recruit 5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA, 4.0-star ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA and 3.5-star CB Anthony Gildon (6'0", 180) of Westlake Village, CA. Griffen is paying for this visit with his own money. This should put an end to the rumors that Griffen might switch his commitment to the Florida Gators.

The loss of 5.0-star OL James Wilson (6'4", 305) of St. Augustine, FL to the Gators is unfortunate, but the Trojans still have a good shot at landing 4.0-star OL Kevin Bryant (6'6", 375) of Lauderdale Lakes, FL along with Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Oklahoma. Bryant is on his official visit to Ole Miss this weekend and is scheduled to take an official visit to USC next weekend.

With the loss of Wilson, the Trojans have fallen to #5 in the Scout.com recruiting rankings behind Florida, Texas, Tennessee and LSU and to #6 in the Rivals.com recruiting rankings behind Texas, Tennessee, Florida, LSU and Notre Dame. USC still owns the #1 quality per recruit ranking in the nation.

Trojan Update 1/17

2007-01-16T22:42:00.000-08:00

It's now less then three weeks until national signing day for college football! It will be interesting to see who the Trojans pick-up (and possibly lose) down the stretch as Coach Carroll has always been a strong finisher.

Florida, LSU and Notre Dame have provided the most direct competition for the Trojans this recruiting season. Tennessee and Texas are also pulling in top classes but haven't gone head-to-head for recruits with the Trojans as many times as the Gators, Tigers and Fighting Irish.

The Trojans are still in the running for many top recruits such as RB Joe McKnight, DT Marvin Austin, CB/WR Ronald Johnson, WR Deonte Thompson, CB Donovan Warren, S Chad Jones, WR Ahmad Paige, OL Kevin Bryant, S Major Wright and LB Malcolm Smith. USC is battling with LSU for McKnight, Florida State/North Carolina for Austin, Michigan for Johnson, Miami for Thompson, Michigan/UCLA for Warren, LSU for Jones, Florida/Florida State for Paige and Cal/Notre Dame for Smith. The experts say McKnight will sign with LSU but many USC insiders claim he will sign with USC. Austin has been leaning towards FSU but could be a big surprise on signing day. Johnson will likely sign with the Wolverines. Thompson has been leaning heavily towards Miami according to the experts. Warren is a wildcard that could surprise everyone when he announces his decision on February 1st. Jones will likely stay close to home and sign with LSU. Paige will likely sign with the Gators or Seminoles. Smith has been touting Cal and Notre Dame but will probably be a Trojan on signing day.

There have been rumors over the past few weeks that longtime USC verbal commits DE Everson Griffen, OL James Wilson, S Marshall Jones, QB Aaron Corp and RB Broderick Green are taking a hard look at other schools. I think we'll land Griffen, Wilson, Jones and Corp but I'm still thinking there's a chance that Green will see an opportunity to start early at Penn State.

Based on the recently updated prospect rankings at ESPN, Rivals and Scout, here's how I'd rank the verbal commitments:
1) LB Chris Galippo (5.0-star)
2) RB Marc Tyler (5.0-star)
3) DE Everson Griffen (5.0-star)
4) OL James Wilson (5.0-star)
5) OL Kristopher O'Dowd (5.0-star)
6) S Marshall Jones (4.5-star)
7) QB Aaron Corp (4.5-star)
8) OL Martin Coleman (4.5-star)
9) DT Da'John Harris (4.5-star)
10) RB Broderick Green (4.0-star)
11) DE Michael Reardon (4.0-star)
12) LB Jordan Campbell (4.0-star)
13) WR Brandon Carswell (3.5-star)
14) QB Samson Szakacsy (3.0-star)

The top remaining recruiting targets for USC:
1) RB Joe McKnight (5.0-star)
2) DT Marvin Austin (5.0-star)
3) CB/WR Ronald Johnson (5.0-star)
4) CB Donovan Warren (5.0-star)
5) S Chad Jones (5.0-star)
6) WR Deonte Thompson (4.5-star)
7) S Major Wright (4.5-star)
8) OL Kevin Bryant (4.0-star)
9) WR Ahmad Paige (4.0-star)
10) ATH Malcolm Smith (4.0-star)
11) CB Anthony Gildon (3.5-star already committed to Oregon)

Trojan Update 1/15

2007-01-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin lost out on the Minnesota Golden Gophers head coaching job to Denver Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster according to ESPN.com's Joe Schad.

4.5-star OL Martin Coleman (6'5", 290) of Huntington Beach, CA has enrolled at USC for the spring semester. If Coleman's season ending injury has healed he will participate in spring football practice.

Scout.com released an updated "Hot 100" listing today. The Trojan recruits made some serious moves up the charts with three USC verbal commits in the top ten! DE Everson Griffen is now Scout.com's #1 recruit in the nation while RB Marc Tyler is #6 and LB Chris Galippo is #9. QB Aaron Corp rocketed up the charts to #18 and is now listed as a 5-star recruit. Corp is now ranked as the third best QB prospect in the nation behind Jimmy Clausen and Ryan Mallett. S Marshall Jones was also increased to a 5-star prospect from his original 4-star status. Jones came in at #37 on the Hot 100. OL Kristopher O'Dowd is ranked #24, OL James Wilson #32, DT Da'John Harris #44, OL Martin Coleman #49. RB Broderick Green slipped down to #92 and was reduced from a 5-star prospect to a 4-star prospect. DE Michael Reardon also made the cut at #99. Eleven of the fourteen USC verbal commitments made Scout's Hot 100! CB Donovan Warren, expected to sign with USC, was ranked #22 and was elevated from a 4-star prospect to a 5-star prospect.

ESPN.com's 2007 preseason top 10:
#1 USC
#2 Florida
#3 Michigan
#4 West Virginia
#5 Wisconsin
#6 Oklahoma
#7 Virginia Tech
#8 Texas
#9 Ohio State
#10 California
ESPN has Nebraska at #12 and UCLA at #20. Notre Dame was not ranked in their top 25!

Sports Illustrated's 2007 preseason top 10:
#1 USC
#2 LSU
#3 Florida
#4 Ohio State
#5 West Virginia
#6 Wisconsin
#7 Michigan
#8 Louisville
#9 Texas
#10 Virginia Tech

Rivals.com's 2007 preseason top 10:
#1 USC
#2 Michigan
#3 LSU
#4 West Virginia
#5 Florida
#6 Ohio State
#7 Virginia Tech
#8 Oklahoma
#9 Texas
#10 Wisconsin
Rivals has Nebraska at #13, California at #15 and Notre Dame at #22. UCLA is not ranked.

Scout.com's 2007 preseason top 10:
#1 USC
#2 LSU
#3 Texas
#4 Florida
#5 Wisconsin
#6 Ohio State
#7 Oklahoma
#8 Arkansas
#9 UCLA
#10 Michigan
Scout ranks Nebraska at #15, California at #18 and Oregon State at #25.

Trojan Update 1/13

2007-01-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

USCFootball.com reported that DE Jeff Schweiger has decided to transfer.

Rivals.com Predictions

2007-01-12T13:37:00.000-08:00

A link to Rivals.com predictions for remaining uncommitted top prospects:

http://usc.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=628615

DT Marvin Austin = Florida State (x4)
CB Ronald Johnson = Michigan (x4)
S Chad Jones = LSU (x4)
RB Joe McKnight = LSU (x4)
LB Malcolm Smith = USC (x3) or Notre Dame (x1)
WR Deonte Thompson = Miami (x3) or Florida (x1)
WR Terrance Tolliver = LSU (x4)
CB Donovan Warren = USC (x4)

Trojan Update 1/12

2007-01-12T03:36:00.000-08:00

RB Michael Coleman was declared academically ineligible at the end of the fall semester but has been readmitted and will participate in spring practice. "I'm coming to seize the opportunity," Coleman said. "Sometimes it takes a crisis to recognize your opportunity."

RB Stafon Johnson had surgery on his shoulder this week and will miss spring practice. Johnson told Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News that he first injured the shoulder during fall camp and that it became dislocated seven other times during the season.

LB Keith Rivers announced at a press conference yesterday that he will return to USC for his senior season. "I felt like with a lot of growth I could potentially be a top-10 (NFL draft pick) or top-15 pick instead of a late first or early second round pick," Rivers said. "The biggest thing I want to do with the group of gys we have coming back, it's going to be an amazing opportunity to come back and play for whatever we play for, the Rose Bowl or the national championship."

UCLA OG Shannon Tevaga, a three year starter for the Bruins, will also return to for his senior season but Notre Dame RB Darius Walker has decided to forgo his senior year to enter the NFL draft.

Recruiting: 5.0-star RB Marc Tyler (6'0", 210) of Westlake Village, CA, 5.0-star RB/ATH Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA, 4.0-star LB/ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA, 4.0-star S Marshall Jones (6'0", 185) of Westlake Village, CA and 3.5-star CB Anthony Gildon (6'0", 180) of Westlake Village, CA will be on official visits to USC next week. Tyler and Jones have already given verbal commitments to USC. McKnight has already taken an official visit to Ole Miss and plans to visit LSU and Arkansas after he visits Los Angeles. Smith has already visted California and Notre Dame. Gildon has already given a verbal commitment to Oregon.

Trojan Update 1/10

2007-01-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

Coach Carroll met with Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga last week in Costa Rica but L.A. Times reporter Gary Klein says Carroll told T.J. Simers that he would not leave USC even if the Dolphins offered him everything he wanted from an NFL team. "I love this place," Carroll said of USC. "I've given everything I have to this program and will continue to do that. That kind of interaction only strengthens my resolve about being here, of what I have and how lucky I am to be in the situation that I'm in."

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will interview for the head coaching job at the University of Minnesota on Friday.

WR Dwayne Jarrett, who has been home in New Jersey this past week, is expected to announce at a press conference today at 2pm (PST) that he will enter the NFL draft.

Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News reported that RB Chauncey Washington will return to USC next season instead of entering the NFL draft.

The L.A. Times reported that RB Michael Coleman and DE Jeff Schweiger are considering leaving USC.

FB Brandon Hancock will undergo medical tests next week to determine if he is physically able to play next season.

CB Terrell Thomas underwent surgery last week to remove a bone spur on his ankle. His expected recovery time is five weeks.

Kiffin to Florida State?

2007-01-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Curt for the heads up on this story from the Tallahassee Democrat about Florida State's interest in hiring Lane Kiffin to replace Jeff Bowden as the Seminoles offensive coordinator. I can see Kiffin leaving to take a head coaching job but why would he go to another school to be an offensive coordinator when he already has access to the best offensive talent at USC not to mention that the Trojans are on a role. Here's the link to the story:

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070107/FSU03/701070333/1002/SPORTS

Trojan Update 1/7

2007-01-07T00:06:00.000-08:00

It's been a difficult week for me as a football fan. I am a Denver Broncos fan and a USC alum. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Darrent Williams and Mario Danelo.

Assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian will interview for the Oakland Raiders head coaching job on Monday according to the L.A. Times. In 2004 Sarkisian served as the Raiders' quarterbacks coach. "It's somewhat unexpected but a great opportunity and one I'm going to go for," Sarkisian said. "It's a tremendous organization and one that I'm familiar with."

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin may interview for the head coaching job at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota officials contacted Coach Carroll in regard to Kiffin this week according to the L.A. Times. New Alabama head coach Nick Saban also called Kiffin on Friday to offer him the offensive coordinator job with the Crimson Tide. "Obviously he is a great coach and that's a great program and I was willing to listen," Kiffin said. "But I realize what a great program we have here and I work for the best coach in America."

Here's how I rank the emerging Trojans recruiting class based on ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com evaluations, performance in the Army All-American Game and what I've seen in limited highlight clips:
1) RB Marc Tyler (6'0", 210) of Westlake Village, CA
2) LB Chris Galippo (6'3", 230) of Anaheim, CA
3) DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ
4) OG James Wilson (6'4", 305) of St. Augustine, FL
5) OT Martin Coleman (6'5", 290) of Huntington Beach, CA
6) C Kristofer O'Dowd (6'4", 315) of Tucson, AZ
7) DE/DT Da'John Harris (6'4", 260) of Gardena, CA
8) RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) of Little Rock, AR
9) S/ATH Marshall Jones (6'0", 185) of Westlake Village, CA
10) QB Aaron Corp (6'4", 190) of Orange, CA
11) DE/C Michael Reardon (6'6", 260) of Villa Park, CA
12) LB/FB Jordan Campbell (5'11", 225) of Norco, CA
13) WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA
14) QB Samson Szakacsy (6'4", 190) of Camarillo, CA
**The Trojans will also likely have "walk-on" WR Bryshon Nellum (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA who has a track scholarship with USC.

