Aaron Corp Given His Release From USC

If reports surfacing on the various boards at USC are correct, the question facing Pete Carroll and his offense next year won't be who is the starting quarterback but who is Matt Barkley's backup.

According to reports, Aaron Corp has been granted a release from his scholarship.  The release in turn was sent to Kansas, Minnesota, Virginia, and Richmond.  Since the first three are Division 1A schools, more than likely Corp will choose Richmond, a Division 1AA school so that he will be eligible to play immediately.

With Corp gone, the jury is still out on whether Mitch Mustain will stay or go.  Some seem to think that Mustain will remain the backup to Barkley and try to follow in the footsteps of Matt Cassel, the backup to Matt Leinart.

I personally agree with those who think Mustain will make the same choice that Corp reportedly has.  With Barkley getting most of the snaps in practice as well as the games, Mustain needs to find a school where he can truly compete for the starting job and hopefully build up his reputation.

Matt Cassel wasn't beat out by a true freshman.  The battle between Cassel and Matt Leinart, a future Heisman Trophy winner, was nearly dead even.  Pete Carroll had a difficult time choosing between them.

That hasn't been the case with Mustain.  Carroll picked Aaron Corp over Mustain in Spring practice last season as his starting quarterback.  When Corp was injured in Fall Camp, Carroll immediately went with Barkley over Mustain as his starter.

It also looks as though USC will lose their No. 1 receiver.  Sports Illustrated has Damian Williams listed among the underclassmen entering the NFL draft.

It could turn out that not only the backup to Matt Barkley will be a true freshman, Jesse Scroggins from Lakeland High School, but the top receivers may be as well.

Reports from The Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio have given high marks to two USC recruits, Robert Woods and Kyle Prater.  Both are wide receivers and are considered two of the best among this year's crop of recruits.

Along with Williams, the Trojans will lose another underclassman to the NFL Draft, defensive end Emerson Griffen.  His replacement may come from the ranks of junior college transfers.  

Matangi Tonga, who played his freshman year at BYU and took two years off before playing for the College of San Mateo this year, pays an official visit to USC tonight. Tonga is 6-3, 295 and benches 400 pounds and runs a 4.67 40.

Tonga is also considering Washington, Houston, Arizona State, and Cal.  He is expected to make a decision by Sunday at the latest.

I will have more on who is leaving and who is staying as well as recruiting developments as they happen.  So stay tuned.