USC Trojans Football: Spring Preview

Another overrated Trojans basketball team has been bounced from the NCAAs, so it's time to focus on what really matters in the land of Troy—football.

March 25th will mark the Trojans first spring practice and although expectations are high for Pete Carroll's squad, many questions loom.

The biggest topic of discussion over the next two weeks will be the emergence of this season's starting QB. Carroll has said that both Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain will get the same amount of reps this spring and the starter will probably be decided before fall camp. Right now Michigan and LSU fans are wishing they could have these same QB "problems."

Although the national media portrays this as the Trojans' only question mark, things are not as set as they seem.

For a third straight year there will be an open competition for the starting running-back position (Man, I miss Reggie). Stafon Johnson seems to be the frontrunner, because of his experience and workload from last year.  However, Carroll is famous for making players compete for their positions, so don't be surprised if someone like Joe McKnight or Allen Bradford finds himself in a larger than expected role.

Redshirt freshmen, Marc Tyler, the son of UCLA and former Ram and 49er Wendell Tyler, and Broderick Green add to the Trojan depth at running back.

Filling the shoes of Mackey Award Winner Fred Davis, who is expected to be the first tight end picked in the NFL Draft, will add to the competition this spring. 

Junior Anthony McCoy, played in only two games, both in garbage time, tallying two catches for 18 yards and one TD late in the Nebraska game.  But the Trojans signed Blake Ayles, the top tight end recruit in the West.  The five-star Ayles had 48 receptions for 697 yards and eight touchdowns with Orange (CA) Lutheran in 2007 and an impressive showing at the Under Armour All-America Game.

Davis' production last year (62 catches, 881 yards, 8 TDs) was a contributing factor in the slow development of an inexperienced receiving core.  Although Vidal Hazelton, Patrick Turner and David Ausberry had seen some playing time the year before, none had seen enough and that hurt the Trojans early.  True freshman Ronald Johnson or RoJo as he is known came on very strong at the end of last season.

But if they expect to increase their playing time this year, they will need to fend off the likes of Damian Williams, the much-heralded transfer from the Arkansas Razorbacks, and five-star freshmen recruits, D. J. Shoemate and Brice Butler.

Shoemate was the region's top high school receiver last year and a U.S. Army All-American.  As a senior, Shoemate racked up 1,291 yards rushing, 40 receptions and 14 touchdowns.  He was also a lock down safety and recorded 5.5 sacks.

Butler, another U.S. Army All-American, was one of the top receivers in Florida.  In fact, he surprised everyone by chosing the Trojans over Florida State, where his father Brian played.

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