Check out the videos at these links:
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=53812
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=54624
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=53491
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=53459
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=53463

The players still on the Trojan coaching staff's radar (in order of player potential based on ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com evaluations):
1) RB/ATH Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA
2) DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) of Washington, D.C.
3) WR Terrance Toliver (6'4", 185) of Hempstead, TX
4) CB/WR Ronald Johnson (6'0", 180) of Muskegon, MI
5) WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL
6) DE Allen Bailey (6'3", 255) of Darien, GA
7) S Chad Jones (6'2", 225) of Baton Rouge, LA
8) WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL
9) JUCO CB Woodny Tureene (6'1", 185) of Visalia, CA
10) OL Kevin Bryant (6'6", 375) of Hallandale, FL
11) CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA
12) S Major Wright (6'1", 200) of Fort Lauderdale, FL
13) LB/ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA
14) DE Kenny Rowe (6'2", 215) of Long Beach, CA

Here's the players that USC lost out on in alphabetical order:
RB Armando Allen (Notre Dame)
DT Joseph Barksdale (LSU)
WR/S Mark Barnes (South Carolina)
WR Arrelious Benn (Illinois)
CB Eric Berry (Tennessee)
RB Jahvid Best (California)
RB Raymond Carter (UCLA)
QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)
OL Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
CB Cedric Everson (Georgia Tech)
TE Blane Irby (Texas)
WR A.J. Jackson (Mississippi)
WR Duval Kamara (Notre Dame)
RB Caleb King (Georgia)
WR/LB Greg Little (Notre Dame)
DE/DT D'Angelo McCray (Illinois)
OL Ryan Miller (Colorado)
OL Josh Oglesby (Wisconsin)
QB Mike Paulus (North Carolina)
DT Brian Price (UCLA)
TE Mike Ragone (Notre Dame)
JUCO DE William Tukuafu (Arizona)
RB/CB Shane Vereen (California)
WR Lansford Watson (Maryland)
DE Martez Wilson (Illinois)
OL Lee Ziemba (Arkansas or Auburn)

Army All-American Bowl Review

2007-01-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

The West won the Army All-American Bowl 24-7.

West LB Chris Galippo (USC) was the MVP. I credited him with at least 10 tackles and the announcers said he was closer to 12 tackles. Galippo was all over the field and was the primary reason the East only scored 7 points. On special teams he served as the long snapper and also came close to recovering an onside kick late in the game. This kid is going to be a monster at LB for the Trojans and will be giving Rey Maualuga some tough competition for the starting MLB spot. Another option would be to play Galippo at SLB and keep Brian Cushing at DE.

West DE Everson Griffen (USC) was doubled teamed throughout the game but still managed to come up with a huge sack in the first offensive series for the East. Griffen looks fast and strong. He blew up a number of plays even when he didn't make the tackle. He also overran a few plays, was penalized for offsides once, and got soundly planted on his butt by East OL Ryan Pugh (Auburn) while chasing the opposing quarterback in the end zone. Recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said that Griffen had a phenomenal week and will be ranked as the nation's top player when Scout.com's new Hot 100 list is released next week.

West S Marshall Jones (USC) had a quiet first half but rebounded by scoring a 2-point conversion and making a number of plays on special teams in the second half.

West C Kris O'Dowd (USC) looked strong on the offensive line. O'Dowd locked up with DT Marvin Austin (uncommitted) on many plays and the two even scuffled after the whistle in the second half.

East OG James Wilson (USC) didn't get much opportunity to show his talents as the East offense wasn't on the field for much of the game.

East RB Broderick Green (USC) didn't play much and had just one carry for a couple of yards.

Non-USC commits on the West: RB Joe McKnight (uncommitted) was the featured player on the West offense. He touched the ball more than anyone besides the quarterbacks (with over 10 rushing attempts). McKnight never broke a run but he definitely has speed and moves. He juked East DT Marvin Austin (uncommitted) twice on the same play. QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) had a so-so game. He was forced to wear jersey #8 because the West somehow lost his #7 jersey prior to the game. Clausen was awarded the Army High School Player-of-the-Year award during the game but was outplayed by QB Ryan Mallet (Michigan). Clausen and Mallet both have strong arms but Mallet made more big passes and was the best quarterback in the game. DB Curtis Brown (Texas) looked like the best defensive back on the West although DB Donovan Warren (uncommitted) was stuck like glue (sometimes grabbing jerseys) to the East receivers.

Non-USC commits on the East: The East players that caught my eye included RB Noel Devine (uncomitted), WR Arrelious Benn (Illinois), WR Deonte Thompson (uncommitted) and CB Eric Berry (Tennessee). Devine wasn't used much as a RB but he broke an 85-yard kickoff return on which he was prevented from scoring a touchdown by Donovan Warren and Marshall Jones. Devine has explosive Ted Ginn-like speed but Warren took a great angle and forced Devine to change his route and then Jones made a touchdown saving tackle. Benn is very smooth with the ball in his hands and Thompson scored a TD on a reception over Donovan Warren's outstreched arms. Berry was in my opinion the best player on the East. He was definitely the best defensive back in the game.

Trojan Update 1/6

2007-01-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

Rivals.com reported yesterday that Florida State is now the definitive leader to sign 5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) of Washington, D.C. over North Carolina and USC. Did Da'John Harris' commitment to the Trojans this week help push Austin in this new direction or was Austin leaning towards the 'Noles all along?

WeAreSC.com reporters Garry Paskwietz, Scott Schrader and Brian Matthews reported yesterday that 5.0-star RB/WR/DB Joe McKnight of River Ridge, LA has been hanging out with the USC verbal commits during practices for today's Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, TX. All three agree that McKnight is going to sign with USC along with 4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA. The trio also said Austin is leaning towards FSU while 4.5-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) will sign with Miami.

Trojan Update 1/5

2007-01-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

4.5-star DT Da'John Harris (6'4", 260) of Gardena, CA announced his verbal commitment to USC at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, FL yesterday. Harris picked the Trojans over offers from Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington. "You know how I've got to do it," Harris said. "I'm going to the University of Southern California. My family is all from California and I want them to be able to come out and see me play. There was no reason for me to leave southern California when I know that's where the best football in the country is played. USC has a great coaching staff and they have the #1 defense in the country. I want to be part of that and I want to win."

Rivals.com reported that Harris was the second most impressive player overall on the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl West roster through the week behind WR Dez Bryant of Lufkin, TX (Bryant's list includes Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas A&M). The East won the game 28-14. Harris' Gardena Serra High School teammate WR Anthony Boyles scored one of the West's touchdowns. Boyles is committed to the Washington Huskies. USC commits QB Aaron Corp and LB Jordan Campbell played well in the game. Corp threw a touchdown pass while Campbell had seven tackles and broke up a pass.

Now that Harris is officially onboard with the Trojans it will be interesting to see where (and when) DT Marvin Austin commits. A quick count of scholarships shows the Trojans with just 16 openings next year. My count doesn't include WR Dwayne Jarrett, RB Herschel Dennis, FB Brandon Hancock or DT Walker Lee Ashley who fall in the "uncertain" category at this time. My count also doesn't include FB Jody Adewale, FB Ryan Powdrell, DE Rashaad Goodrum, DE/DT Travis Tofi, PK Troy Van Blarcom or S Antwine Perez. I also don't count LB Clay Matthews as a scholarship player even though his role with the defense keeps increasing. I am however counting QB Michael McDonald and WR Damian Williams as scholarship players. McDonald started out at USC as a walk-on but earned a scholarship in 2005. Williams, who is transferring in from Arkansas this spring, won't be able to play until 2008. With 14 verbal commits already that leaves just two open spaces. The top two uncommitted prospects still considering USC are probably 5.0-star RB/ATH Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA and 5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) of Washington, D.C. The two uncommitted prospects I believe most likely to sign with USC are 4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA and 4.0-star LB/ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA.

Trojan Update 1/3

2007-01-03T05:46:00.000-08:00

WR Damain Williams announced on Tuesday that he will transfer from Arkansas to USC. The 6'1", 190 pound receiver made the SEC all-freshmen team this season with 19 receptions for 235 yards (12.4 yards per reception average) and 2 TDs (including 4 receptions for 62 yards against the Trojans in early September). He was the second leading receiver for the Razorbacks behind Marcus Monk. Williams will not be eligible to play during the 2007 season but will use a redshirt year and be a sophomore in 2008. "We let Damian make his own decision," his father said. "We're concerned about his education and we also want him to go where he develops to become the best player he can become." Rivals.com ranked Williams as the #9 receiver prospect in the nation in the class of 2006 and as the #95 prospect overall. Scout.com ranked Williams as the #8 receiver prospect in the nation and as the #76 prospect overall. The L.A. Times reported that Williams will enroll at USC this semester and participate in spring practice.

3.5-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA officially announced that he has verbally committed to USC yesterday.

The Trojans may fill out the rest of the 2007 recruiting class within the next week as many top players are set to announce at this week's all-star games.

Army All-American Bowl

2007-01-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

Here are the jersey assignments of Trojan recruits attending this weekend's Army All-American Bowl:

EAST:
# 6 WR Deonte Thompson (undecided)
#19 RB Broderick Green (USC "soft verbal")
#21 DB Major Wright (undecided)
#56 DL Marvin Austin (undecided)
#76 OL James Wilson (USC)

WEST:
# 4 RB Joe McKnight (undecided)
# 9 LB Chris Galippo (USC)
#11 WR Terrance Tolliver (undecided)
#22 DB Donovan Warren (undecided)
#26 RB Marc Tyler** (USC)
#37 ATH Marshall Jones (USC)
#55 OL Kris O'Dowd (USC)
#64 DL Everson Griffen (USC)
#78 OL Martin Coleman** (USC)
#88 WR Ahmad Paige (undecided)

** Coleman and Tyler are injured and will not play in the game.

Random Thoughts

2007-01-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

Some random thoughts on the aftermath of USC's 32-18 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl...

1) ESPN versus Fox. As much as I would have loved to see the Trojans play in the BCS Championship Game, I think the Rose Bowl actually ended up being just as good of a publicity tool for recruiting because it was telecast on ABC/ESPN rather than Fox. ESPN, with Sports Center and College GameDay, is the network of choice for most sporting fans. ESPN, as a part of ABC, focused on the Rose Bowl for the past month because ABC lost the television rights to the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls to Fox. The Trojans benefited ABC/ESPN's spotlight coverage of the Rose Bowl and the added hype due to Michigan being passed over for the BCS Championship Game. Fox and Fox Sports Net are primarily geared towards covering the NFL and are second string behind ABC/ESPN when it comes to college football. Nothing gets recruits attention like playing for the national championship, but playing in the Rose Bowl and being ESPN's main effort is the next best thing!

2) Kudos to USC alum and Rose Parade Grand Marshal George Lucas for winning the toss for the Trojans!

3) Aggressiveness and motivation are back! Coach Carroll did an incredible job of getting the team motivated about playing in the Rose Bowl instead of the BCS Championship Game. Even though the score was 3-3 at halftime, the Trojan defense was finally in attack mode. When a Pete Carroll coached defense is playing that well, it's only a matter of time before the flood gates open up and the Trojans start scoring. Where were all these blitz packages in September and October? Keith Rivers and Brian Cushing seemed to be in on every play! Terrell Thomas was blanketing the Wolverine receivers most of the night. I can't wait to see the defense next season with LoJack, Sedrick Ellis, Rivers, Cushing, Rey Rey, Taylor Mays, Kevin Ellison and Josh Pinkard. Now toss in Everson Griffen and Chris Galippo! Can't wait!

4) Halftime Adjustments! The Trojans couldn't run the ball in the first half so we got to see the famous Coach Carroll halftime adjustments. We could have used better halftime adjustments during the regular season but they were a sight for sore eyes in the Rose Bowl!

5) UCLA? What a difference a month makes. In mid-December it seemed like Los Angeles sports fans and media were riding the UCLA is on the way up and USC is on the way down bandwagon. Hats off to the Bruins for a great win against the Trojans, but both teams showed their true colors in their respective bowl games. What does this mean for the Bruins recruiting class which currently stands at just eight verbal commitments?

6) How crazy is it that both the Rose Bowl offensive (Dwayne Jarrett) and defensive (Brian Cushing) MVPs were recruited out of New Jersey by USC? It's really too bad Antwine Perez decided to transfer.

7) Coach Carroll to NFL? I just don't see him trading in the fun of coaching at USC for the headache of coaching in the NFL, especially if it's at Arizona.

8) Dwayne Jarrett to NFL? He's ready no matter what Keyshawn says. I'm not saying Jarrett will be a rookie sensation, but he's proved everything he needs to at USC. I think he'll work hard and be a productive team player in the NFL. It's time to see what Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, Travon Patterson, David Ausberry and Jamere Holland can do on the field. We've seen glimpses of Turner's skills but can he perform as the go-to-guy?

9) Chauncey Washington to NFL? Scott Wolf reports Chauncey was upset with the lack of carries he received in the Rose Bowl. Um, Chauncey, we won the game. Be a team player or move on already. I'd love to see a healthy Washington get a shot at being the #1 tailback next season, but if he doesn't want to be a team player then go.

10) Reggie Bush complaining about not getting a Rose Bowl sideline pass? Even if Bush's allegations are true that USC officials told him they didn't want him on the sidelines to avoid controversy, which USC is denying, there's no need to make that public. USC did everything it could to promote Bush during his three years with the Trojans. Don't go making a family disagreement public. Keep it in-house please.

11) 2007 Preseason #1 Ranking? I don't care because all that matters is that the next Trojan team play to it's full potential in every game. USC opens with Idaho. This game was agreed to when Nick Holt (now the Trojans defensive coordinator) was the Vandals head coach. Although Idaho doesn't want to play this game I haven't heard that USC is going to let them off the hook. It'd probably be difficult for USC to find a replacement opponent at this late time anyway. In week two the Trojans head to Lincoln for a rematch with Nebraska. The setting alone will make it a game worth attending if you are a Trojan and the game will be a great indicator as to the 2007 Trojans national championship potential. Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller will likely be the Cornhuskers starting QB. If USC beats Nebraska they should be 6-0 heading to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame will be more talented but less experienced in 2007. After Notre Dame the Trojans face another tough finish with games at Oregon, California, Arizona State and home games against Oregon State and UCLA. With the most difficult games all on the road USC could finish anywhere from 9-3 to 12-0. I can't wait to find out which! It seemed to work out well that the 2006 schedule featured the majority of the tough games at home for a team that was relatively inexperienced and now the 2007 schedule features the majority of the tough games on the road for a team that will be very experienced.

