USC 'Backers Ready to Make NFL Draft History

Up to the eve of the 2009 NFL draft, Mark Sanchez has occupied the media focus among USC entries. But at some point during the pre-draft ritual of hyping and highlighting the biggest names, three of his Southern California teammates got themselves in line to make NFL draft history.

When the stock of Clay Matthews escalated during the evaluation period, it lifted his projection to the first round, where he joins fellow former-Trojan linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga. If Saturday proves the predictions to be correct, it will be the first time in NFL draft history that three 'backers from a single program are selected in the first round.

Now, prepared to be even more impressed?

Look at the 2009 Trojans draft package, and you'll see that three of the first-round projections (Sanchez, Maualuga, and Cushing) are former Rose Bowl MVPs, having won either offensive or defensive honors.

And searching the rest of the Trojans up for selection, you’ll also find a fourth. Linebacker Kaluka Maiava was the 2009 Rose Bowl defensive MVP and is projected to go anywhere between the second and fourth rounds tomorrow.

When the dust settles on Monday, the NFL will have four new linebackers from the University of Southern California, and they'll join the well-established Keith Rivers and Thomas Williams (2008), Lofa Tatupu (2005), the aging Willie McGinest (1994), and Junior Seau (1990).

The greatest thing about all this, though?

The pipeline looks to keep flowing, as the Trojan youth movement has the team prepared to showcase another young and talented corps for the 2009 college football season. Undoubtedly, they'll eventually feed the future NFL.

Running back is historically the glamour position of the program; I mean, they receive national recognition as "Tailback U."

But in the era of Pete Carroll and under the guidance of linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr., the Trojan linebackers have emerged as the NFL’s most wanted.

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