Peek into the Future: USC Football in 2010 (Defense And Special Teams)

(Photo by: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Marquis Simmons and Frankie Telfort, both 2009 recruits and very highly regarded, will be heard from soon. Telfort, though undersized, has been timed in a sub 4.4 forty.

Jarvis Jones, a 6’3”, 220 lb. linebacker recruit from Georgia has mega upside and will be enrolling in the fall.

The future looks very bright for this group. USC is also pursuing Ronald Powell, a top high school recruit and others.

Defensive Backfield:

Any talk of the defensive backfield has to start with Taylor Mays. The 6’2”, 235 lb, sub 4.3 forty freak of nature is a regular Saturday highlight film.

This year he will be featured closer to the line of scrimmage to showcase his run stuffing ability for his future projection as a NFL star.

Taylor Mays, however, is a senior and like his safety cohort Josh Pinkard, won’t be back.

Josh Pinkard, the extremely talented free safety, who has done it all for Pete Carroll, including playing a very effective corner, is coming back from yet another injury.

However, in spring practice, he was the second fastest player timed so hopes are high that his hard luck has ended.

Shareece Wright, a talented redshirt junior, is expected to start at one corner in 2009 and may be back in 2010.

Kevin Thomas, a 6’1” senior will man the other side and he too is a lockdown corner.

This unit is the one that will be hardest hit by graduation in 2009.

However, at the risk of sounding redundant, sympathy should not be afforded to the Trojans.

The back-ups, who will see a lot of playing time in 2009, are extremely talented in their own right.

T.J. Bryant is an extremely gifted cornerback who will be a redshirt sophomore this year. Bryant will start at one corner in 2010 and if anything should happen to either Wright or Thomas, he will be one of the first Carroll will tab as their replacement.

Omari Crittendon, a JC transfer from Modesto, is very talented and will see playing time both this year and next at cornerback.

Brian Bauchman, a redshirt freshman cornerback has impressed coaches with his athleticism and will push for playing time also in 2010.

Marshall Jones, who came to USC as a heralded safety, is now listed as a cornerback, which better suits him for playing at the next level. Jones will be seriously considered as a starter next year.

The backups at safety are an incredibly talented bunch, who, like almost every other position at USC, would be starting almost anywhere else.

Will Harris, who also can play cornerback, might very well end fall practice as the starter. Harris, a senior, is very athletic and will see plenty of playing time regardless of where it is at.

Drew McAllister played quite a bit last year and will seriously be considered next year.

Jawanzaa Starling is a very talented late signee from Florida who enrolled early and will get a long look, especially in 2010.

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