Trojan Update 12/31

2006-12-31T05:17:00.002-08:00

Is the Rose Bowl truly a "crossroads" for the Trojans? Interesting article on ESPN.com:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/columns/story?columnist=feldman_bruce&id=2714083

RB Chauncey Washington (flu-like symptoms) returned to practice and will back-up RB C.J. Gable in the Rose Bowl.

DE/LB Brian Cushing (knee) and LB Dallas Sartz (hip) practiced yesterday and appear ready to play in the Rose Bowl.

DT Walker Lee Ashley left the team this week despite denying rumors that he would transfer earlier this month. "He left," said Coach Carroll. "I'm not sure if he's coming back. It's not finalized. I did talk to his dad and we're trying to figure out the best thing for him."

Former Trojans S Antwine Perez enrolled at Maryland.

High School All-American Games

2006-12-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

QB Aaron Corp, DT Da'John Harris, LB Jordan Campbell, LB Malcolm Smith and S Chad Jones are expected to play in the inaugural Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Thursday January 4th at 7pm EST / 4pm PST. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. DE Michael Reardon was also invited to play in the game but will not due to injury.

ATH Joe McKnight, RB Broderick Green, OL Kristopher O'Dowd, OL James Wilson, WR Deonte Thompson, DT Marvin Austin, DE Everson Griffen, LB Chris Galippo and CB Donovan Warren are expected to play in the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, TX on Saturday January 6th at 1pm EST / 10am PST. The game will be broadcast on NBC. RB Marc Tyler and OL Martin Coleman were also invited but are unlikely to participate due to injury.

Correction: S Marshall Jones will also play in the Army All-American Bowl. He was a late addition to the team in mid-December.

Trojan Update 12/30

2006-12-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

RB Chauncey Washington missed Friday's practice due to flu-like symptoms which means that C.J. Gable will start at tailback in the Rose Bowl. "He got sick as a dog and couldn't even stand up," Coach Carroll said of Washington. "We've been starting C.J. for a long time. That's who will go down on the depth chart as the #1 guy."

RB Emmanuel Moody said he no longer feels soreness in his knee (from the collision with assistant coach David Watson this week).

DE/LB Brian Cushing said X-rays on his knee showed no major damage but he does have a build-up of fluid there that is causing a problem. "Last year I was looking toward the off-season to get my surgery and my shoulder back to normal," Cushing said. "I was playing with one arm all year. That was tough. This is just a little nick." Cushing is wearing a brace in practices this week but doesn't plan to wear it during the Rose Bowl. "I felt good coming back," he said. "I didn't really feel a drop off or tired or anything." DEs Kyle Moore, Jeff Schweiger and Alex Morrow could see increased playing time in the Rose Bowl if Cushing's knee continues to be a problem.

LB Dallas Sartz (hip) participated in a few drills yesterday. Clay Matthews is ready to start in place of Sartz if necessary and Thomas Williams is practicing at both FB and LB to provide depth at both positions.

CB Kevin Thomas (foot) practiced on Friday after sitting out a few days.

Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News reported that WR Dwayne Jarrett's mother is encouraging her son to return to USC and finish his degree rather than enter the NFL draft.

Recruiting status of uncommitted prospects:
5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA has narrowed his list to Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss and USC.

5.0-star WR Terrance Tolliver (6'4", 185) of Hempstead, TX is still expected to announce between Florida and LSU.

4.5-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL still includes Clemson, Florida, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and USC as possibilities.

4.5-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL is expected to sign with Florida or Florida State.

3.0-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA is down to California and USC.

4.5-star OL Anthony Davis (6'5", 335) of Piscataway, NJ is down to Ohio State and Rutgers.

4.0-star OL Kevin Bryant (6'6", 375) of Hallandale, FL still includes Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and USC on his list.

5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) of Washington, D.C. appears to have a final four of Florida State, North Carolina, Tennessee and USC. North Carolina head coach Butch Davis and staff had made it their personal mission to sign Austin. Marvin appears to be leaning towards FSU or USC at this point.

4.5-star DT Da'John Harris (6'4", 260) of Gardena, CA still includes Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and USC as strong possibilities with Arizona, California, UCLA and Washington as lesser possibilities. Harris has long been considered most likely to sign with USC.

4.0-star DT Joseph Barksdale (6'5", 320) of Detroit, MI is considering LSU, Michigan State and Ohio State.

4.5-star DE Allen Bailey (6'3", 255) of Darien, GA has narrowed his list down to Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Miami.

4.0-star DE Kenny Rowe (6'2", 215) of Long Beach, CA still includes California, Fresno State, Ole Miss, Oregon and USC on his list. Rowe says Ole Miss is the school recruiting him the hardest.

4.0-star LB/ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA is down to California, Notre Dame and USC.

5.0-star CB/WR Ronald Johnson (6'0", 180) of Muskegon, MI will choose between Florida, Michigan, Ohio State and USC.

4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA is down to California, Michigan, UCLA and USC.

4.5-star S Chad Jones (6'2", 225) of Baton Rouge, LA lists LSU and USC as his top possibilities over Florida, Florida State and Miami.

4.0-star S Major Wright (6'1", 200) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL will likely sign with Florida or Ohio State.

Trojan Update 12/28

2006-12-28T10:29:00.000-08:00

Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News reported that the offense continues to struggle in practices, mainly due to poor timing.

RBs C.J. Gable and Chauncey Washington are in a heated competition for the starting tailback spot in the Rose Bowl. Emmanuel Moody was also making some noise until assistant coach Dave Watson slipped on the wet turf and slid into Moody's left leg. "I bruised my knee," Moody said. "He got me pretty good. I don't know what happened." Watson often gives chase to the RBs during non-contact drills. He was chasing Moody when he slipped.

LB/DE Brian Cushing (sprained knee) sat out yesterday's practice. "I think he could play if he had to right now, but there's a lot of swelling," Coach Carroll said. The Orange County Register reported that Cushing was moving around the practice field with a noticeable limp on Wednesday.

Recruiting: Trojan commits RB Marc Tyler, DE Everson Griffen and LB Chris Galippo were named to the first-team All-USA Today high school football team. OL Kristopher O'Dowd and OL James Wilson were named to the second-team.

Trojan Update 12/27

2006-12-27T14:54:00.000-08:00

WR Dwayne Jarrett, WR Vidal Hazelton and LB Brian Cushing returned to Los Angeles from a short Christmas break on the east coast together on Tuesday. They arrived at 9:45am and were late to practice but still worked out with the team before boarding buses to Anaheim for a Disneyland visit. DE Jeff Schweiger missed all of Tuesday's practice because he was late returning from northern California. WR Jamere Holland was also late to practice on Tuesday and spent most of practice running laps because he has been late to multiple practices.

Michigan DE LaMarr Woodley met with Coach Carroll at Disneyland. Woodley said USC was a close second to Michigan during his recruitment.

RB Chauncey Washington (hamstring and knee) appears to be close to 100% healthy again. "That's four or five days in a row, which for a normal player would not be a big deal, but for Chauncey that's unique," said Coach Carroll. "It's a surprise to me. I didn't think he would be able to bounce back. It's a real good sign."

CBs Terrell Thomas (shoulder) and Kevin Thomas (foot) returned to practice on Tuesday.

RB Herschel Dennis and FB Brandon Hancock are still deciding on whether they will petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. "I still have another few weeks to evaluate if I want to do that," Hancock said. "The knee's not as bad as I projected it to be. The doctor salvaged the meniscus. It's not bone-on-bone yet, but it's inevitable at this point that I will be arthritic."

Merry Christmas Trojans!

2006-12-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

My friend Matt continues to come up with interesting, fun questions... here's a couple from this week... let me know what you think!

Matt: "When was the last time USC signed a defensive recruit with as much hype as DE Everson Griffen?"
Scott: "First I'd say that LB Chris Galippo is considered just as big of a defensive recruit as Griffen although Griffen definitely is getting a lot more hype right now (probably because Galippo has been a solid verbal commit to the Trojans for a long time now). Here's how I'd rate the top twenty USC defensive recruits (by hype coming into the program) over the past ten years:
1) DL Shaun Cody (2001, the benchmark recruit of Coach Carroll's USC tenure)
2) LB Rey Maualuga (2005)
3) DL Manuel Wright (2002)
4) DB Darnell Bing (2002)
5) LB Keith Rivers (2004)
6) LB Chris Claiborne (1996)
7) DL Jeff Schweiger (2004)
8) DB Taylor Mays (2006)
9) DB Darrell Rideaux (1999)
10) DL Bernard Riley (1999)
11) LB Allen Bradford (2006)
12) LB Brian Cushing (2005)
13) DB Antwine Perez (2005)
14) DL Lawrence Jackson (2003)
15) DB Matt Grootegoed (2000)
16) DB Antuan Simmons (1997)
17) DL Chris Barrett (2003)
18) LB Luthur Brown (2005)
19) DL Averell Spicer (2005)
20) DL Kyle Moore (2005)

Matt: "How would you rank the top ten Trojan defensive performers over the past ten years?"
Scott:
1) S Troy Polamalu
2) LB Chris Claiborne
3/4) tie - DT Shaun Cody & DT Mike Patterson
5) LB Lofa Tatupu
6) DE Kenechi Udeze
7) S Sammy Knight
8) CB Brian Kelly
9) LB Matt Grootegoed
10) LB Zeke Moreno
Honorable Mentions: S Darnell Bing, CB Daylon McCutcheon, DB Ifeanyi Ohalete, CB Will Poole, DT Darrell Russell

Here's how ESPN.com rates the 2007 recruits that have committed to USC (40-99 scale):
RB Marc Tyler = 90
LB Chris Galippo = 90
S Marshall Jones = 85
OG James Wilson = 82
OT Martin Coleman = 81
QB Aaron Corp = 80
DE Everson Griffen = 79
OG/C Kristopher O'Dowd = 79
DE Michael Reardon = 78
RB Broderick Green = 76
QB Samson Szakacsy = 76
LB Jordan Campbell = 73

Here's how ESPN.com rates the 2007 recruits USC is still working on:
RB Joe McKnight = 92
DT Marvin Austin = 85
WR Deonte Thompson = 83
CB/WR Ronald Johnson = 82
OT Kevin Bryant = 82
CB Donovan Warren = 80
S Chad Jones = 79
DT Da'John Harris = 79
LB/RB Malcolm Smith = 78
WR Brandon Carswell = 76

For a bit of perspective, here's how ESPN.com rated USC's recruits in 2006:
WR Vidal Hazelton = 94
S Taylor Mays = 92
S Antwine Perez = 91
RB Stafon Johnson = 90
LB Allen Bradford = 87
RB Emmanuel Moody = 85
WR David Ausberry = 85
RB/S C.J. Gable = 84
LB Michael Morgan = 82
WR Jamere Holland = 82
LB Joshua Tatum = 82
CB Vincent Joseph = 81
OL/DL Butch Lewis = 81
WR Travon Patterson = 79
TE Anthony McCoy = 79
QB Garrett Green = 78
DE Derek Simmons = 78
OG Zack Heberer = 77
CB Shareece Wright = 76
DE Alex Parsons = 75
FB Stanley Havili = 71
S Alfred Rowe = 68

Trojan Update 12/24

2006-12-24T06:27:00.000-08:00

Senior FB Brandon Hancock will apply for a sixth year of eligibility. "I'd love to have him back," Coach Carroll said. "He's a leader and a great player to have on our team." The fullback position is a big concern going into the 2007 season. Seniors Ryan Powdrell and Mike Brittingham will be gone. Junior Jody Adewale, following the coaching staff's wishes, plans to give up football and concentrate on a master's degree next year. Junior Thomas Williams, a converted LB, doesn't have much experience at the FB. Freshman Stanley Havili, still recovering from a season ending injury, has been thinking about going on a Mormon mission. Freshman Allen Bradford, who has seen limited action at FB, has been vocal about his desire to remain at TB. Moving injured sophomore TB Michael Coleman to FB is a possibility, especially with highly touted prep RBs Marc Tyler and Broderick Green expected to be wearing cardinal & gold uniforms next fall.

An excellent article from the L.A. Times on Adewale:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/lasp-plaschke24dec24,1,3553033.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-coll-usc

Trojan Update 12/23

2006-12-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

Three young standouts during this week's practices: LB Luthur Brown, RB C.J. Gable and WR David Ausberry.

TE Fred Davis said he would remain in the southern California area for Christmas instead of returning home to Ohio. Davis returned late from Ohio and missed the Orange Bowl two seasons ago.

LB Dallas Sartz has a minor hip flexor injury.

CB Kevin Thomas is still struggling with soreness in the foot he broke earlier this season. "It started feeling sore in warm-ups (on Thursday)," Thomas said. "It didn't feel good so I decided to sit out. I don't want to hurt it again. The trainers recommended I give it some rest."

The scholarship openings for recruits keep increasing... first S Antwine Perez decided to transfer, then PK Troy Van Blarcom is dismissed from school after failing to achieve a 2.0 grade point average after three semesters, and now FB Jody Adewale has decided to leave the football team to concentrate on a master's degree (plus a job in the the USC athletic department). That means that USC may have up to 17 scholarships to give to incoming freshmen and junior college players.

PK/S David Buehler will handle kickoff duties for the Trojans in the Rose Bowl. "I'm going to be the guy," Buehler said. "I've been waiting for the opportunity to step in there and show what I can do." Buehler successfully kicked a 49-yard field goal against California this season.

