Seven Trojans went on the first day, and three more were selected on the second day. It was by far the most players selected in the 2008 NFL Draft from one school.
One would expect a team that had just lost 10 starters to the NFL not to be nationally ranked the following season. But not only are the USC Trojans in the top 10, they are ranked anywhere from one to five, according to the various college football prognosticators.
There are a couple of reasons for that. One reason, obviously, is the incredible recruiting work done by Pete Carroll and his staff over the past six years. The other reason is the players who could have entered the NFL Draft but decided to remain at USC for another year.
Linebackers Ray Maualuga and Brian Cushing, defensive end Kyle Moore, and strong safety Kevin Ellison probably could have been drafted had they chosen to do so. Maualuga and Cushing would have been first-day picks. Moore and Ellison more than likely would have gone on the second day.
By the end of 2008 season, all four will be first-day picks for certain.
These four form the heart of the Trojans' defense, along with other returning starters: cornerbacks Cary Harris, Shareece Wright, and Kevin Thomas; free safety Taylor Mays; and defensive tackle Fili Moala.
Sixth-year senior Josh Pinkard, who has had to sit out the last two years with injuries, looks like he will be ready to compete with the returning starters for a spot come fall camp.
However, the Trojans don’t lack experience when filling in the rest of the defensive vacancies. Senior Kaluka Maiva and junior Luther Brown saw a lot of action last year by backing up Keith Rivers, the ninth pick in the NFL draft, at weak-side linebacker. Maiva also was a mainstay in the nickel defense.
Two younger players that will be very hard to keep off the field are Malcolm Smith, Steve Smith’s younger brother, and Jordan Campbell, who had an outstanding spring.
Filling in at the defensive end spot vacated by Lawrence Jackson (Lojack), the Seattle Seahawks' first-round pick, will be one of the gems of last year’s recruiting class, Everson Griffin.
Backing up Griffin and playing the hybrid elephant position is a former walk-on, Clay Matthews, Jr., who had a remarkable season in 2007. Look for both of them to make life miserable for opposing offenses.
The final spot to be filled is nose tackle. That position was manned for several years by All-American Sedrick Ellis, the seventh pick in the NFL Draft. Two outstanding players will be vying to see who gets the start—junior Averell Spicer and sophomore Christian Tupou.
Although this year’s recruiting class wasn’t rated quite as highly as previous years, that was due to a lack of quantity, not quality. As far as quality goes, this class is one of coach Carroll’s finest.
This is especially true on defense. At every position, there is a top-ranked recruit coming into fall camp looking to move up the depth chart, and possibly even crack the starting lineup. But that is going to be quite difficult, even though many of these recruits would start on most Division-I teams, and even on quite a few teams in the top 20.
This is a hungry defense, ready to prove that it is the best of Pete Carroll's career. It is a unit that will force turnovers and is fully capable of scoring on its own.
Pac-10 teams, as well as OOC opponents, including Ohio State, will find it rough putting up points against this year’s Trojans D.
Teams like Ohio State, with Todd Boeckman, and Notre Dame, with Jimmy Clausen, two quarterbacks who have had trouble in the past with interceptions, are in particular danger against the best defensive backfield in the nation.
Their only hope is to try to get the Trojans' offense to turn the ball over and get a short field. But that offense might not be as suspect as some pundits have pointed out.
On first glance, one looks at the quarterback spot and the offensive line as the Trojans' Achilles heel. But if memory serves me correctly, Achilles was a Greek, not a Trojan.
Junior Mark Sanchez, taking over John David Booty’s quarterback spot, knows the Trojans' offense inside and out. Although he was erratic at times last year, stepping in for the injured Booty, this year is a different story.
This is his team now. He is the leader, and he's ready to prove that Pete Carroll’s trust in him has not been misplaced. With offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s mentoring, Sanchez will have the opportunity to direct the Trojans' high-powered West Coast offense.
And he will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.
First of all, the running back position has more players and styles than Baskin-Robbins has flavors. They have the straight north-south runners, the cutters, the streakers, and the power runners. And they come in three speeds: fast, faster, and he’s gone!
At last count, there were seven of them, and they all have great hands. They can catch those short flare-outs, the bubble screens, or the long ball.
USC is equally stocked with talent at the receiver spots. Right now, it is hard to say who will be the standout, or even if there will be a standout—that is how evenly matched they are.
One receiver who did have an outstanding spring camp was Arkansas transfer Damian Williams. Ronald Johnson, David Ausberry, Brandon Carswell, Travon Patterson, Vidal Hazelton, and senior Patrick Turner have all proved to be capable receivers this spring.
