Three Under-the-Radar Trojans to Watch Out For in 2009

1. Curtis McNeal (Tailback, 5'8"/180, Fr*)– Like all the names on this list, Curtis hasn’t been picked up on the media radar, but don’t underestimate his potential to embarrass defenders with knee-buckling jukes and blazing-fast speed.He is relatively undersized, so I expect that he’ll settle into a specialized scat-back role this year.

2. Tyron Smith (Offensive Tackle, 6'6"/270, So) – Tyron is a monstrous looking sophomore who will challenge Charles Brown for the starting left tackle position this season. This man has only gone under-the-radar because of the position he plays. Smith was a Rivals Five-star recruit from Pete’s 2008 recruiting class, and he saw some significant game action during his freshman campaign. Left tackle will be an interesting position battle to watch throughout the year.

3. David Ausberry (Wide Receiver, 6'4"/225, Jr*) – A fresh offensive scheme may have been exactly what the doctor ordered for Ausberry. Despite his obvious talent and ideal size, David hasn’t been able to land himself a consistent spot among the wide receivers during the last two seasons. I see that changing quickly thanks to Jeremy Bates coming as assistant head coach to the offense/quarterbacks coach/play caller. Many people don’t know that Bates was also a wide receivers coach with the Broncos in 2007. His coaching allowed Brandon Marshall (similar build, 6'4"/230) to catch over two hundred balls during the last two seasons. There is still time for a Patrick Turner’esque resurrection.

What about you, do you have any “under-the-radar” players that you’re looking out for?

This article was originally published on USCBlitz.com

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