OL Matt Spanos is academically ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl so Kyle Williams will remain the starting RT. Spanos will remain with the team and compete for a starting position in spring drills. "We wanted to see where he was in the event he would be eligible for us," Coach Carroll said. "We never had planned to start him."

Some personal commentary here... Van Blarcom was a major disappointment. The Trojans were recruiting Van Blarcom as early as his junior year in high school. He was one of the best high school placekicking prospects in the nation. Then he barely qualified for admission to USC in 2005 due to poor high school academics. He struggled academically his entire three semesters at USC and never lived up to expectations on the field in two seasons. Is he as dumb as a rock or does he just not care for schoolwork? I mean c'mon, you can't maintain a 2.0-GPA over three semesters? I don't think he had declared a major yet but I'm sure he was working in either the "sociology" or "communications" curriculum since that's the direction the athletic department steers most football players in. Most football players take 12 credit hours per semester. Mr. Van Blarcom needs to seriously redirect his priorities. "He's been on the edge of this for some time," Coach Carroll said. "It's very unfortunate because he knew all along what was at stake and what he had to get number-wise." Van Blarcom is appealing a grade but it's not likely he will be able to have the grade changed. I apologize if I'm injecting too much personal commentary here but this topic really burns me up. I've never been a superstar in the classroom, but I maintained over a 3.0-GPA majoring in Aerospace Engineering at USC, graduated with my bachelor's in four years, had at least 18 credit hours every semester (20 credit hours a couple of semesters), completed four full years of Army ROTC requirements (which take up quite a bit of time) and had a part-time student-worker job to help pay the bills! I don't expect the football players to be stellar academically, but a 2.0-GPA is not difficult to achieve in most majors with minimal effort. Coach Carroll spoke with Van Blarcom's parents about the possibility of readmission to USC if Troy can get his academics together at a junior college.

Congratulations to RB Chauncey Washington and TE Fred Davis for receiving GPAs above 3.0!

Back to recruiting... Ron Zook got his third bigtime commitment in the class of 2007 this weekend when 5.0-star DE Martez Wilson (6'4", 230) of Chicago, IL verbally committed to Illinois over Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC. 5.0-star DT/DE prospect D'Angelo McCray (6'5", 275) of Jacksonville, FL and 5.0-star WR Arrelious Benn (6'1", 200) of Washington, D.C. have also verbally committed to the Illini. USC recruited all three players over the last year.

Recruiting Rankings

2006-12-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

Matt asked where I think the Trojans will finish in the recruiting rankings this year. I think the fact that USC has only about 15 scholarships open will prevent the Trojans from attaining another #1 ranking. However, Coach Carroll will have the highest quality per recruit average (possibly ever according to Rivals.com). I took a look at both the Rivals and the Scout team rankings and the undecided players in their "Top 100" lists. Here's my best guess as to how things look currently:

1) Texas (22 verbal commits) the Longhorns just lost 5-star QB John Brantley to Florida... in the end I think Texas will finish ranked either #1 or #2 in recruiting depending on how many more scholarships the Gators have to offer.
2) Florida (22) the Gators are in still in the running for sixteen top prospects! I think Urban Meyer will finish with the #1 ranking on signing day. It also helps the Gators that the Seminoles and Hurricanes played so poorly this year.
3) USC (12) the Trojans definitely have the highest quality class but don't have the quantity this year to take the #1 ranking. USC will probably end up with the #3 or #4 rated class.
4) Georgia (23) another solid class for Mark Richt.
5) Tennessee (23) the Vols rebound after a subpar recruiting class last year.
6) Notre Dame (15) ESPN.com ranks the Irish with the #1 class right now but Rivals and Scout have them ranked lower. I think the Irish will finish ranked in the top 5 but Charlie Weis will have to land some major recruits down the stretch to move ahead of Texas and Florida.
7) Nebraska (27) the Cornhuskers will probably slip a few notches as LSU, Michigan and Ohio State land some of the biggest recruits down the stretch.
8) Michigan (19) the Wolverines will land a few more big recruits and move up a couple of places.
9) LSU (19) the Tigers will likely make the biggest jump up the rankings, especially if they can land Joe McKnight, Chad Jones, Stefoin Francois and a few other highly ranked in-state recruits.
10) South Carolina (25) a good class for Spurrier but the Gamecocks will probably fall a bit in the end.
11) Auburn (20) Tommy Tuberville doesn't tend to land many 5-star recruits but consistently signs solid classes.
12) Georgia Tech (18)
13) Virginia Tech (25)
14) Ole Miss (25) Ed Orgeron can recruit, but can he win as a head coach (in the SEC)?
15) Ohio State (13) I'm surprised to see the Buckeyes this low but they should land a few more top recruits and move into the top 10 by signing day.
16) Illinois (18) Ron Zook may be the best recruiter in the country (or the second best behind Pete Carroll). The Illini appear to have landed two 5-star prospects already (shocking!) and are trying to sign two more.
17) Clemson (17)
18) Virginia (23)
19) West Virginia (23)
20) Oregon (18)
21) Colorado (29)
22) Texas A&M (19)
23) Penn State (16)
24) Washington (22)
25) Oklahoma (13) a surprisingly low class for Bob Stoops. The Sooners should land a few more big recruits and move up but it will be difficult to crack the top 10 now.

Other programs that could have big finishes and move into the top 25: Alabama (depending on their coaching situation), Florida State and Miami.

And its interesting to see that UCLA only has eight verbal commits at this point! Karl Dorrell typically starts strong and finishes slow. He'd better finish strong this year or the Bruins won't have a very good class. Stealing CB Donovan Warren from USC would be a big victory for the Bruins.

My guess on the final top 10:
1) Florida
2) Texas
3) USC
4) LSU
5) Notre Dame
6) Georgia
7) Tennessee
8) Michigan
9) Ohio State
10) Nebraska

Trojan Update 12/21

2006-12-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

RT Kyle Williams returned to practice on Tuesday. Williams was upset about his performance against UCLA and the possibility that Matt Spanos would take his place in the starting line-up for the Rose Bowl. Williams said he felt better after talking with Coach Carroll and offensive line coach Pat Ruel. "That week after the (UCLA) game was pretty hard," Williams said. "You try to forget about it but it seems like everywhere you turn you're getting reminded of it. I just had to get my head straight." Coach Carroll gave Williams a copy of "The Inner Game of Tennis." It's the same book Coach Carroll gave DE Lawrence Jackson earlier this season (ESPN College GameDay did a piece on the influence the book had on Jackson). "I wish I had known about the book sooner," Williams said. "I'm about halfway done and it's really helped me be not so critical and just relax." Spanos has been working as the 1st string RT all week.

CB Terrell Thomas (dislocated shoulder) did not practice. Thomas has dislocated the same shoulder four times this season! "They can't stop me from playing (in the Rose Bowl)," Thomas said. "I've been playing with (the injury) it all year. I'm basically resting and letting the swelling go down. My shoulder's pretty messed up." He will consider having surgery on the injured shoulder after the Rose Bowl.

CB/S Mozique McCurtis worked in Terrell Thomas' spot with the 1st string defense this week. Kevin Thomas, recently back from a foot injury, is also in the rotation.

Freshman Garrett Green practiced as both the scout team offense QB and as a 2nd string S this week.

S Taylor Mays practiced with a cast on his right wrist this week and is scheduled to have X-rays. "My hand has been swollen and I didn't want to keep taping it," Mays said. "Nothing's wrong with it."

The Orange County Register and Rivals.com have reported that S Antwine Perez plans to transfer to Minnesota. Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News reported that Perez is more likely transfer to Maryland because he wants to be close to home (New Jersey). "He's gone back home," Coach Carroll said. "He's looking for a better opportunity to play. That was his decision about the depth chart and playing time."

Reporters continue to ask RB Stafon Johnson if he has any plans to transfer. "I haven't really thought about that," said Johnson. "I want to wait out the season. I'll evaluate myself first and foremost and see what's going on from there. Right now I'm here. That's what you have to work on - what's going on right now."

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow criticized the play calling of USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffen and assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian on a radio show this week. "I know (UCLA defensive coordinator) DeWayne Walker may be better than both of those guys," Chow said.

Carolina Panthers WR Keyshawn Johnson told the L.A. Times he doesn't think WR Dwayne Jarrett is ready for the NFL. "I definitely respect him but everybody's situation is different," Jarrett said of Johnson's remarks. "I definitely hear his advice but at the end of the day it's my choice." Jarrett plans to make his decision after the Rose Bowl. "With the NFL draft you never know," he said. "It's no guarantee I'll be the first or second receiver picked."

Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart visited campus with Brynn Cameron and their two month old son Cole this week.

Griffen In, Perez Out, Byers Sticking Around

2006-12-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ verbally committed to USC today.

It came as a major surprise to me that freshman S Antwine Perez has left the Trojans. He is considering transferring to Minnesota among other schools. Prior to the season I felt that Perez would be the top impact freshman player in 2006.

Note on OL Jeff Byers: Byers signed with USC in 2004 and started several games as a true freshman. He injured his hip just prior to the Orange Bowl and missed the entire 2005 season. As a back-up he had a terrific opening game this year at Arkansas. Then he missed the rest of the 2006 season due to a back injury. It is possible that Byers will graduate early (under four years) with a degree in business administration. He plans to be on the team in 2007 (as a junior) and 2008 (as a senior) and may even apply for an additional year of eligibility due to missing two seasons because of injuries.

Scholarships and Recruiting

2006-12-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

As the 2007 recruiting period enters it's final six weeks, here's a few educated guesses on how the Trojans will finish... First, I count 70 scholarship players that should be on the team next August. That total doesn't include WR Dwayne Jarrett, RB Herschel Dennis, FB Ryan Powdrell, DE Rashaad Goodrum or DT Travis Tofi. Jarrett will likely be an NFL first round draft pick. Dennis, Powdrell, Goodrum and Tofi were injured seniors this year that aren't expected to be granted an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA. That total also doesn't include returning players like QB Michael McDonald and LB Clay Matthews who have played well enough to earn scholarships.

The Trojans have verbals from the following (in order of recruiting "value" as assigned by leading analysts):
5.0-star RB Marc Tyler (6'0", 210) of Westlake Village, CA
5.0-star LB Chris Galippo (6'3", 230) of Anaheim, CA
5.0-star OL James Wilson (6'4", 305) of St. Augustine, FL
4.5-star OL Martin Coleman (6'5", 290) of Huntington Beach, CA
4.5-star RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) of Little Rock, AR
4.5-star OL Kristopher O'Dowd (6'4", 315) of Tucson, AZ
4.0-star S Marshall Jones (6'0", 185) of Westlake Village, CA
4.0-star QB Aaron Corp (6'4", 190) of Orange, CA
4.0-star LB Jordan Campbell (5'11", 225) of Norco, CA
4.0-star DE Michael Reardon (6'6", 260) of Villa Park, CA
3.0-star QB Samson Szakacsy (6'4", 190) of Camarillo, CA

If all eleven of those players sign with USC, that leaves just four scholarships still to be filled. The most likely to fill those would probably be (again in order of recruiting "value" as assigned by leading analysts)
5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ
4.5-star DT Da'John Harris (6'4", 260) of Gardena, CA
4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA
4.0-star ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA
3.0-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA

The Trojans are also still in the running for several of the nation's most prized recruits but they would likely be a surprise to sign with the Trojans:
5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA
5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) of Washington, D.C.
4.5-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL
4.5-star S Chad Jones (6'2", 225) of Baton Rouge, LA

My guess is that the final four scholarships will go to Griffen, Harris, Smith and Carswell. There's also the brother of a current Trojan player that has slipped out of the picture recently:
4.0-star DE Kenny Rowe (6'2", 215) of Long Beach, CA

As far as I can tell from the internet traffic here's how things are shaping up:
1) I expect DE Everson Griffen to verbally commit to USC tomorrow (December 20th). He's been Coach Carroll's top priority for the past couple of months. It would be a major blow to Coach Carroll if Griffen commits to Michigan or Notre Dame.
2) The next big story is whether the Trojans will sign the nation's top DT prospect Marvin Austin out of Washington, D.C. or top local DT prospect Da'John Harris. Harris has favored the Trojans all year but may be waiting to see what Austin does before he commits.
3) RB Broderick Green is probably going to end up signing with USC contrary to all the "soft verbal" reports from analysts. Green is rumored to be looking at Arkansas, Boston College, Ohio State, Penn State and Tenneesee in addition to USC. Out of that bunch his best bet for immediate playing time would be Boston College and Penn State. Penn State's leading rusher is graduating and the Nittany Lions haven't had a bigtime RB recruit in a few years but Joe Paterno traditionally doesn't play freshmen (with WR Derrick Williams and CB Justin King being two major recent exceptions). B.C. is a solid program but is rarely in the spotlight. Their top two rushers this season were juniors. The coaching change at B.C. could discourage Green from signing with the Eagles. Arkansas, Ohio State, Tennessee and USC are all well stocked with top RB talent. Green would have to struggle to work himself into the offense at most of these schools. The good news is that USC didn't have a dominant runner this season which would make Green an immediate contender to be the power back for the Trojans as a true freshman.
4) CB Donovan Warren might get on the field quicker if he signs with crosstown rival UCLA. UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker just might lure Warren away from Troy.
5) OL James Wilson has been "flirting" with Florida and a few other schools, but I believe he will sign with the Trojans.
6) QB Aaron Corp's stock has shot up the charts and many people that have seen both he and Notre Dame commit Jimmy Clausen play say that Corp is the better prospect.
7) RB Marc Tyler, OL Martin Coleman and DE Michael Reardon all ended their seasons with injuries but will be ready to go for the Trojans in the summer.
8) As usual, many recruits will likely change positions once they're on campus. LB Jordan Campbell will be a big contributer on special teams next year, but could probably help the team more at FB then at LB. DE Michael Reardon may end up playing on the O-Line at USC. Joe McKnight, Marshall Jones and Malcolm Smith are players that could line-up at many different skill positions on both offense and defense.