Working against the best defensive backfield in college football every day on the practice field should give Trojan receivers a good test at creating separation.
Whoever emerges in the starting slots, along with the running backs, will give Mark Sanchez and backup Mitch Mustain, another Arkansas transfer, plenty of targets. Both quarterbacks will have the opportunity to work on their timing during fall camp.
The only other question that crops up is the offensive line, where the Trojans lost five of their six starters, including tight end Fred Davis, the John Mackey winner and Washington Redskins draft pick.
The one returning starter is Jeff Byers at left guard. However, center Kris O’Dowd started a couple of games for the Trojans last year before he underwent surgery for a dislocated knee. He did return, however, and saw action towards the end of the year.
But there are plenty of tough bodies ready to fill in the other slots. Charles Brown and Butch Lewis will be battling it out for the starting role at left tackle. Zack Heberer and Thomas Herring will be doing the same at right guard, as will Alex Parson and Nick Howell at right tackle.
Anthony McCoy and Rhett Ellison are tight ends that both had good spring camps. More than likely, they will be alternating, unless one emerges as the dominant player in fall camp.
But again, the beauty of Pete Carroll’s recruiting is that, even though it was light on quantity, it did take into account all of the Trojans' needs for this season. So at each of the offensive line positions, there is a top recruit coming in this fall, just itching to compete for a starting role.
Tyron Smith, Matt Meyer, Daniel Campbell, Khaled Holmes, Matt Kalil, Blake Ayles, and Jordan Cameron all have outstanding pedigrees.
The two with the best chances of breaking into the starting lineup are Matt Kalil and Blake Ayles. Matt is a 6'7", 280-pound tackle from Servite High School and the younger brother of former USC All-American Ryan Kalil. Blake is a 6'4", 235-pound tight end from Orange Lutheran, and an ESPN All-American.
This could turn out to be the best overall team that Pete Carroll and his staff have put together at USC. I know that is saying a lot, but this could be the team that will "win forever."
And of course, I saved the best for last. The most important positions where the Trojans did not lose a single man to the NFL this year was the coaching staff. That should worry opponents more than anything else.
This year, the entire staff knows the players, and the players, except for the new recruits, know the staff.
Finally, everyone will be on the same page—and the headline at the top of that page could very likely read, "USC Trojans: 2009 National Champs."
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3 months ago
See, everyone keeps saying how Ohio State has more experience than the Trojans, but I must be the only one in Buckeye Nation scared sh*tless of that defensive backfield, especially with Todd Boeckman as our quarterback.
from 3 months ago
To add to that, my final game prediction is USC 28, Ohio State 17
from 3 months ago
Thanks for not being a total OSU homer. I am scared of Pryor though!
from 3 months ago
If Tressel's smart, you won't see Pryor in that game at all unless USC has an insurmountable lead late in the game. My understanding is that they're trying to perfect his passing game before throwing him to the wolves, as Ohio State has already established a running game (Beanie) as its defacto offensive plan, and Pryor won't be of any use to Ohio State if he's nothing more than just a running quarterback.
from 3 months ago
I am scared too. Not scared of their secondary, coaches will plan around that. I am afraid of their offense. Jim Heacock has a knack for not making adjustments and not straying from his zone scheme. He keeps it too simple. USC is too athletic to approach them with a simple and conservative plan. We need to blitz and stunt like crazy, I think. I also think pryor could be an interesting x factor in this game, IF, and I mean IF he has an impressive camp, and shows that he is really ready for the big leagues. But we will see.
3 months ago
Great read!
Thank You
3 months ago
Wow...five stars.... this was great. I am a huge fan of Maualuga and Brian "the freak" Cushing. They are monsters. Excellent analysis. If our O-line can protect Sanchez' blind side (Byers), we should be good to go. My pick of the day!
3 months ago
Great article! The facts will remain the same as the past two years................will Pete keep the kids primed for all the games and not run into a Stanford or UCLA this year. Fight On!
3 months ago
Ohio State will beat Southern Cal the first month of the season. Sou Cal lost to a 40 point underdog last year. Tressel will teach Carroll what it's all about.
from 3 months ago
Good try Baby, but that loss to Stanford has no correlation to this upcoming game between OSU and USC. otherwise, we could also hand USC the win for badly beating an Illinois team that beat the Buckeyes at home by 7.
Here's the deal. USC has the advantage. First Off, it's a home game. Secondly, the Trojans get a week off to prepare for OSU before they come in after having played 2 games to USC's 1. We'll have more to look at, albeit not a ton as they play their annual creampuffs out of conference.