Trojan Update 12/19

2006-12-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

The Trojans were back practicing on Monday afternoon. "This was a usual Monday practice for us and we finally started to introduce game plans of Michigan with more tomorrow," Coach Carroll said.

Matt Spanos was working as the 1st string RT during yesterday's practice while Kyle Williams was absent due to "personal issues" according to Coach Carroll. The L.A. Times reported that Williams met with Coach Carroll and offensive line coach Pat Ruel after practice on Monday and plans to return to practice on Tuesday.

All-American C Ryan Kalil was sick all weekend and thinks he had food poisoning.

OL Jeff Byers said he will apply for a sixth year of eligibility when he graduates. Byers has missed almost two complete season due to injuries.

RB Chauncey Washington told reporters that his knee problems this season were due to a torn MCL that has finally healed according to his latest MRI exam results.

WR Chris McFoy (high ankle sprain) was back practicing yesterday as was CB Kevin Thomas (broken foot).

What do you think of the two new Pac-10 coaching hires (Dennis Erickson at Arizona State and Jim Harbaugh at Stanford)?

Snead to Ole Miss

2006-12-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

Former Trojan defensive line coach and current Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron landed former 4.0-star QB recruit Jevan Snead, who is transferring to the Rebels from Texas.

Trojan Update 12/18

2006-12-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

Scott Wolf reported that doctors told RB Chauncey Washington that the pain in his knee should subside by week's end.

OL Matt Spanos may replace starter Kyle Williams at RT in the Rose Bowl if he is cleared to play academically. Williams has been the weak link on the Trojans' offensive line this season and had several costly false start penalties in the UCLA game.

DT Fili Moala injured his left ankle during practice this weekend (no word on how seriously).

Freshman DT Walker Lee Ashley denied internet rumors that he plans to transfer to Minnesota. "I have no idea where (the rumor) came from," Ashley said. "I'm cool right here. It was all just rumors."

The Trojans scrimmaged in a downpour this weekend in front of eleven of the nation's top high school prospects. "It's always good to work in these conditions because you never know," Coach Carroll said. "We might have stayed out there a little more but the main thing was they went full-speed tackling."

Some true freshmen got extended repetitions with the 1st string offense: RB Allen Bradford, TE Anthony McCoy, WR Vidal Hazelton, WR David Ausberry and WR Travon Patterson. But the most impressive freshman might have been WR Jamere Holland, who has returned to practice after missing the season due to a shoulder injury. Holland worked at both WR and kick returner. He won't play in the Rose Bowl, but should be a big factor in spring practice.

No Trojans made the ESPN.com All-American team.

LB Dallas Sartz has been invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game.

C Ryan Kalil and WR Steve Smith have been invited to play in the Senior Bowl.

RT Kyle Williams has been invited to play in the All-American Classic.

Recruiting: The "dead period" of recruiting officially began today. It is forbidden for coaches to contact recruits until the first week of January.

5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ will announce his verbal commitment on Wednesday, December 20th. Griffen's final list includes Michigan, Notre Dame and USC. "USC was the first school to offer," said Griffen. "I would say that they are recruiting me the hardest. I just had an in-home visit on December 8th with coaches Pete Carroll, Lane Kiffen and Nick Holt. I love these coaches. I took my official visit on November 25th and was very impressed with their training. To warm up, they have this program where the players jump up and down. It's different, yet fun."

5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA officially visits USC on January 12th. McKnight is also considering Arkansas, Clemson, LSU, Notre Dame and Ole Miss.

4.5-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL and 4.0-star RB/LB/ATH Malcolm Smith (6'2", 205) of Woodland Hills, CA officially visit USC on January 19th. Paige verbally committed to Florida State in early September but due to the Seminoles poor performance this season is now considered a "soft verbal." He is also considering Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Malcolm is the younger brother of current Trojan All-American WR Steve Smith. He is also considering California, Notre Dame, Penn State and UCLA.

5.0-star CB Eric Berry (5'11", 195) of Fairburn, GA plans to cancel his official visit to USC, which was scheduled for January 26th. Berry, the Gatorade Player-of-the-Year in the state of Georgia, verbally committed to Tennessee yesterday over Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and USC. Berry's father was a team captain for the Volunteers.

As expected, 4.5-star WR/S Mark Barnes (6'2", 190) of Columbia, SC verbally committed to South Carolina this past weekend over Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Notre Dame, USC and Virginia Tech.

Recruiting Update 12/17

2006-12-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

4.0-star QB Aaron Corp (6'4", 190) of Orange, CA led the Orange Lutheran Lancers to a 42-28 victory over Palo Alto in the Division II CIF State Championship Game. Corp completed 16-of-32 passes for 208 yards with 4 TDs and rushed 11 times for 136 yards with 2 more TDs. The Lancers finished the season with a 14-1 record and many analysts have commented that Corp may be a better quarterback prospect than Oaks Christian's Jimmy Clausen. Clausen had his worst performance of the season in a 27-20 victory over Santa Rosa Cardinal Newman in the Division III CIF State Championship Game. Clausen, who threw just three INTs all season, threw three INTs in the title game!

Trojan Update 12/15

2006-12-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

USC returned to the practice field on Thursday afternoon after three days off. LB Clay Matthews and CB Terrell Thomas intercepted passes during scrimmages. "We were a little rusty on offense," Coach Carroll said. "The defense was way ahead today. They made a bunch of plays. The next couple of days are real important. We won't do game stuff until Monday." We already knew that the offense was lagging behind the defense but now I'm really concerned after the offense's poor performance against UCLA to close the season. John David Booty and company better get things on track soon or they won't move the ball or score enough against Michigan to keep us in the game.

CB Kevin Thomas (broken foot) was cleared to play in the Rose Bowl. "We'll see where he is physically," Coach Carroll said. "He's cleared to play. We're comfortable with the guys we have playing there now but it's good to have him back out there."

The Trojans held their annual award banquet last night. WR Steve Smith was named the team's Most Valuable Player, C Ryan Kalil was named the team's Most Inspirational Player, Kalil and OT Sam Baker were named the co-offensive lineman of the year, DE Lawrence Jackson was named the defensive lineman of the year, LBs Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews were named the co-special teams players of the year, WR David Ausberry was named the offensive service team player of the year, DT Alex Parsons was named the defensive service team player of the year, the "courage" award went to RB Desmond Reed.

C Ryan Kalil and DT Sedrick Ellis won the annual Morris Trophy, which is given to the outstanding offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-10 Conference (since 1980). The winners are selected by a vote of the starting offensive and defensive linemen in the Conference. It's the ninth time a Trojan offensive lineman has won the Morris Trophy (the others were Roy Foster in 1980 & 1981, Bruce Matthews in 1982, Jeff Bregel in 1985, Pat Harlow in 1990, Tony Boselli in 1994, Travis Claridge in 1999 and Jacob Rogers in 2003). It's just the third time that a Trojan defensive lineman has won the Morris Trophy (the others were George Achica in 1982 and Darrell Russell in 1996). It's only the fourth time in the award's 27-year history that the winners have come from the same school.

This is a huge recruiting weekend at USC with thirteen highly touted prospects coming to visit. Here's the list of attendees:
4.0-star QB Samson Szakacsy (6'4", 190) of Orange, CA (committed to USC)
4.0-star RB Jahvid Best (5'10", 185) of Richmond, CA (committed to California)
4.5-star RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) of Little Rock, AR (soft verbal to USC)
3.0-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA (likely California or USC)
4.5-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, FL (Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee or USC)
4.5-star WR Deonte Thompson (5'11", 180) of Belle Glade, FL (Florida, LSU, Miami, Ohio State or USC)
4.5-star OL Martin Coleman (6'5", 290) of Huntington Beach, CA (committed to USC)
4.5-star DT Da'John Harris (6'4", 260) of Gardena, CA (Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon or USC)
4.0-star LB/FB Jordan Campbell (5'11", 225) of Norco, CA (committed to USC)
5.0-star CB/WR Ronald Johnson (6'0", 180) of Muskegon, MI (considered a Michigan lock, although still considering many schools)
4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA (California, Michigan, UCLA or USC)
4.5-star S Chad Jones (6'2", 225) of Baton Rouge, LA (Florida, Florida State, LSU or USC)
4.0-star S Marshall Jones (6'0", 185) of Westlake Village, CA (committed to USC)

Recruit ranking system:
Just to clarify, here's how I do the "star" ranking of recruits... I look at the Rivals, Scout and ESPN rankings and try to come up with a median average for each player... by definition from the "Forrest Davis Football Recruiting Annuals" here's what each rating means:
3.0-star = a player who may start as a junior (or redshirt sophomore) and can be expected to contribute as a sophomore (or redshirt freshman).
4.0-star = a player who may start as a sophomore and can be expected to contribute as a true freshman. 4.0-star players have a good chance at being stars on the collegiate level and of playing in the NFL.
5.0-star = a player who may start at sometime during his true freshman year. 5.0-star players are the best bets to be collegiate All-Americans sometime during their careers and to play in the NFL eventually.

Question of the Week:
If a "+1" system were in effect, which team do you think would be most deserving to join Ohio State, Florida and Michigan? Arkansas (10-3), Auburn (10-2), Boise State (12-0), Louisville (11-1), LSU (10-2), Notre Dame (10-2), Oklahoma (11-2), USC (10-2), Wake Forest (11-2) or Wisconsin (11-1)? This is the system being championed by Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville and ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit. To me it creates just as much controversy as the current system. LSU finished ranked #4 in the BCS standings but didn't win their conference or even the SEC West Division! USC won the Pac-10 but lost to #22 Oregon State and #25 UCLA. Louisville won the Big East, which is considered inferior to the ACC, Big XII, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC. Wisconsin didn't win their conference and didn't have a tough schedule. Boise State isn't in a "BCS Conference." Auburn didn't win their conference or the SEC West Division. Oklahoma won the Big XII and lost a controversial game on the road against Oregon. And the list goes on and on... you can bet that if a "+1" system was implemented and LSU got in that all these other teams would be screaming (especially Oklahoma and USC)!

Of note:
Did you read that the parents of Razorback freshmen QB Mitch Mustain, WR Damian Williams and TE Ben Cleveland complained to Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles about the style of offense employed by head coach Houston Nutt and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn this season? Mustain was 8-0 as a starter this year but was benched in favor of Casey Dick down the stretch. Williams caught 19 passes this season for 235 yards. Cleveland caught 11 passes for 98 yards. "Our boys are used to catching 60 passes a year," said Rick Cleveland, father of Ben. "They want to go to a college where they get the same opportunity." Cleveland told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he thinks the highly touted Springdale players were "sold a bill of goods" during recruiting. Williams, who changed his commitment from Florida to Arkansas at the last minute, will be given his release to transfer according to Nutt! This story is amazing to me because the Razorbacks finished the season 10-3 and played in the SEC Championship Game, not to mention that all three of these freshmen got a lot of playing time.

O'Dowd Chooses USC

2006-12-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

4.5-star OL Kristofer O'Dowd (6'4", 315) of Tucson, AZ verbally committed to USC today.

Recruiting Update 12/14

2006-12-14T02:47:00.000-08:00

4.5-star OL Kristofer O'Dowd (6'4", 315) of Tucson, AZ will announce his commitment to either Arizona, Tennessee, UCLA or USC today at 1:30pm (PST).

5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ will announce his commitment to either Michigan, Notre Dame or USC on Wednesday December 20th. "I know what college I am going to commit to," said Griffen. "My parents already know and are pleased with my decision. I've also already notified the coaches of the school where I will be attending."

3.0-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA said he will be announcing his commitment to either Boise State, California, Oregon, UNLV or USC in the next three weeks. "My mom favors USC and California," Carswell said. "She likes the coaches and the fact that they are close to home. Distance isn't really a factor for me, but it is for my mother and my family is making the decision together."

4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA has narrowed his list of possibilities to California, Michigan, UCLA and USC. Arizona, Ohio State and Oregon were recently cut from his list.

Trojan Update 12/13

2006-12-13T03:35:00.000-08:00

A link to a story about the Pac-10 on ESPN.com:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690004

More All-American selections...
Associated Press: WR Dwayne Jarrett (1st team offense), C Ryan Kalil (2nd team offense), OT Sam Baker (2nd team offense)
The Sporting News: OT Sam Baker (1st team offense), WR Dwayne Jarrett (2nd team offense), C Ryan Kalil (2nd team offense), S Taylor Mays (2nd team defense), MAYS WAS THE ONLY FRESHMAN TO BE NAMED AN ALL-AMERICAN!

C Ryan Kalil suffered a sprained thumb again UCLA. "He jammed it real bad and it was hard for him to use it," Offensive line coach Pat Ruel said.

Ruel also said that redshirt freshman Charles Brown, redshirt freshman Nick Howell, true freshman Butch Lewis and true freshman Zach Heberer will all rotate with the 1st string offensive line during practice this week.

Recruiting: 4.0-star RB Jahvid Best (5'10", 185) of Richmond, CA verbally committed to California over Oregon, Notre Dame and USC.

Scott Wolf reported the following regarding the potential NFL draft status of Trojan seniors: C Ryan Kalil (1st or 2nd round), WR Steve Smith (3rd through 5th round), LB Dallas Sartz (5th through 7th round), OT Kyle Williams (7th round). Junior WR Dwayne Jarrett is an obvious 1st round pick if he decides to enter the draft. Senior LB Oscar Lua would likely have to sign as a free agent with an NFL team.

Recruiting Update 12/11

2006-12-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6'2", 295) of Washington, D.C. was supposed to take an official visit to Maryland this weekend but canceled at the last minute. What happened? Is Maryland out of the running now? He recently announced that North Carolina has made a big impression on him over the past few weeks. Did he dump the Terps for the TarHeels? Austin has already taken official visits to Illinois (9/23), Tennessee (11/3) and USC (11/24). Over the past few weeks he has said he is very high on the Trojans and Vols. He is also scheduled to visit Florida State (1/20) just prior to signing day. I've noticed over the past few years that when players take official visits to a school in late January they typically sign with that school. Does that mean Austin favors the Seminoles but wants to keep the hype machine going all the way until signing day?

Speaking of late January recruiting visits, 5.0-star CB Eric Berry (5'11", 195) of Fairburn, GA has scheduled an official visit to USC for January 26th! Berry has already visited Auburn (10/20) and also plans to visit Georgia (no date set), Ohio State (1/12) and possibly Tennessee (no date set).

5.0-star OL Kristopher O'Dowd (6'4", 305) of Tucson, AZ took his last official visit this weekend. O'Dowd's official visit schedule: Tennessee (9/16), USC (11/25), UCLA (12/2) and Arizona (12/8). O'Dowd is expected to announce his decision before the end of the month but could wait until the Army All-American Bowl on January 6th.

According to a December 8th report on WeAreSC.com, 5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ is set to announce his decision. Griffen took official visits to Notre Dame (10/7), Michigan (10/21), Oregon (11/4) and USC (11/25). The Trojans are considered a strong favorite for Griffen at this point.

Another top recruit about to make some noise is 5.0-star RB Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA. McKnight has stayed focused on leading his high school to an undefeated season (14-0). Now that the season's over he is finally turning his attention to selecting a college. The five schools competing for McKnight are Arkansas, Clemson, LSU, Notre Dame and USC.

4.5-star RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) visits USC this weekend. The question on everyone's mind is will he stick with his verbal commitment to the Trojans? Green recently told Greg Powers of Scout.com that he favors three schools. USC is definitely on that list but what are the other two schools? Recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg says that Green is looking at Arkansas, Boston College, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee in addition to USC.

The Trojans have fallen out of the running for 4.5-star OL Anthony Davis (6'5", 300) of Piscataway, NJ and Ohio State may soon be out of the running too. The Buckeyes were considered a lock to sign Davis a few weeks ago but are now being seriously challenged by Rutgers! Davis said he loved USC but that it was too far away from home and he wants his parents to be able to come to his games.

It will be interesting to see how the hiring of Dennis Erickson at Arizona State effects recruiting in the Pac-10. Neither of the top Arizona recruits (Griffen and O'Dowd) had Arizona State on their list of finalists. How will Erickson compete with Mike Stoops and the Arizona Wildcats for the top in-state recruits?

Trojan Update 12/11

2006-12-11T02:59:00.000-08:00

WR Chris McFoy missed both practices this weekend due to a high ankle sprain he suffered against UCLA. McFoy expects to return to practice on Thursday.

OT Matt Spanos may be eligible to play in the Rose Bowl if he scores well on his final exams. He will likely push RT Kyle Williams for playing time. Spanos, ineligible for the entire 2006 season, has been practicing on the scout team.

DT Sedrick Ellis has decided to return to USC in 2007 rather than enter the NFL draft. "I think I can mature more as a football player and a person," Ellis told reporters. "It's only one more year. How bad can one more year be? I'm having lots of fun as far as football and the coaches are showing me all kinds of trust on the field, allowing me to do a lot of things. It's really cool. I don't mind staying for another year before I go back to the bottom of the barrel at the next level."

The freshmen getting the most playing time (other than Gable and Mays) during bowl preparations are RB Allen Bradford, WR Vidal Hazelton, WR David Ausberry, TE Anthony McCoy and QB/S Garrett Green.

Recruiting: 4.0-star QB Aaron Corp (6'4", 190) of Orange, CA led Orange Lutheran to a 30-20 victory over Huntington Beach Edison in the Southern Section Pac-5 Division Championship Game this weekend. Corp was 12-of-19 passing (63.2%) for 172 yards and 2 TDs while rushing 10 times for 28 yards and 2 TDs. Orange Lutheran (13-1) will play Palo Alto (12-1) in the California Division II Championship Game on Saturday.

Recruiting Update 12/10

2006-12-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

3.5-star DE/LB prospect D.J. Holt (6'1", 235) of Encino, CA verbally committed to California today over Arizona State, Fresno State, Nebraska, Oregon State, San Diego State, UCLA, USC and Washington. Holt made it clear that playing football for the Trojans was his longtime dream, but USC coaches were waiting to see if he improved academically during the fall semester before offering him a scholarship.

Where are they now?

2006-12-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

QB Rocky Hinds completed 194-of-359 passing attempts (54.0%) for 2,148 yards with 8 TDs and 13 INTs while leading UNLV to a 2-10 record in the Mountain West Conference.

CB Eric Wright had 29 tackles, 8 pass break-ups and 1 INT (returned 32 yards) for UNLV. He also returned 18 kickoffs for 430 yards (23.9 yards per return average) and had 2 rushes for 36 yards on offense.

RB Darryl Poston led Utah in rushing. He finished with 140 rushes for 546 yards (3.9 yards per carry average) and 5 TDs. Poston also had 13 receptions for 87 yards (7.2 yards per reception average) and 1 TD. The Utes finished 7-5 and will play Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 23rd.

RB/WR Whitney Lewis ended up playing for the Northern Iowa Panthers (Division I Championship Subdivision) this season. Lewis finished with 80 rushes for 360 yards (4.5 yards per carry average) and 3 TDs. He also had 7 receptions for 50 yards (7.1 yards per reception average). The Panthers finished the season with a 7-4 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs. In case you were unaware the NCAA changed its naming convention this season. Division I-A is now called the Division I Bowl Subdivision and Division I-AA is now called the Division I Championship Subdivision.

DT Ryan Watson had 9 tackles as a back-up for Southern Miss this season. The Golden Eagles finished the regular season 8-5 with a 34-20 loss to Houston in the Conference USA Championship Game and will play Ohio in the GMAC Bowl on January 7th.

DE Eugene Germany, who signed with USC in 2004 but failed to qualify academically, finished 2006 with 3 tackles as a back-up for the 11-1 Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines meet the Trojans in the Rose Bowl on January 1st.

WR Derrick Jones, who signed with USC in 2004 but failed to qualify academically, finished 2006 with 1 reception for 9 yards for the 7-5 Oregon Ducks. The Ducks play BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 21st.

LB Johnathan Turner, who signed with USC in 2003 but failed to qualify academically, finished 2006 with 18 tackles as a starting DE for the 6-6 Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats were not selected for a bowl game this year.

Trojan Update 12/10

2006-12-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Just a thought: This is the first game in which the Trojans are NOT playing for a possible national championship since the 2002 season Orange Bowl victory over Iowa. Every USC game from the 2003 opener at Auburn through the 2006 finale at UCLA had a direct impact on the national championship! It will be interesting to see how the Trojans respond to this "new" environment. "We're playing for a lot," said Coach Carroll. "Who we are and what we're all about and our program."

USC practiced on the FieldTurf surface of Cromwell Field yesterday because new turf was being installed on Howard Jones Field.

The L.A. Times reported that OT Sam Baker and RB Chauncey Washington will return to USC for the 2007 season. "I've always said the whole season I want to come back," Baker said. "My dad always talks about gethering as much information as you can and trying to figure everything out but I can't see anything happening that would change my mind." Baker will be a top candidate for the Outland Trophy (given to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman) in 2007. "I was hurt and playing on one leg for most of the season," Washington said. "It's going to be crazy to see me play at 100% next year." DE Lawrence Jackson told Coach Carroll earlier this week that he will return to USC in 2007. "At one point I was leaning the other way," Jackson said. "I finally made up my mind and I feel better about it." LB Keith Rivers said he requested an NFL evaluation of his draft status but that he intends to return to USC next season. QB John David Booty told reporters that he has no intentions of leaving early. "I'm coming back," Booty said. "There's too much ahead of us and still a lot to learn." That leaves WR Dwayne Jarrett, who will likely be a 1st round draft pick this year, and DT Sedrick Ellis, who is still contemplating his options.

Offensive line coach Pat Ruel is staying with USC as well. Ruel announced he will not entertain offers from the NFL this year. "I'm not in the market right now," he said. "My daughter goes to school here adn this is the best place to coach. We can win championships here." Ruel turned down an assistant coaching job offer from the Atlanta Falcons last year.

Trojan Update 12/9

2006-12-09T04:22:00.000-08:00

The Trojans begin their Rose Bowl preparation today. "We've had plenty of time to deal with (the loss to UCLA)," said Coach Carroll. "I'm way ahead preparation wise, having done a lot of film time. I need to make sure and connect with the players about the opportunity we have."

CB Kevin Thomas (broken foot) will try to practice this week in hopes to be available to play in the Rose Bowl.

Recruiting News:
4.5-star USC verbal commit OL Martin Coleman (6'5", 290) of Huntington Beach, CA broke his ankle in practice on Tuesday and will not play for Edison in its CIF Southern Section Championship game against Orange Lutheran. Coleman is on track to graduate this fall and join the Trojans in time for spring practice. "I'm still 100% sure I'm graduating early," he said. "I'm not sure when I'll be cleared to start running, but I figure that six weeks from now I should be good as new."

5.0-star USC verbal commit RB Marc Tyler (6'0", 210) of Westlake Village, CA was named the California Gatorade Player-of-the-Year. Tyler's season is over due to injury but he finished with 131 attempts for 1,700 yards (12.9 yards per carry average) and 25 TDs. He also had 12 receptions for 265 yards (22.1 yards per reception average) and 4 TDs. Tyler also returned 3 kickoffs for 58 yards (19.3 yards per return average). On defense Tyler posted 26 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 INTs (which he returned for 40 yards).

4.0-star USC verbal commit S Marshall Jones (6'0", 185) of Westlake Village, CA has served as the primary RB for Oaks Christian since Tyler's injury. In last week's 48-14 victory over Harvard-Westlake Jones rushed 15 times for 115 yards with 1 TD and had 1 reception for 5 yards while adding two tackles on defense. For the season Jones has now rushed the ball 54 times for 534 yards (9.9 yards per carry average) and 6 TDs. He has 15 receptions for 230 yards (15.3 yards per reception average) and 3 TDs. He has returned 2 kickoffs for 71 yards (35.5 yards per return average) and 1 punt for 1 yard. On defense Jones has posted 55 tackles, 1 sack and 5 INTs (which he has returned for 15 yards).

4.5-star USC "soft" verbal commit RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) of Little Rock, AR scored 4 touchdowns in a playoff loss last week. For the season Green rushed 282 times for 1,881 yards (6.7 yards per carry average) and 20 TDs with 38 receptions for 432 yards (11.4 yards per reception average) and 3 TDs. Pulaski Academy finished the season with a 12-2 record.

5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ was named the Arizona Gatorade Player-of-the-Year. Griffen's season came to an end last week when his team lost in the playoffs. Griffen, suffering from a high ankle sprain, only played in the first quarter of the game. For the season Griffen rushed 159 times for 1,251 yards (7.9 yards per carry average) and 20 TDs with 6 receptions for 136 yards (22.7 yards per reception average) and 2 TDs. On defense he posted 41 tackles, 16 sacks, 2 pass deflections and 23 quarterback hurries. Agua Fria finished the season with a 12-1 record. Over the past week Griffen received in-home recruiting visits from Michigan, Notre Dame and USC. He is rumored to be close to making an official announcement about his verbal commitment.

4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA has crossed Arizona and Oregon off his list of possibilities. His final five are California, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA and USC. Warren had three tackles and six rushes for 26 yards for Long Beach Poly in a 23-22 playoff loss to Orange Lutheran last week. For the season Warren rushed 72 times for 448 yards (6.2 yards per carry average) and 6 TDs and had 14 receptions for 181 yards (12.9 yards per reception average) and 2 TDs. On defense he posted 29 tackles, 3 INTs and 6 pass deflections.

On the Orange Lutheran side against Long Beach Poly, 4.0-star USC verbal commit QB Aaron Corp (6'4", 190) of Orange, CA was 10-of-18 passing for 76 yards for 1 TD while rushing for 65 yards on 20 carries and 4.0-star USC verbal commit DE Michael Reardon (6'6", 260) of Villa Park, CA had eight tackles including one sack. On the season Corp is 184-of-254 passing (71%) for 2,365 yards, 15 TDs and 7 INTs while rushing 121 times for 1,011 yards (8.4 yards per carry average) and 8 TDs.

Trojan Update 12/8

2006-12-08T04:44:00.000-08:00

According to Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News, DE Lawrence Jackson has told the coaching staff that he will return to USC for the 2007 season and not enter this year's NFL Draft.