The biggest reason for a USC win though will come down to balance on Offense. I simply believe USC is significantly more balanced on Offense. Both Defenses will be incredible. There are little to NO weaknesses in these two defenses. On Offense though I believe Tressel will rely heavily on Beenie in a hostile environment, especially given Boekman's slight tendency for INT's. I'm just saying there will be a lean towards the run and that works for USC and it's defensive game plan. See Orange Bowl, Oklahoma, Jason White and an incredible runner in Adrian Peterson getting snuffed out for reference. Different team, different time...I know. It's about the philosophy more than anything else. OSU will try to run at USC and use that cloud of dust crap and it won't work as well as they think.
USC will stack for the run. Force Boekman to throw more than Tressel would like and Ohio State does not use the type of passing game that can beat USc's secondary. USC almost NEVER gives up the long ball. USC's defense will keep the passes in front and force their opponent to dink and dunk their way up the field betting that a mistake will be made in the process. OSU loves to throw the deep ball and has a tendency to do so. That will not work against USC.
USC 24 OSU 17
from 3 months ago
"Aunnual cream puffs"??? You are kidding, right? Take a look at every other year except for last year, pal.
from 3 months ago
uhhhhh.....
2007
Youngstown St - Creampuff
Akron- Super Cream puff
Kent State - Super Creampuff
Washington - Semi creampuff
2006
Northern Illinois - creampuff
Cincinnati - creampuff
Texas - finally, good job
2005
MIAMI of Ohio - super creampuff
San Diego State - creampuff
texas - your one real non-conference game in this whole non-conference schedule
I can keep going....Pal
3 months ago
I agree with you BabyTate. I don't think the Trojans are that strong this year and I think they will lose 2-3 games. They also cheat.
from 3 months ago
All that was back in Sou Cal's glory years of the first half of the decade. Sou Cal hasn't been all that since Texas put them down in their own backyard to win the 2005 BCS title. Look for Ohio State to beat them without too much trouble. Ohio St is used to playing in big games against SEC quality opponents in post season as well as bringing down the defending national champion Texas in '06. As far as back in the first part of the decade is concerned Ohio St was better than Sou Cal then also. The 2002 Miami team was regarded as all-world but Ohio St put them down. Better not sleep on Ohio State or Tressel will give you a real wake up call. Sou Cal might score on Ohio St but it won't be that close.
3 months ago
Relax BabyTate, you lost to an Illinois team USC completely destroyed in the Rose Bowl. Oh and if Ohio State thinks the SEC teams are fast, wait unitl they play my Trojans...
3 months ago
I hope USC loses every game this year. Wont happen of course, but I wish it nevertheless. They have supplanted Notre Dame as the media's number one darling and that makes them fun to hate.
3 months ago
Nice article except for the bit about the freshman offensive lineman. An O-line needs cohesion more than talent and you don't get that from guys who barely know the playbook. If the freshman factor into the equation at all, you can kiss your c-ship dreams goodbye.
from 3 months ago
but all of the linemen have had starting experience! That's a positive!
3 months ago
I don't think Notre Dame has been the media's number one darling for quite some time now Shawn, no offense.
I do agree that it would be fun to see USC lose every game this year!
3 months ago
GREAT Article,,
one of the best I have read.. you know the Trojans more than most,,,
So with the best LB's and DB's in the country, the best DE in Everson Griffin = TOP 5 D in the country,
Offense: Best RB's in the country, hands down, underrated QB (is BETTER than Booty) , WR's -most say they are AS GOOD AS ANYBODY, and OL - will be ranked in the top 10 by midseason if not before,,,,,
you Ohio St. fans need to take a look at what happened to the non-conference teams who played USC the last 5 years,, MUCH LESS in our OWN HOUSE !!!
Better show some RESPECT before your team comes in and gets EMBARRASSED.
see: Oklahoma and the SEC
3 months ago
Better yet see: Texas
from 3 months ago
You're an idiot. Texas and the freak, VY, saved Mack's job that year. Also, Texas barely pulled it off after some questionable calls by the refs AND they were playing against fourth stringers in the SC secondary. SC will own the weak sauce Ohio State offensive line just like they did to the slow/fat Sooners in the Orange Bowl. Beanie is the only real talent on that offense. Carrol has made millions exposing one dimensional, slow pro style offenses. Only the spread teams have a fighting chance against this defense.
Your linebackers are over rated and you can't deal with the rediculous versatility the SC offense will display. Book it. SC wins by three touchdowns.
Your fan base is laughable. Only the Domers match you in unrealistic expectations. Although it has been fun to watch you crash and burn so completely in BCS Championships these past few years, your free rides to the big game are over. the Ohio State university has been exposed.