USC All-American role up:
CBS Sportsline All-Americans: WR Steve Smith and OT Sam Baker
Sports Illustrated All-American: WR Dwayne Jarrett (1st team offense)
Rivals.com All-Americans: WR Dwayne Jarrett (2nd team offense), OT Sam Baker (2nd team offense), C Ryan Kalil (2nd team offense)
Walter Camp All-Americans: WR Dwayne Jarrett (1st team offense), OT Sam Baker (2nd team offense), C Ryan Kalil (2nd team offense)

Recruiting: 5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6'4", 265) of Avondale, AZ received an in-home visit from the USC coaching staff this week. Griffen is rumored ready to announce his verbal commitment to the Trojans sometime in the next few weeks. The Florida Gators are working hard to steer 5.0-star OL James Wilson (6'4", 305) of St. Augustine, FL away from his verbal commitment to USC. Wilson is set to take an official visit to Gainesville this month. 5.0-star WR Terrance Toliver (6'4", 185) of Hempstead, TX has crossed USC off his list of possibilities. Toliver will choose between Florida and LSU.

Trojan Update 12/6

2006-12-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

The Trojans will practice on Saturday (12/9) and Sunday (12/10) and then will be on break until December 14th.

Trojans selected for the 2006 Rivals.com All-American Team: WR Dwayne Jarrett (2nd team offense), OT Sam Baker (2nd team offense), C Ryan Kalil (2nd team offense).

Trojans selected for the 2006 Rivals.com Freshman All-American Team: S Taylor Mays (1st team defense) and KOR C.J. Gable (2nd team special teams). Mays was also selected to the Sporting News' Freshman All-American team.

Odds & Ends 12/5

2006-12-05T00:47:00.000-08:00

First off, it's going to be a big recruiting weekend December 15-17 at USC. The Trojans are hosting the following recruits:
5.0-star RB/ATH Joe McKnight (6'0", 190) of River Ridge, LA
4.5-star RB Broderick Green (6'1", 230) of Little Rock, AR
4.5-star DT Da'John Harris (6'4", 260) of Gardena, CA
4.5-star S Chad Jones (6'2", 225) of Baton Rouge, LA
4.5-star WR Ahmad Paige (6'2", 170) of Sterlington, LA
4.0-star RB Jahvid Best (5'10", 185) of Richmond, CA
4.0-star LB/FB Jordan Campbell (5'11", 225) of Norco, CA
4.0-star S Marshall Jones (6'0", 185) of Westlake Village, CA
4.0-star CB Donovan Warren (6'0", 175) of Long Beach, CA
3.0-star WR Brandon Carswell (6'1", 175) of Milpitas, CA

Secondly, I can't believe how many Trojan fans I've heard this week call for the firing or demotion of offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. We should all pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and look at this subject more objectively and less emotionally. Yes, Kiffin has called a few bad games. Yes, he failed to adjust to what the UCLA defense was doing last Saturday. Yes, the offense is not the dominant force we've been used to from 2002-2005. But I don't think we're on full alert "Jeff Bowden" panic mode like Florida State just yet. Kiffin is 31 years old! It's only his second year as an offensive coordinator, his sixth year under Coach Carroll and his tenth year as an assistant coach. He is unfairly, although inevitably, being compared to former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Chow may be the best collegiate offensive coordinator in the history of the game.

How bad was the offense over the past two years under Kiffin's watch? Well the team averaged 49.1 points per game in 2005. That was with two of the greatest collegiate players of all time in QB Matt Leinart (a three year starter) and RB Reggie Bush. The team averaged just 30.3 points per game in 2006. That's a huge drop in productivity and Kiffin must accept a large share of the blame. But look at what he was dealing with throughout the 2006 season: a QB that hadn't started a game since high school (three seasons on the bench at USC) and that had missed spring practice due to surgery; the two most experienced RBs (Herschel Dennis and Desmond Reed) were out or limited due to serious knee injuries; RB Chauncey Washington hadn't played in a game for two straight seasons and was never 100% healthy through the season; there was no FB to work with after the Nebraska game (Brandon Hancock and Ryan Powdrell were both lost to season ending injuries) and freshmen Stanley Havili went down with an injury too; superstar WR Dwayne Jarrett wasn't 100% healthy until late in the season; the Trojans unexpectedly lost two highly touted junior offensive lineman to the NFL after the 2005 season (well maybe we expected Winston Justice to leave early).

How did the offense stack up against other Pac-10 teams in 2006? USC was third in scoring (30.3) behind California (31.8) and Oregon (31.2); USC was third in passing offense (253.2 yds/game) behind Washington State (259.8 yds/game) and California (254.8 yds/game); USC was fourth in rushing offense (134.7 yds/game) behind Oregon (189.6 yds/game), Arizona State (167.2 yds/game) and California (155.8 yds/game); USC was fourth in total offense (387.9 yds/game) behind Oregon (436.8 yds/game), California (410.6 yds/game) and Washington State (388.1 yds/game). Here's a few more categories to look at: USC was first in the conference in passing efficiency, second in the conference in overall first downs, second in the conference in percentage of successfully converted 3rd down attempts, first in the conference in percentage of successfully converted 4th down attempts, first in the conference in red zone offense, 3rd in the conference in sacks against, and fourth in the conference in time of possession.

USC had five players named to the First Team 2006 All-Pacific-10 Conference Football Team (Booty, Jarrett, WR Steve Smith, C Ryan Kalil and OT Sam Baker) and one player named to the Second Team (OG Chilo Rachal).

My conclusion is that Kiffin needs to show improvement in game management/play calling in 2007 but that it's not time to run him off and bring in somebody else with an entirely new offensive system just yet.

Prior to Norm Chow's arrival here's how the Trojans faired in overall points per game average:
2000 (25.8 points/game average)
1999 (29.0)
1998 (26.6)
1997 (21.1)
1996 (27.1)
1995 (29.6)
1994 (29.7)
1993 (26.8)
1992 (22.0)
1991 (20.8)

Also keep in mind that assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian, who also worked under Chow for three seasons as an assistant and played under Chow's tutelage at BYU, is only 32 years old! Sarkisian is only in the sixth year of his coaching career (not including one year as a junior college assistant coach).

Finally, I'm equally shocked at how many negative comments about QB John David Booty have been thrown around by Trojan fans. While Booty isn't quite the field general that Matt Leinart was, who is? Carson Palmer didn't shine until his fifth and final season at Troy. JD is certinaly better than former USC 1990's quarterbacks Reggie Perry, Rob Johnson, Brad Otton, John Fox and Mike Van Raaphorst. Booty was named the First Team All-Pacific-10 Conference Quarterback this season. He led the conference in average yards passing per game (246.3), total offense (242.0 yards/game), passing efficiency (141.9 rating), and touchdown passes (25). Booty's TD to INT ratio was pretty good (25 to 9) and his completion percentage was solid (61.9%). The number one thing I'd like to see Booty improve on is to not have so many balls knocked down at the line of scrimmage. The number two thing he needs to work on is touch passes along the sidelines and in the back of the end zone. Unfortunately I think what we sense is lacking in JD is that crunch time, give me the ball and I'll make something happen attitude. But do any of us know for sure that Mark Sanchez has that special personality? I'm guessing that the consensus is that Sanchez does possess that special quality and that Booty does not. Only time will tell.

So what are we really complaining about in Lane Kiffin and John David Booty? That a talented but young Trojan squad didn't go 12-0 and end up playing Ohio State for the national championship? Or just that the Trojans didn't show up to play against two inferior (talent wise) teams in 2006? Those two losses were 33-31 to Oregon State and 13-9 to UCLA. Both times the Trojans were within striking distance of the goal line at the end of the game. Overall I think it was a pretty successful season. Next year we should expect to see dramatic improvement out of the entire team, to include Kiffin and Booty! FIGHT ON!

Recruiting Update 12/4

2006-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Here's the most current information on recruiting in order of what I think we need the most (if there is something missing or incorrect please let me know):

1) Offensive Lineman. USC hasn’t landed a 5.0-star offensive lineman since Jeff Byers in 2004. The Trojans are losing C Ryan Kalil and RT Kyle Williams to graduation. Junior LT Sam Baker could leave early for the NFL but has repeatedly said that he will return to USC in 2007. The projected starting lineup is LT Baker, LG Drew Radovich, C Jeff Byers, RG Chilo Rachal and RT Charles Brown with Alatini Malu, Butch Lewis, Nick Howell, Zach Heberer, Matt Spanos, Thomas Herring and Travis Draper competing for time. Former highly ranked recruits Byers and Herring have been injury prone in their brief careers. USC currently has verbal commitments from 5.0-star James Wilson (6’4”, 305) of St. Augustine, FL and 4.5-star Martin Coleman (6’5”, 290) of Huntington Beach, CA. The Trojans are still in the competition for 4.5-star Kristofer O’Dowd (6’4”, 315) of Tuscon, AZ and 4.0-star Kevin Bryant (6’6”, 375) of Lauderdale Lakes, FL. O’Dowd has narrowed his list to Arizona, Tennessee, UCLA and USC. Internet rumors have O’Dowd torn between Arizona and USC. Bryant is still looking at Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Tennessee in addition to USC. The one that got away: 4.5 -star Anthony Davis (6’5”, 335) of Piscataway, NJ appears set to commit to Ohio State. Coach Carroll landed top New Jersey recruits in 2006 (S Antwine Perez), 2005 (LB Brian Cushing) and 2004 (WR Dwayne Jarrett) but it appears that Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers have locked up the top NJ recruits in 2007.

2) Defensive Lineman. Despite DT Sedrick Ellis’ outstanding performance the last few games this season, the Trojans have missed that dominant interior defensive line play provided by Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson. On the outside DE Lawrence Jackson didn’t perform to the level he and many Trojan fans expected this year and Brian Cushing had move from OLB to DE (or “Elephant”) due to the sub-par play of Kyle Moore and Jeff Schweiger. Jackson and Ellis could decide to leave early for the NFL. Injured seniors DE/DT Travis Tofi and DE Rashaad Goodrum may try to obtain a sixth year of eligibility due to medical hardship but are not likely to be on the roster next season (and would probably make a minimal impact even if they return). The projected starting lineup (assuming Jackson departs early and Ellis stays) is DE Kyle Moore, DT Fili Moala, DT Ellis and DE Brian Cushing with DT Chris Barrett, DE Jeff Schweiger, DE Alex Morrow, DT Averell Spicer, DT Walker Lee Ashley, DE Derek Simmons, DT Alex Parsons and DE Lawrence Miles competing for time. There have been many rumors that Schweiger may seek a transfer because he is unhappy with his lack of playing time. USC currently has a verbal commitment from 4.0-star DE Michael Reardon (6’6”, 260) of Villa Park, CA, although Reardon will likely spend his Trojan career as a center on the offensive side of the ball. Coach Carroll’s top recruiting priority looks to be 5.0-star DE Everson Griffen (6’4”, 265) of Avondale, AZ. Griffen, who nickname is “the Freak” because of his athletic ability and size (he plays RB for his high school in addition to DE), lists USC as his leader over Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and UCLA. He may commit to the Trojans by early January. 5.0-star DT Marvin Austin (6’2”, 295) of Washington, D.C. is considered the nation’s top recruit at any position in the class of 2007 by many recruiting analysts. Austin is still considering Florida State, Illinois, Maryland and Tennessee in addition to USC. Recent rumors indicate that Austin slightly favors the Trojans (due to his official visit to Los Angeles the weekend of the Notre Dame game). 4.5-star DT Da’John Harris (6’4”, 260) of Gardena, CA is another likely possibility. Harris has kept USC at the top of his list this fall over Miami, Michigan, Nebraska and Oregon although the Wolverines are making a strong push to take him out of state. 5.0-star Martez Wilson (6’4”, 230) of Chicago, IL has also shown mild interest in USC but will likely stay closer to home and sign with Illinois, Michigan, Notre Dame or Ohio State. Undersized 4.0-star DE Kenny Rowe (6’2”, 215) of Long Beach, CA appeared to be an early favorite of the Trojans but is likely to sign with Arizona or California, especially if USC lands Austin and Griffen. Rowe’s older brother Alfred is currently a freshman safety with USC.

3) Quarterback. USC doesn’t lose any scholarship QBs to graduation this year but the lack of depth behind John David Booty and Mark Sanchez is a concern. Former walk-on Michael McDonald has one more year of eligibility. Garrett Green, recruited as a QB but converted to safety early in the season, could stay on defense permanently. USC currently has verbal commitments from 4.0-star Aaron Corp (6’4”, 180) of Villa Park, CA and 3.0-star Samson Szakacsy (6’4”, 190) of Camarillo, CA. The ones that got away: USC’s top choices at QB were 5.0-star Jimmy Clausen (6’3”, 195) of Westlake Village, CA and 4.0-star Mike Paulus (6’5”, 215) of Orange, CA. Clausen committed to Notre Dame (and has predicted he will beat the Trojans four straight times while in South Bend) and Paulus committed to North Carolina.

4) Wide Receiver. It’s strange to think that USC might need to recruit a WR or two this year after landing so many top WR prospects over the last couple of years but Steve Smith and Chris McFoy are graduating and junior Dwayne Jarrett is expected to depart for the NFL. Patrick Turner is the projected starting split end with Vidal Hazelton and Travon Patterson battling over the starting flanker spot. SE David Ausberry and FL Jamere Holland, neither of whom played in 2006, will also compete for playing time. There are no current WR verbal commitments. The top prospect still available is 5.0-star Terrance Tolliver (6’4”, 185) of Hempstead, TX. Tolliver unfortunately has Florida and LSU at the top of his list above Oklahoma, Tennessee and USC. 4.5-star Deonte Thompson (5’11”, 185) is the only other uncommitted top receiver. Thompson is still looking at Florida, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and USC. Two other players have come onto the Trojans recruiting radar late in the process: 3.0-star Brandon Carswell (6’1”, 175) of Milpitas, CA and 3.0-star Bryshon Nellum (6’0”, 175) of Long Beach, CA. Carswell isn’t a major recruit but has narrowed his list to California, Oregon and USC. Nellum, who has already signed with USC to run track, is the nation’s top track sprinter prospect out of Long Beach Polytechnic. He currently plans to play football with the Trojans in addition to running track. The one that got away: 5.0-star Arrelious Benn (6’2”, 205) of Washington, D.C. recently shocked the recruiting world by verbally committing to Illinois over Florida State, Maryland, Notre Dame and USC. My guess is that USC fails to sign a bigtime WR in the class of 2007.

5) Defensive Back. The entire secondary returns next season but the Trojans would love to grab at least one highly touted DB. The projected starters are CB Terrell Thomas, CB Cary Harris, SS Kevin Ellison and FS Taylor Mays with Josh Pinkard returning to challenge for a starting CB or S spot. CB Kevin Thomas, CB Mozique McCurtis, CB Shareece Wright, CB Vincent Joseph, S Antwine Perez, S Garrett Green, S David Buehler, S Will Harris and S Alfred Rowe will all battle for playing time. The Trojans have a verbal commitment from 4.0-star S Marshall Jones (6’0”, 185) of Westlake Village, CA. Top CB prospects still available include 5.0-star Eric Berry (5’11”, 195) of Fairburn, GA, 5.0-star Ronald Johnson (6’0”, 180) of Muskegon, MI and 4.5-star Donovan Warren (5’11”, 175) of Long Beach, CA. Berry has narrowed his list down to Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee and USC. Johnson, who could also end up playing WR, has narrowed his list to Florida, Michigan, Ohio State and USC (although ABC’s Brent Musberger stated a week ago that Johnson will sign with the Wolverines). Warren is looking hard at Arizona, California, Michigan and USC with Oregon, Ohio State and UCLA as minor possibilities but has long been considered a lock for the Trojans. Top safety prospects still available include 5.0-star Chad Jones (6’2”, 220) of Baton Rouge, LA, 4.5-star Mark Barnes (6’3”, 190) of Columbia, SC, and 4.0-star Major Wright (6’1”, 200) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Jones has listed LSU and USC as his finalists but will likely stay close to home with the Tigers. Barnes is expected to sign with either Louisville or South Carolina. Wright is expected to sign with Florida or Ohio State.

6) Tight End. The only loss at tight end is seldom used senior Nick Vanderboom. Fred Davis will return as the starter with Dale Thompson, Anthony McCoy, Gerald Washington and Jimmy Miller challenging for playing time. There are no current verbal commitments at this position and the Trojans don’t seem to be recruiting any of the available prospects. The one that got away: 4.0-star Mike Ragone (6’4”, 225) of Cherry Hill, NJ verbally committed to Notre Dame.

7) Running Back. TB Herschel Dennis may apply for a sixth year of eligibility due to medical hardship but Dennis is preparing to make the leap to the NFL. Other losses include FBs Brandon Hancock, Ryan Powdrell and former walk-on Mike Brittingham. The starting TB spot will be a wide open competition featuring Chauncey Washington, C.J. Gable, Emmanuel Moody, Allen Bradford and Stafon Johnson. Desmond Reed and Michael Coleman also figure to challenge for playing time. USC desperately needs a FB as the starting job could go to Stanley Havili, Jody Adewale or converted LB Thomas Williams. The Trojans currently have verbal commitments from 5.0-star TB Marc Tyler (6’0”, 215) of Westlake Village, CA and 4.5-star TB Broderick Green (6’1”, 230) of Little Rock, AR. Tyler, a teammate of QB Jimmy Clausen, was recently selected as the top player in the state of California but suffered a broken leg in a state playoff game. Recruiting analysts consider Green to be a “soft verbal.” The Arkansas prep star is still talking to Arkansas, Boston College, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee. Green insists that he is still committed to USC, but many analysts believe he will sign elsewhere. The top prospects still available include 5.0-star TB Noel Devine (5’8”, 170) of North Fort Myers, FL and 5.0-star Joe McKnight (6’0”, 190) of River Ridge, LA. The competition for Devine is still wide open with Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and USC in the running. McKnight has narrowed his list to Clemson, LSU and USC. The Trojans also have a verbal commitment from 4.0-star Jordan Campbell (5’11’, 225) of Corona, CA. Campbell could be used as a FB but he expects to be given a shot at OLB first.

8) Linebacker. USC will once again be strong at linebacker, losing only Dallas Sartz and Oscar Lua to graduation, although Keith Rivers could choose to depart for the NFL. The projected starters are WLB Rivers, MLB Rey Maualuga and SLB Kaluka Maiava. Brian Cushing is also available to move back from DE to the SLB position. Luthur Brown, Joshua Tatum, Michael Morgan and Clay Matthews will challenge for playing time. The Trojans currently have a verbal commitment from 5.0-star Chris Galippo (6’2”, 230) of Anaheim, CA and 4.0-star Jordan Campbell (mentioned previously in the RB/FB section). Galippo is considered the nation’s top LB prospect by most recruiting analysts. Steve Smith’s little brother, 4.0-star ATH/LB Malcolm Smith (6’2”, 200) of Woodland Hills, CA has narrowed his list to California, Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA and USC. Smith could end up playing TB, FB or OLB at the collegiate level. The Trojans are also looking at junior college player 4.0-star Brian Ellis (6’3”, 235). Ellis, originally from Daytona Beach, FL, signed with Florida in 2005 and has spent the past year playing for the College of the Sequoias. He may re-sign with the Gators this year but is also taking a look at Ole Miss, Nebraska and USC.

BCS versus Playoff

2006-12-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Trojans ended up right where I thought they would: 10-2 record, Pac-10 Champions, playing in the Rose Bowl. But I thought our two losses would come much earlier in the season and that we'd beat Oregon, California, Notre Dame and UCLA to finish on a positive note. I never would have believed that the Trojans would score only 9 points against the Bruins with the a spot in the BCS Championship Game on the line. UCLA's players definitely wanted to win the game more and that shocked me! The Bruin defensive line physically dominated the Trojan offensive line in my opinion.

As for the BCS system versus a playoff system, I have changed my mind over the past few years. In the 90's I was all for a playoff (that was before the Big 10 and Pac-10 joined the BCS). Recently I have come to appreciate how exciting not having a playoff makes the regular season. Every game is a playoff game for teams hoping to get to the championship game. How many playoff atmosphere games did USC participate in this season? Arkansas, Nebraska, California, Notre Dame and UCLA. Plus I enjoy the debate about which team should be #1 and which team should be #2. A playoff system would rob the fans of the great debate!

I will say this about a potential playoff system - I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE IDEA OF A "+1" PLAYOFF. This is the system that has been championed by Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville and ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit. The plus one system this year would create almost as much controversy as the current system. Ohio State, Michigan and Florida would be the top three seeds but which team would be the fourth seed? Louisville (11-1, Big East Champions), Oklahoma (10-2, Big XII Champions), USC (10-2, Pac-10 Champions) and Wake Forest (11-2, ACC Champions) all have legitimate arguments. What about Arkansas (10-3), Auburn (10-2), Boise State (12-0), BYU (10-2), Hawaii (10-3), LSU (10-2), Houston (10-3), Notre Dame (10-2), Rutgers (10-2), TCU (10-2), Virginia Tech (10-2), West Virginia (10-2) and Wisconsin (11-1)? I think most of these teams would be screaming (especially the conference champions) if LSU (who didn't even get to the SEC Championship Game) got the bid because the Tigers ended up #3 or #4 in the BCS rankings.

My recommendation would be the following (and I know its a pipe dream): 1) force Notre Dame and to join either the Big 10 or Big East; 2) eliminate conference championship games; 3) make the regular season end on Thanksgiving weekend; 4) structure a 16-team playoff running four weekends through December in the following manner: each Division I-A conference champion gets an automatic berth in the playoffs, the "power" conferences that already have a strangle hold on the BCS (ACC, Big XII, Big 10, Pac-10 and SEC) also get an automatic bid for their conference runner-up, then have a seeding committee with reps from each conference put the brackets together before December 1st, the first two rounds the team with the higher seeding would be the home team, the semi-finals and championship would be rotated between warm weather/dome sites (Pasadena, San Diego, Glendale, Houston, New Orleans, Saint Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa and Miami)... Here's how the seedings might look this year:
(16) Troy at (1) Ohio State
(15) Central Michigan at (2) Florida
(14) Houston at (3) Michigan
(13) BYU at (4) Oklahoma
(12) Georgia Tech at (5) USC
(11) Nebraska at (6) Wake Forest
(10) California at (7) Louisville
(9) Arkansas at (8) Boise State
Note: Notre Dame could be substituted for Louisville if the Irish were in the Big East Conference but no bid for ND if they were in the Big 10 Conference this year.

Round 2 might be:
(9) Arkansas at (1) Ohio State
(7) Louisville at (2) Florida
(11) Nebraska at (3) Michigan
(5) USC at (4) Oklahoma

Round 3 might be:
(5) USC versus (1) Ohio State in St. Louis
(3) Michigan versus (2) Florida in Atlanta

And the Championship Game:
(2) Florida versus (1) Ohio State in Glendale

Trojan Update 12/1

2006-12-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Again, sorry that I haven't been posting consistently over the past few months. I've been on the road traveling across the country due to work plus I've moved from Monterey, CA to Savannah, GA. All that time spent on airplanes and in hotels has led to my slacking as far as blogging. I plan to start up again on Monday and hopefully you're still checking my site periodically. I'll be focusing most of my efforts on recruiting updates. It's been another amazing season! I expected the Trojans to be 9-2 going into the UCLA game, so it's a wonderful surprise to be playing for a chance to face Ohio State in the BCS Championship Game! Here's a look back at my preseason predictions:

1) Oklahoma (13-0)... I couldn't foresee the loss of QB Rhett Bomar to stupidity, the loss of RB Adrian Peterson to injury or the horrible officiating during OU's loss to Oregon... even with all those trials, the Sooners are still poised to win the Big XII championship and earn a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
2) Florida State (12-1)... wow! did I ever blow this pick! The Seminoles fell apart this season. Their offense is awful and their confidence is shot. The good news is that they're young. The bad news is that this season will likely damage their 2007 recruiting class.
3) Auburn (11-2)... I was pretty close on this one except that the Tigers failed to reach the SEC Championship game.
4) Ohio State (10-2)... the Buckeyes surprised me with wins over Texas and Iowa. Their defense is a lot better then I expected.
5) USC (10-2)... a win over the Bruins this weekend and the Trojans are right back in the title hunt! Amazing considering USC had 11 players selected in last year's NFL draft (including 2 Heisman Trophy winners).
6) Notre Dame (11-1)... I thought the Irish would win their first 11 games then lose their season finale to the Trojans.
7) Louisville (10-2)... the Cardinals are still on target.
8) Texas (10-2)... I thought the Longhorns would lose to Oklahoma and Nebraska. They ended up winning those games but losing to Ohio State, Kansas State and Texas A&M.
9) Georgia (10-2)... shuffling three QBs early led to a disappointing season for the Bulldogs.
10) Miami (11-2)... see my comments about Florida State above!
11) Tennessee (11-2)... I knew the Vols would rebound, but I thought they would use the homefield advantage to beat Florida.
12) West Virginia (11-1)... I thought WVU would lose to Louisville and that's about it.
13) TCU (10-2)... bad pick
14) Penn State (9-3)... the Nittany Lions lived up to expectations, just not to my expectations.
15) Arizona State (9-3)... the SunDevils didn't play to their level of talent and it cost head coach Dirk Koetter his job.
16) Iowa (9-3)... another talented team that didn't play to their talent level.
17) Clemson (9-3)... Tommy Bowden's teams usually play poorly early then finish strong, this year it was the opposite. Although true freshman RB C.J. Spiller is awesome!
18) LSU (9-3)... finished strong
19) Virginia Tech (9-3)... finished strong
20) Nebraska (9-3)... right on target
21) Michigan (9-3)... finally performed to their talent level! The Wolverines usually drop a couple of games each season that they shouldn't.
22) California (9-3)... right on target
23) Florida (9-3)... squeaked past Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina.
24) Boise State (9-3)... too much for the WAC
25) Texas A&M (8-4)... a solid season... watch for true freshman RB Michael Goodson to be a star next year.

My worst two picks were Florida State and Miami. I also failed to put Arkansas in the top 25 although I had the Razorbacks finishing at 8-4.

I'll work on a recruiting update this weekend and have it posted on Monday (12/4).

Trojan Update 11/17

2006-11-17T04:35:00.000-08:00

USC compliance officials found no violations during their investigation of team recruiting dinners at the Papdakis Taverna in San Pedro.

RB Chauncey Washington (knee sprain) saw limited action during Thursday's practice. He said he felt awkward wearing a knee brace. "I need to get a new brace," Washington said. "It doesn't hurt, it just feels awkward. I have to wear one." Washington also said that the swelling has gone down. C.J. Gable is the #2 tailback behind Washington with Allen Bradford and Stafon Johnson filling in as necessary.

FB Stanley Havili (broken leg) is likely to redshirt.

DE Lawrence Jackson (back spasms) returned to practice on Thursday and will start against California on Saturday. "Coach Carroll and I had a talk earlier about how I was trying too hard and how it inhibits you from being yourself," Jackson said. "If you tell yourself to do this or do that, it slows down your play."

DT Chris Barrett (calf strain) is unlikely to play against California. Fili Moala will start in Barrett's place.

LB Clay Matthews was the only Trojan selected to the Pac-10 All-Academic team.