Cheaters? Can you say Mo Clarrett. You know your program is a joke when your former boy so completely throws his own team under the bus. Great team unity.
So long, Bozo. The march to perfection begins on September 13th. It couldn't happen to a bigger group of deserving morons.
3 months ago
Excellent Article, Paul. You covered all the bases and provided a excellent breakdown of the team. I love Rey Maualaga & Brian Cushing but as stated I can say the same about the last four or five recruiting classes as well. USC will be in the mix again and could very likely be the "2009 National Champs".
3 months ago
The two biggest reasons that sc will not be playing for a title this year are the new O line and QB.
Both factors are huge, and anyone that disagrees with that is fooling themselves.
All the talent in the world offensively, but still no #1 options at RB and WR. if the receivers disappoint this year, as they did many times last year (fred davis led the team in every receiving category for a reason), it will be a lot easier to key on that running game.
Especially if the line can't block and sanchez is running his ass off.
3 months ago
41-38
from 3 months ago
Wow...you're an idiot. You exposed your Buckeyes with the easiest of all rebuttals:
41-14
38-24
3 months ago
Here's what makes all this conversation useless, and NCAA football the greatest game in the world:on any given Saturday. USC lost to a Stanford team they had way outmatched last season, even with JDB's injured thumb. They had no reason, whatsoever, to lose to a 40 point underdog. OSU lost to a talented, but very beatable Illinois team at home, with no significant injuries. Even with Todd Boeckman out, I would have OSU over stanford, in ohio stadium by 35, at least. So, with all the 'necessary' speculation, though it is fun, no one can really tell for sure what is going to happen. But, GAME ON. I want OSU to win more than anything. May the best team, ON THAT DAY, win. And god bless this 2008 college football season.
3 months ago
DYNA SC TY ! ! ! ENOUGH SAID.
3 months ago
As a SEC football fan I think the Trojans have had the a very impressive offence of late, but how good has the defence been? I think USC has a hugh advantage with two weeks to prepare, but if the defence dosen't improve it could be intersting, three yards and a cloud or not. May the best team win and meet their fate against the SEC Champion. I hope the SEC Champ meets USC in MNCG and I hope it will be the UGA Dawgs. No Rose Bowl, No politics, just two great teams and a National Championship. Good article.
3 months ago
Southern Cal ducked Georgia last year when they hand picked Illinois as a "worthy opponent" , what makes you think they would want any of them this year?
It's pretty clear now that Neuheisel is back at UCLA the Bruins will become the top team in town again. With his coaching staff, great perspective of the game, and all the diversity of interests the campus offers you can see Sou Cal continuing their downward spiral since going unbeaten in 2004.
Sou Cal had a good run at the first part of this decade but that was probably more due to the fact that no one else was any good in the PAC10 at that time. I mean, if California is the team you have to prepare for what does that say about the strength of your league? Now that other schools are recruiting again things will level out and I can see the Trojans moving back to their more normal 8-4 seasons of the 80s and 90s with Arizona State and UCLA becoming the top two teams in that wildly unbalanced conference. Coaching will now make the difference for ASU and UCLA. Besides, isn't Sou Cal under investigation for paying the players? I mean, what is all this Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo stuff about? Could be that the Trojans will be facing probabtion an be ineligible to challenge any more top teams like Illinois in the post season.
from 3 months ago
Sorry Tate, but when did usc win 8 games in the 80s and 90s? LOL!
3 months ago
BabyTate I dont think USC wants GA this year, and they and the Rose bowl did duck Ga last year.
I just dont see any team on the schedule beating them, and they are the biggest media darling in the Universe, (helps put them in regardless of schedule strength). I think OSU has the best chance of knocking them off but USC has two weeks to prepare, BIG advantage, win that one and it takes an upset to keep them out, If they go undefeted and things shake out with GA or FLA ending the season with only one loss, maby two, then they can't dodge the SEC Champion in the MNCG. I think USC has a real good team and has for a while now, but I also think they are over rated and they haven't been tested the way OSU was the last two years, (except that Texas loss). I hope you're right about UCLA, about time someone gives them some competition.
from 3 months ago
You guys know nothing about USC. This stuff is just not very accurate. I can't believe the certainty of your comments--as if you truly think you know what you're talking about. What a laughing stock.
3 months ago
sc did not duck anyone. the pac-10 commissioner did. pc and his trojans want to play everyday everyone all year around. not scared of anyone anywhere.
from 3 months ago
says the informed pac10 official.
from 3 months ago
Yes. There is a video during the BCS drawings of a dejected Trojan team last year when the commission chose Illinois instead of Georgia. They wanted Georgia 100%. Where do these morons get their information?
3 months ago
Sou Cal ducked Georgia last year and everybody knows it.
Don't worry, we won't tell Ohio St what closet you're hiding in.
Sou Cal, since Texas beat 'em in their own backyard, they've been scared of everybody.
3 months ago
hey tate or teete, go back to writing about childrens books, you might know a little more about that...
3 months ago
USC has cleaned the SEC's clocks for decades now! look it up... How do you like them apples?
from 3 months ago
just about as much as i liked good will hunting. try to be a little original. you are a fan of a bandwagon team.
3 months ago
Sou Cal was great back in the first part of the decade. They've been going downhill since the last time they won a natl title in 2004.
UCLA and Arizona State will take over the PAC10 again since they've got real coaches once again. Carroll was alright when no one else was coaching or recruiting out west. Sou Cal will go back to the 90s and 80s now.
from 3 months ago
Comedy.
3 months ago
i disagree babytate, yes asu and ucla have good coaches, but everyone loves pete carroll. he's an amazing recruiter, and he doesn't have to do a lot. prospects line up to play at usc, just look at the running back situation. most of those guys were parade all-americans in high school. back to the article though, this was a great read for me. you really know your stuff about usc, i think they will beat ohio state this year without a question and i'm not knocking on ohio state, but usc is just better. they have better players, and i'm saying that knowing that osu has an amazing linebacker core and a great secondary, they probubly have the best running back in the nation and boekmen is pretty solid, but usc has a lot of speed and we've seen the past two years how ohio state responds to speed. their o-line can't handle it and they won't be able to handle usc's defense. i think it will be a good game in the firt half, but after that usc will run away with it. i don't, however, think usc will make it to the national title. inexperience at the qb position and the o-line will play a factor, plut those supposed all-star receivers they have, haven't been performing up to their standards. i think it will be oklahoma and georgia in the national title, sorry dude but great article.
3 months ago
you're going to see that Booty, though a great guy, was not able to read the defenses as well and often missed these fast receivers while open, when Leinart did and Sanchez will hit them. Booty counted on Jarrett and Smith while SC now actually has faster and and more elusive receivers. We will all see a whole new passing game with runningback by committee this year on top of the nations best defense....without a Booty hickup this year, SC will be beating whoever they play for the game at the end of the year...
from 3 months ago
Agreed. People seem to forget Mark Sanchez was the number one Quarterback coming out of high school in the class of 2005.
3 months ago
I would hardly call staying in the top 4 for the last 6 years going downhill. I know we were expected to win it all the last 5 years straight and again this year and we came a couple games short (Booty), but this is a dynasty never seen before and one that is actually just getting going. This year is very likely to be Pete's best team yet. It's all coming together learning from minor mistakes made in the past few years like leaving Booty in the Stanford game, not taking weaker opponents serious, and putting in 4th stringers in a National Championship game being up by 12 with 5 min left...you might as well go and get your SC bumper stickers and hats because Pete's not going anywhere anytime soon...I welcome you with open arms to our program...Trust me, you'll love these apples ! ! !
3 months ago
GO USC!!
=D
3 months ago
All tOSU fans, especially TATE, can come back here and taste it after the game. Some of you, ehem, especially TATE, clearly don't know what the f@ck they are talking about. You all make sure you watch some PAC 10 games this year and become informed. We are tired of mopping up with the BIG 10 and having you blind homers talking crap. Same goes with the SEC. I can't even remember the last BIG 10 or SEC team to beat SC. It surely was before the millenium.
Look at SC's record against top 25 teams under Carroll. Aside from the TX loss, which occurred because of 3rd string players on the field and VY, SC kills OOC opponents--especially when they are highly ranked. Talk to your Michigan buddies, Auburn fans, Oklahoma, Arkansas, the Illini (remember them). Go back and read what their O-lines and D-lines say about the speed, power, and schemes run at SC. You will see they say that SC was the best teams (by far) they ever played against. They say SC was faster, tougher, and better coached than any other teams hands down.
Really, research your opponent before you spout your mouth off about how SC has been overrated and no good since 2005. I know OSU is a good team, but I'm not going to make ridiculous statements about them with sweeping acusations, like: 1) OSU is lame; 2) they can't play against speed; 3) they lose every bowl game; 4) their conference is a joke the last 3 years; 5) they backed into bowl games they didn't belong in because SC overlooked an opponent; 6) Boeckman would not be SC's 4th string QB.
HAHA! Guess what, I just did BabyT----just because you are an idiot!
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